The Beauty of a DIY Wardrobe

Aug 1

Written By Dori

It feels reasonable to say that we need to rethink our wardrobes. There are so many issues currently affecting our planet and individual wellbeing that the idea of our wardrobe adding to these sources of pressure is extremely silly. Clothing should only be a source of joy, one that allows us to fulfil our true expression. Looking at our outfits is something that should prompt us to feel great about ourselves and yet, for many, they don’t. How did this happen, who is the culprit, and how can we restore vitality and excitement into our clothing?

See my Mottos below, share and like them and spread some inspiration for others as well!

These are questions I think about often. Clothing shouldn’t be oppressive but well-known and so-called ‘fashion’ rules continue to be pervasive, leading many (often women) to feel limited by what they can wear. Clothing shouldn’t be destructive but mass production and fast fashion continue to perpetuate a system that is contributing to huge amounts of environmental waste. Fortunately, there are resolutions. We have the ability to change this situation. We just need to act one wardrobe at a time. Here’s how…

Embrace Identity

We, as a collective, need to challenge fashion, choosing to wear what we each feel great in and not the prescribed styles of clothing that populate high street windows. An issue stems from trends being homogenous, with influencers and brands announcing what is popular, whether it is low rise jeans or crop tops, and customers feeling obligated to adopt what is considered trendy instead of dressing in their own way. Being made to feel like a person or their body type doesn’t ‘fit’ with current fashion is damaging to mental health.

To fix this, we need to turn our attention away from the mainstream and start considering usual clothing, those alternative and DIY clothing items that harmonise with the unique style of our own personalities.

Support Creators

We all have our stories to tell and, for many of us, we express this intimate tale through our clothing and appearance. Or, at least, we would endeavour to do so if high street stores were able to offer a diverse range of unique garments that truly matched our wildly different personalities. Since this is not the case, we must, instead, seek out the creators who are making unique garments, those that stand out.

Each purchase you make, every item of clothing, contributes to a changing landscape of style and by choosing to buy unusual clothing from exciting creatives, you are voting for diversity and positivity, helping small businesses like my own to reach a greater audience and thrive!

Prioritise Sustainability

To take the guilt out of our wardrobe, we need to prioritise sustainability. This doesn’t mean feeling guilty about the low-quality or fast fashion items we may have previously bought. Instead, it means giving them as much life as possible, turning them into fabric recycling or upcycling old clothing into something new when they deteriorate. There’s not only the potential to give them new life but also to transform them into something even better.

Then, moving forward, we should choose guilt-free garments that come from recycled sources or sustainably made producers. By doing so, you will be able to wear each item knowing that it has helped to support a cleaner, less wasteful environment.