How To Make More Mindful Style Choices
Want to make the right fashion choices – meaning ones that are better for the planet and for ourselves – but not sure where to begin? GEORGIE LUCAS speaks to six sustainability experts, from business founders to activists, for their advice on how to build a more conscious closet
Sophia Li, award-winning journalist, climate advocate, public speaker and UN Human Rights Champion
“We are lucky to be in this pivotal and fragile time where we are still able to take actions that determine the viability of our planet. To build a more mindful closet, it’s paramount to develop a deeper emotional connection with our clothes. This begins by understanding how our clothing choices reflect our internal values, rather than seeking external validation from shopping or keeping up with trends. The joy and confidence you feel in your wardrobe should come from how it aligns with your identity and internal values. We must proactively shift our mindset from over consumption to conscious living. On a practical level, it means taking inventory of everything in our closets and extending the life cycle of our existing garments. Take time to rebuild new outfits from clothes that we already own, make a pile for the tailor or for repair and tackle that one by one.
“When considering new purchases, focus on brands with transparent supply chains, third-party certifications and data-backed sustainability efforts. Numbers say more than words. If a brand has proper measurement and percentage of where they stand, that’s a great way to differentiate their net-zero journey. Be wary of vague ‘green’ claims and prioritize longevity over trends.”
Victoria Prew, founder of rental platform HURR
“With your everyday wardrobe, think about the ‘three Rs’ – rental, repair and resale. Which pieces will you love season after season? Can you buy a vintage piece through a resale platform? Or rent a sold-out style? We need a reinvention in fashion of what ‘ownership’ means.
“HURR has a simple vision: extend the lifespan of clothes and make fashion circular, one rental at a time – we recently reached the milestone of £100m of fashion rented. We’ve spent years talking to brands, designers, retailers and consumers on the power of rental – more people can access luxury fashion, we can reduce wasteful purchases and shop more thoughtfully and people can monetize their own wardrobes. One dress or coat can have multiple lifetimes. With trends and appetite for ‘the new’ moving faster than ever, we can make considered decisions on renting for the short term, renting for the long term, investing in and buying, repairing and what we rent out or resell.
“Rental has breathed a new life in luxury fashion, introducing consumers to new designers and brands. It’s the perfect way to trial a brand or style for a shorter period; if you love it, you can purchase knowing the style, shape and fit works for you. Rental makes fashion accessible and less wasteful – we only have so much room in our wardrobes and if we can keep renting, repairing and rotating, it’s a clearer place to be. With resale growing, we are able to close the circular loop.”
Leah Thomas, environmentalist
“As an eco-communicator, I want to show people how and why everything relates to the environment. Every topic intersects with the environment and every industry, especially fashion, which is one of the world’s largest polluters and is often an exploitative industry in terms of garment workers’ safety and rights. I’m interested in the intersection of climate and culture, and how different people form relationships with the planet. I uncovered a lack of representation in environmental media, movements and policy, and wanted to play a part in changing that to be more inclusive. I’ve always felt really connected to the Earth and want to help others feel that, too. Everyone should know about what’s going on in their communities and feel empowered to create change – environmentalism relates to everyone. Representation and wanting other Black women and girls to feel represented makes me want to work in this field.
“With fashion, it’s important to consider what textiles are being used and how they’re sourced – is it ethical? How is waste disposed of? Are workers being paid fair wages? Is too much clothing being produced and sent to landfill? Are clothes being sent to the global south and creating a waste problem? Those fashion and environmental justice questions float around in my mind, and that’s just scratching the surface. As consumers, we can do our part by mending clothing we have, thrifting clothes, supporting clothing that is made responsibly – and demanding more from brands. On an individual level, buy locally when you can, buy second-hand and learn how to mend and sew.”
Mireia Llusia-Lindh, founder and creative director of DeMellier
“I always ask myself three questions: is this piece made with values I believe in? Will I wear it many times over the years? If I get tired of it, will I be able to sell it or give it to someone who will treasure it? Guiding principles help create a more thoughtful, considered wardrobe. Choose natural materials like cotton, wool or leather, and avoid plastic-derived fibers like polyester, nylon or acrylic. Ask where the product is made – many are sourced from countries where ethical standards are overlooked. Opt for high-quality products, designs with longevity that you can sell if you grow out of them – products that can have multiple lives and won’t end up in landfill.
“At DeMellier we focus on timeless, versatile designs that are made to last. It’s key to work with partners that follow your standards – our handbags are handmade in European factories following strict ethical and environmental legislation, craftsmen and women are treated fairly and paid fair living wages. Our leathers are a byproduct of the food industry from tanneries rated gold and silver by the Leather Working Group for advanced sustainability, traceability and social practices. We offer a lifetime repair service and donate materials we can’t use to local apprentice schools, minimizing waste. Our initiative, A Bag, A Life, means for every bag we sell, we fund lifesaving vaccines and treatments for children – we’ve just reached one million, and it’s hard to put into words how much this incredible milestone means to me.”
Layla Sargent, founder & CEO of The Seam
“I was shown the magic of a well-fitting wardrobe by my grandmother, a professional dressmaker. Tailoring and alterations make clothes look and feel better, and make us more connected to the pieces we buy, because they’ve been personalized. The Seam’s culture of care means slowing down, investing in our belongings, looking after one another. As a repair business, care means erasing damage and refreshing well-loved pieces, but it’s also about relationships. Getting to know your local tailor can have a transformative effect – valuing the craftsmanship that goes into making and maintaining clothes helps us value them for longer. From invisible knitwear repair to leather restoration, we love being able to return items to ‘like-new’ condition, making the owner feel like they are welcoming a new wardrobe addition.
“The environmental benefits of repairing are two-fold. By keeping an item in use, we reduce our reliance on new materials, which has a huge impact on natural resources. And by keeping an item in rotation, we keep it out of landfill – this is critical, as the UK alone sends around 13 million items of used clothing to landfill each week. The fashion industry needs to shift, maintaining creativity and self-expression, while moving away from so much new. We see a sustainable future as one where caring for, customizing, mending and altering clothes is as thrilling as buying new ones. By making these services easy to book and providing exceptional quality, we help people invest in better pieces, and make them stand the test of time.”
Nour Hammour and Erin Conry Webb, co-founders of Nour Hammour
“Our clothing tells a story about our identity, values, and how we want to be seen in the world,” says Erin Contry Webb. “A mindful closet must also fit your lifestyle, from school drop-off to the office to finishing the day with dinner. Seek versatility – pieces that move through these different moments seamlessly. I invest in pieces I’ll reach for over and over again – those are the pieces that stay in your wardrobe forever. Our female-led workshop mirrors our vision – making leather garments in a more unique, ecological, and inclusive way. Our collections are designed in Paris and produced between Paris and Istanbul. We work with tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group and all our hides come from animals used for agricultural purposes. We’re building something for life, alongside partners who share the same values. By creating micro-stocks and producing based on demand, we avoid waste. We design and produce timeless pieces to be cherished for years – outerwear we want women to wear forever.”
“Nour Hammour began with a made-to-order model – five leather jacket styles and one atelier. Growing at our own pace and maintaining close relationships with our clients means steady, thoughtful growth – a sustainable decision,” says Nour Hammour. “Focusing on being exceptional in one product before thoughtfully expanding is a rare achievement and allows for a more sustainable approach – less waste, less excess, more focus on creating pieces that resonate with consumers and the planet. Sustainability isn’t purely about fabric choices or production methods – it’s about rethinking the way we approach growth and success in fashion.”