Saving the Grace: My Sustainable Wardrobe

It was only in June 2018 that I was a self-confessed fast fashion addict; buying clothes with each new season and always knowing about the latest Zara drop. Yet one month later, I radically transformed my shopping habits and instead turned to a more sustainable wardrobe.

In July 2018 I quit fast fashion for good. Quit for the sake of the planet and the world’s waters. Yes, I went cold turkey. I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the initial transition to slow and conscious consumption was hard. But I saw it as an opportunity to explore new sustainable brands, make second hand clothes my go-to, and started clothes sales pop-up with friends (a great way to top up your own wardrobe). 

There’s a new addition to my sustainable wardrobe – clothing rental – and it’s here to stay as a regular for any event.

Despite being a sustainable living advocate, I like most other young women, want something ‘new’ to wear to a party. The social pressure and self-expectation to wear something ‘unphotographed’ for each event is solved sustainably by renting a dress instead of going out and buying one. As Livia Firth, founder of Eco-age would say, unless it will get 30 wears, don’t buy it! 

I recently tried the My Wardrobe HQ ‘My Dressing Room’service to rent a dress for a Sheerluxe show appearance. I was blown away by the quality of service and the selection of dresses available to rent.

As someone who hates online shopping (in my opinion it removes the experience of feeling the clothes and trying them on), the Dressing Room service has all of this… and the style advice. It’s as if you’re shopping with a friend in the comfort of your own home. I was sold! You can see my excitement here.

Written by Emily Broughton, Founder of Saving the Grace – a sustainable living platform focusing on 5 areas of change: lifestyle, food, fashion, wellness and action in the world, to save our world’s waters through empowerment and education.