Here are the top ways shoppers are shifting their habits to push for an eco-friendly fashion industry.

The Capsule Wardrobe 

In case you haven’t been on Pinterest lately, the idea behind a capsule wardrobe is to keep a small number of clothing items that you can mix and match for any occasion. In theory, you should be able to live almost entirely off of about 20 articles of clothing that you love. Naturally, this keeps you from buying any new clothes you don’t love and need—you’re saving money and the world all in one go!

To start your capsule wardrobe, you’ll need to have all your basics covered. This will include elements like a white button-down shirt, a few basic pairs of jeans, neutral-colored t-shirts/tank tops, a nice blazer, and any other items you can’t live without. 

Of course, you’ll also need to include work clothes, especially If your job requires a specific uniform. For instance, people in medicine would likely need to include a few sets of scrubs, undershirts, or lab coats.

Once your basics are covered, throw in a few more exciting pieces to spice things up. Remember, mixing and matching are key here, so consider creating a color scheme and sticking to it. 

Fashion Recycling 

Fashion recycling can be a great first step for businesses looking to reduce their waste.

The term fashion recycling refers to the process of deconstructing existing fabrics and clothing materials to reuse them in new clothing. This reduces the amount of clothing in landfills while preventing excess resources from being harvested for new materials.

More and more retailers, like TAARA, are hopping on this trend by making their clothes out of recycled materials. As technology progresses to make this deconstruction process easier and less expensive, we can also hope that even more retailers will be inspired to take action.

Looking for functional and fashionable scrubs? TAARA Scrubs are produced using a recycled, four-way stretch fabric that keeps you moving all day long.

Biodegradable Materials

No matter how much we try to reuse clothing materials, there will still be plenty of items that still make their way to the landfill. How do we reduce the environmental damage that these items cause?

Right now, biodegradable materials seem to be the answer. The fashion industry has started experimenting with any materials under the sun, from cotton and linen to algae, mushrooms, and bamboo. These materials take much less time to degrade, and when they do, they leave fewer harmful chemicals behind. This is why several major retailers have pledged to use more of them in their products. 

Biodegradable Materials are a great example of how increased demand for eco-friendly clothing is beginning to drive more competition in the area, steadily decreasing their price as time passes.

More Selective Shopping 

As great as it is to have recycled or biodegradable materials in your clothing, some brands will go to extreme lengths to greenwash or otherwise mislead consumers. For example, a brand may boast about the amount of water they save while also conveniently neglecting the toxic dyes they use in the dying process. In other cases, a brand may emphasize its environmental sustainability while also keeping quiet about using unpaid labor in its supply chain.

Whether it’s day-to-day, formal, or work attire, it may be worth doing some deep research about a handful of brands that you trust so that you can shop with a light heart. 

Repair, Rewear, Resell 

No matter how recycled or biodegradable your medical apparel is, one sustainable fashion trends tip is more important: buying less. 

Do you need another identical top that is just slightly bluer? Or another set of patterned scrubs that you only wear twice a year? Buying less and extending the lifespan of your clothes is always the most eco-friendly option.

In practice, that means trying to repair your clothes instead of throwing them away. There’s no need to become a full-blown seamstress—just Googling a quick tutorial every once in a while will do the trick. 

On the other hand, if you have clothes that are a little too “out there” for you, stop holding them hostage! Resell them, give them to a friend, turn them into a new tote bag—whatever keeps them out of a landfill!

Eco-Friendly Medical Clothing & Fashion Scrubs 

When it comes to career-specific clothes, finding brands that prioritize the environment is a great way to ensure your sustainable fashion is without spending hours researching their materials and supply chain. 

One such brand is ,TAARA Scrubs which uses recycled materials to create high-quality, fashionable scrubs for healthcare professionals. Specifically, they use recycled polyester yarn, which is made of recycled water bottles, tackling both the waste of the fashion industry and excess plastics in one go. 

TAARA’s rigorous sustainability standards extend to every step in their products’  lifespan—from requiring certified sewing factories to using biodegradable shipping materials. Their emphasis on accountability and environmental responsibility allows busy healthcare professionals to support the environment without sacrificing valuable time finding affordable scrubs that align with their values.

Looking for quality, affordable, and eco-friendly scrubs for your day-to-day? TAARA Scrubs offers a range of styles with great functionality.

Last Thoughts

While these sustainable fashion trends are an excellent sign for 2022, there’s also no doubt that they’re a sign that change in the fashion industry is coming long-term. And as the standards for what consumers expect from their fashion retailers shift, we hope that other industries will be inspired to take action.