Three Easy Ways to Reduce Your Personal Textile Waste

I was reading this artcile on Huffington Post the other day and was really inspired to share some of the ways that I personally try to reduce my home's textile waste. It still surprises me when I talk to people and they really have no idea that the fashion industry is one that is insanely bad for our planet, as a rule... but then again, a couple years ago, I had no idea either. Not only does the fashion industry create loads of pollution but the amount of fast fashion on the market encourages people to throw away their clothes with less consideration because the cost was low. The cost may have been low for this particular consumer but what was saved was paid for in pollution and low wage workers in a lot of cases. I know, I know, I'm sort of being a Debbie Downer but seriously guys, even being thoughtful of your purchases and somewhat informed is totally the first step in being mindful and reducing your personal textile waste.

Some of these are my favorite ways to reduce my family's personal textile waste and reuse the items that we currently have. Don't get me wrong, I love something new, but it's going to be super important to show my kids that we don't have to always buy new, especially not to be happy. (Shopping is fun but shouldn't be done out of boredom)

Mend and Repair your Current Clothes: This may seem like a no brainer but it's sometimes a nuisance to fix a hole, sew on a new button or repair a ripped seam. Maybe you don't "know how" or have the time but I like to put my stuff into a repair pile and do it all at once. If you don't know how to sew, I'm here to tell you that anyone can do it, seriously. Invest in a little sewing kit or make one yourself with needles, thread of different colors, safety pins and a thimble. You're good to go. Check out this post, this post and this post for some easy beginner tips on mending your own clothes. If you really don't want to repair your own, bring your clothes to your local tailor or cleaners. You're repairing your clothes and supporting a business in your community.

Upcycle or Rather Create Something New: Just like these pillows or even this sweet little cotton flower, there are so many things you can create with your old clothes, sheets, curtains and more. Obviously, this take a little more skill if you're looking to create something wearable but if sewing/crafting/creating isn't your thing, don't even hesitate to use old textiles as rags, changing table pads (baby poop is a struggle), drop clothes and very functional things like that... anything you can do to keep from throwing them out is a great bonus, go you!

Breathe New Life with a Dye Bath: If you've followed me the past couple of years, you know that I love to toss stuff in a dye bath. It's the perfect way to breathe new life into old garments. As a lover of white tees, it's always a disappointment when you can't get a stain out but seriously, toss it in a $3 dye bath and viola! new shirt. I've tossed some faded black pants and tees into a black bath and again, seriously, they're crisp and looking new for awhile longer. It's simple enough that anyone can do it. I'm dying (pun intended) to try using Natural Dyes, for the environment's sake obvi, so may take on this endeavor when I'm feeling like the time is right, like not the cold weather.

Do you have any simple tips on reducing your personal textile waste? I would love to integrate more into my world!