The impact of your closet size

Minimalism puts less pressure on the planet. By crafting our own minimalist wardrobes, we can identify our unique styles while moving towards more sustainable living.

What is a minimalist wardrobe?

A minimalist wardrobe only includes the items of clothing you love, need and use. It’s all about making the most of your basics and not following fast fashion trends. It helps you live a simpler life while making less of a negative impact on our earth.

You may have heard of a capsule wardrobe. These are more trend-focused, where items in your closet work interchangeably, each season.

A minimalist wardrobe lets you be more flexible in what you enjoy wearing. You don’t need to stick to any strict limits. It’s down to you – all that matters is you actually wear all of the items.

Why have a minimalist wardrobe?

A minimalist wardrobe can be for any gender, age, style or way of life. It brings many benefits both for you and the environment.

Better mental health

Fast fashion is designed to get you to buy a lot and often. Adverts can be overwhelming, and trying to keep up with the latest trends can be stressful. The practice of minimalism helps you avoid that.

Less stress, more time

A simple wardrobe makes it easier for you to choose what to wear. It removes the excess time and energy we spend in the morning trying to find a perfect outfit.

Increased space

Fewer clothes = more space. A minimalist wardrobe is easier to maintain and keep tidy. It also frees up space for other items you own.

More confidence

If you only wear your favourite clothes, you’ll always be wearing your best. When you follow your own style instead of trends, you’ll build confidence in what you wear, rather than worrying about fitting in.

More money

You may want to save up to invest in a well-made piece. But generally, a minimalist wardrobe means you spend less money. You’re not fulfilling a need to buy the latest trends and wear something new to each event.

Good for the planet

From excess carbon emissions to extreme water pollution from cheap, toxic dyes, the side effects of the fast fashion industry are enormously detrimental to the environment.

With a minimalist practice, we lower the demand for fast fashion, putting much less pressure on the planet. If you only purchase the items you need when you need them and choose sustainable or second-hand, you’ll be making a difference.

What should be in a minimalist wardrobe?

There are no strict rules for what to include other than the clothes you love, feel good in and wear often.

Before purchasing any new garments, take a good look at what you already own. You’ll want to keep some items you don’t wear year-round like a summer outfit or winter coat. But generally, try to get rid of clothes you barely wear at all.

Work with what you’ve got

You want items that are versatile and work well with other garments. What goes well together? What do you love to wear? Make sure they are good quality, long-lasting, and not something you’ll worry will go out of fashion. Even better if they can be worn for multiple purposes, such as work clothes or worn as loungewear.

Essential items

Consider timeless basics like t-shirts, tank tops, jeans, sweatshirts and joggers. The simpler the style, the easier it is to coordinate with your other clothes and future purchases.

Colours

A colour scheme helps you match clothes with other items. This doesn’t mean sticking to one or two colours. Good palettes include neutrals, earthy tones, pastels or bold colours. Feel free to be playful with whatever works for you.

Reduce without creating waste

When getting rid of unwanted clothes, don’t immediately put them in the bin. According to Oxfam, around 10,000 items of clothing go to landfills every five minutes in the UK, and take hundreds of years to decompose.

If your unwanted garments are good enough to wear someone else might find a home for them. Donate to a charity shop, sell second-hand like through Depop or Vinted, or arrange a clothes swap with friends.

Make little changes

There are many small things you can do to build and maintain a minimalist wardrobe:

• Take care of clothes so they last longer
• When buying new, look for second-hand and ethical options first
• Take time to think about new purchases to be sure it’s the right choice
• Reassess your wardrobe every few months to see if you have clothes you no longer need
• Get rid of things that don’t fit or match, or if you have something similar

A minimalist wardrobe can take time and willpower. But we promise it will help you live a more mindful, eco-conscious and sustainable life.