5 Steps to a Sustainable Summer Wardrobe, According to Zero-Waste Blogger Manuela Baron

For a lot of folks, summer is the perfect time to bust out the bright colors, fun patterns, and sun-ready styles. And looking cute this summer doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment. Just ask Manuela Baron -- she’s The Girl Gone Green, a zero-waste blogger and fashion enthusiast. With her help, we’ve put together five steps to minimizing environmental harm through your wardrobe.

These are things you might want to think about when you’re packing for your next summer adventure, and while you’re at it, consider bringing sustainability to your travel too! Check out our Green Your Getaway campaign, sponsored by Cotton, to learn how you can be a responsible traveler (and encourage others to do the same).

1. Choose Used Clothing

Buying used clothes can help save the planet...and save you money too. Minimize the demand for new clothing production (and minimize the impact on your bank account) by shopping secondhand.

“You give a garment another chance at life; it’s like adopting a cute pair of heels,” Manuela says. “Not only is it sustainable, but it also saves me money, allowing me to try new styles at a fraction of the cost.”

2. Take Care of Your Clothes

Clothing can be harmful to the environment even after garments have made it out of production and into closets. Textile waste is filling up landfills around the world (12.7 million tons of it in the US alone). Treat your clothes well so that you’re not constantly throwing pieces away and adding to the problem.

“Learning how to sew a button, fix a hem or patch a pair of pants can extend the life of your garment,” Manuela advises. “Educate yourself on fabrics and the proper way to wash each piece. This will ensure that your clothing lasts for years.” If garment laundering isn’t your strong suit, it’s safe to stick with fabrics like cotton because they’re relatively low maintenance.

3. Invest in Quality Pieces

You may have heard the term “fast fashion” floating around; it’s basically the rapid production of clothing to keep up with constantly shifting fashion trends. To make these fast enough and at a low enough cost, producers may cut corners, opting for low-quality materials that aren’t meant to last. Don’t feed into this accelerated cycle, and instead look for pieces with a longer lifespan.

“Pay attention to the materials, colors, and shape. I look for items with at least 60% natural fabrics: cotton, hemp, linen,” Manuela recommends. “It takes a bit of practice to spot a well-made garment but you quickly learn what will fall apart in 6 months.” As a bonus: cotton shirts have half the carbon footprint of synthetic ones!

4. Make It Versatile

There’s no need to crowd your closet with tons of pieces when a few versatile ones will get the job done. Be purposeful in choosing garments that can be worn a lot of different ways in combination with the other things you already own. Minimal wardrobe = minimal harm. As a Florida native, Manuela looks for flexible pieces that can also stand the heat.

“I always choose breathable clothing: skirts, natural fibers, sleeveless dresses,” Manuela says. “I also like skirts because they are versatile -- flowy and feminine yet breathable. You can match a skirt with different tops (or bathing suits) to create different outfits.”

5. Don’t Stress About Perfection

With all the information out there about sustainable fashion, it can get overwhelming pretty quickly. Just keep in mind that you don’t have to take on everything at once. Whether you do all of these steps all of the time, or just one of them some of the time, you’re making a positive impact.

“The biggest myth is that it’s all or nothing. Don’t get discouraged if you end up with a plastic cup or a last minute dress for a wedding,” Nadine assures. “It's not about perfection, but about progress. You must first sustain yourself to sustain the planet.”

(Want to hear more from Manuela (or learn how she packs sustainably)? Check out her Instagram and YouTube channel!)