Save the Earth with Fashion Choices

When someone asks you what you’re doing to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, you’ll probably think about your reusable water bottle, canvas grocery bags, or energy- efficient light bulbs. But did you know your wardrobe choices can have a significant effect on protecting the planet? The fashion industry is one of the worst offenders when it comes to polluting the planet, but great strides are being made in reversing that. 

Here are some fashionable 2025 trends you can adopt to save the Earth, but also dress Earth smart.

Timeless Fashion & Capsule Collections

Fast Fashion — the ability to get copies of garments from the runway to the store or online in weeks or even days — encourages buyers to purchase (and discard) often. EarthDay.org reports that the average person today buys 60 percent more items of clothing than they did 15 years ago, but keep them only half as long, and the average garment may be worn as few as 10 times before it’s thrown away.

One way to save the Earth and get on trend is by putting together a capsule wardrobe with timeless pieces you can wear for years. Your capsule wardrobe should include essential items you can mix and match and style in many ways. Start with a basic color such as black or gray and add some neutral pieces as well as a few accent colors that work with your skin and hair colors. 

Choose high-quality, core items like basic neutral tees in long and short sleeves, well-fitting jeans, tailored trousers, a dressy blouse and a few sturdier casual ones, and a few versatile dresses. Add a few sweaters and a cardigan, a jacket, coat, and shoes. You can augment with seasonal or trendy pieces, as well as dress up or down with accessories.

The capsule wardrobe will save money (a quality pair of jeans worn over several years will actually cost less per wear than a pair that falls apart after a few washes), save time, reduce clutter, and make travel easier. 

Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Fabrics 

EarthDay.org reports that 69% of all clothing is made partially or entirely from synthetic fibers such as polyester, which is a crude oil derivative. Washing those fabrics accounts for 35% of microplastics in the ocean, which in turn end up in us — a 2022 study in the Netherlands found microplastics in the blood of 80% of the people they tested.

It’s on-trend these days to wear clothing made from natural and organic fabrics such as linen (made from flax), wool, hemp, and bamboo. When choosing cotton clothing, make sure it’s organic, as it takes less water, fertilizer, and chemicals to grow. 

Recycled polyester, made from recycled plastic bottles and other post-consumer waste, and bioengineered fabrics like Circulose reduce the environmental impact of fashion, and plant-based alternatives such as mushroom leather (Mylo), apple leather, and pineapple fibers (Piñatex) offer sustainable fabric alternatives.

Circular Fashion & Reduced Waste

The fashion industry produces 100 billion garments a year, with 87% (40 million tons) ending up in a landfill, according to EarthDay.org. Fashion designer Stella McCartney once said, “The future of fashion is circular. It’s about making clothes last longer and creating value beyond the
first wear.” 

This vision of circular fashion, which aims to create a closed-loop system where items are reused, repurposed, and recycled, is an ideal more and more are leaning into.

Environmentally friendly fashion brands are designing durable garments that are built to last. When a piece you love gets damaged, choose to repair it or upcycle it into something new. You can also turn to the many resale and rental platforms to buy or sell items to fill in gaps in your capsule wardrobe or to pass along items that no longer work for you. 

Ethical & Conscious Consumption

Buy Less. Buy Better. Choose quality over quantity, and opt for durable, classic styles over fleeting trends. An advantage to this is that you’ll choose the pieces that make you look and feel beautiful, rather than what may look good on someone else. 

Research the brands you buy from to ensure they are prioritizing protecting the Earth and have transparent labor practices. When you can, find a local brand or designer to support. It not only supports the local economy, but cuts down on transportation and the associated pollution.