The Great Balancing Act
In the iconic book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss, there’s a quote that reads, “So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact, and remember that life's a great balancing act.”
There’s a lot of truth in the works and rhyming words of Dr. Seuss, and I think he’s hit the nail on the head again here: Life is, in many respects, a balancing act. We balance our work lives with our social lives, our exercise with our downtime, and, sometimes most pertinently, our spending with our savings.
I’ve noticed that a lot of people feel the weight of this balancing act particularly acutely when it comes to sustainable fashion. Many people want to shop sustainably, but they just don’t know how to fit it into the balance of their clothing budget. And there’s definitely some truth to this trepidation – eco-friendly garments can often be more expensive than their standard-made counterparts because of the higher cost of sustainable materials and production processes. But I also think this highlights some common misconceptions regarding sustainable fashion. In truth, if we “step with care” as Dr. Seuss suggests, there are many ways we can balance sustainability with affordability.
For starters, shopping secondhand can be a cheap alternative to shopping new. Thrifting, for example, can be an inexpensive alternative for clothing from a variety of brands, all while helping reduce textile waste and extend the life cycle of garments. Even if there aren’t any thrift stores in your area, there are a number of sites, such as Depop, Poshmark, and ThredUp, that make affordable secondhand clothing accessible to people everywhere.
Clothing swaps – types of swap meets where people exchange unwanted but wearable clothing with each other – can also freshen up your wardrobe without emptying out your wallet. Thanks to websites like Meetup and Swap.com, clothing swaps are easier to find than ever, and you can also check local event calendars to see if there are other events happening in your area.
What’s more, there are ways to update and upgrade your wardrobe without buying pieces at all! There are a number of relatively simple DIY techniques that, with a little help from tutorials on YouTube, you can learn and use on the more well-worn pieces that have cycled out of your usual clothing rotation. I’ve discussed patches and needlework in a previous post – check that one out here! – but there’s also cropping, distressing, and many others that are worth a try.
You can use these DIY techniques on general fabrics and materials, too, not just your clothes. Upcycling – the practice of recycling something in such a manner that the new product has more value than the old – can turn an old boot into a pot for a plant or a ripped T-shirt into a stylish tote bag. Brett wrote an excellent post detailing upcycling last year, and there are plenty of other upcycling how-tos and step-by-step guides that are only a Google – or Bing! – search away.
While these DIY techniques are great for everyday fixes and creating value out of old items, there will be times when you need to buy new. As I mentioned before, this is the point where many people have trouble balancing sustainability with their budget consciousness – it can be hard to follow through on even the best of intentions when they manifest as an extra $20 for a pair of pants.
Luckily, an increasing number of brands are centering their business models on selling clothing that balances sustainability with affordability. This is no surprise – according to McKinsey & Company, over 60% of consumers report going out of their way to make sustainability a priority in their shopping. We’re proud to partner with a number of brands that make sustainability, and affordability, cornerstones of what they do. You can see a full list of dozens and dozens of sustainable brands, in a variety of price ranges, just by visiting the home page of our website.
Shopping for secondhand clothing, DIY and upcycling techniques, budget-friendly sustainable brands – the pattern apparent in all these shopping methods is intentionality. There are certainly avenues along which we can pursue sustainability in our clothing choices, even on a budget: We just have to seek them out with care. To paraphrase Dr. Seuss: Be sure when you shop, shop with care and great tact. If we can commit to that, I think there’s hope for all of us to master the balancing act of sustainability and affordability
Alec Matulka
Doo Dah Apparel
