Springtime Shopping? How to Revamp Your Closet Sustainably

The arrival of spring in St Andrews is a time everyone looks forward to. Not only is it exciting to finally be able to soak in the sun in Sally’s quad, grab an Aperol spritz with a friend, and go on a sunset walk at 5 instead of 3:30; it also means getting to pull out our favourite clothes for the warmer months that won’t be completely covered by a massive puffer jacket.  

Spring is always a perfect time to experiment with fashion. It’s warm enough to flaunt a skirt or cute top, but cool enough to play around with layering including light jackets and sweaters. However, this warmer weather is also always accompanied by an urge to buy a mountain of new clothing, which can fill our closet with unnecessary clutter, drain our bank accounts, and contribute to habits that fuel the climate crisis. 

The fast fashion industry plays an indispensable role in the rapid increase of climate change. While fashion seems like it has nothing to do with climate change, the fast fashion industry is in the top five industries that are polluting the globe. In the United Kingdom alone, around 300,000 tons of clothes are burned or put in landfills every year, contributing a large amount to what’s polluting the globe.  

Credit: Greener Kircaldy

This spring, engaging in sustainable practices can help keep impulse shopping to a minimum, while also abstaining from contributing to the fast fashion industry. But, as per usual, that’s easier said than done, and you may be struggling with where to start. Here are some fun ways you can revamp your closet for spring while staying sustainable.  

Upcycling clothes is not only good for the environment, but it’s also a fun activity you can do with friends. Upcycling could be as simple as taking a pair of pants you never seem to get to use and turning them into shorts or transforming a t-shirt into a tote bag. But you can also get creative with it. Perhaps adding patches to jeans or embroidering on sneakers or clothes. It could also be an opportunity to learn a new skill like sewing. Whatever way you choose to upcycle, get creative and have fun with it. Not to mention, when you get tons of compliments on your new clothes, you can gloat about how you made them yourself. 

If you don’t feel like you have any clothing to upcycle and are still wanting to buy new clothes for those warmer months, thrifting and vintage shopping could be a great choice for you. Not only is it sustainable, but also a great way to find one of a kind pieces. As old trends start to resurface from past decades, like jorts from the 2000s or long flowy skirts that were prominent in the 70s, a local second-hand clothing store may just be the place for you. Not only are there quite a few charity shops in St. Andrews, but you could also check out stores in Edinburgh like Carnivale, Godiva, Torn Vintage, and Armstrongs.