This Week's Obsession: Building Your Circular Wardrobe

This Week's Obsession: Building Your Circular Wardrobe

In a world increasingly focused on sustainability, building a fully circular wardrobe is one of the most impactful steps you can take toward reducing your environmental footprint. A circular wardrobe emphasises minimising waste, maximising the lifespan of garments, and ensuring that clothes are recycled or repurposed at the end of their life cycle.

One of the best places to start is taking inventory of your wardrobe and determining how you can make your existing wardrobe circular.  Start by identifying all the things in your closet that you don't wear or plan to wear.  These items can find a second life through donation or resale.  If you're not sure, perhaps you may have some candidates for up-cycling. 

Next, find the items you want to wear but don't because they need alterations, repair or refurbishment. Photograph each one and name them with necessary work to be done. Once you know what needs to be done, the next is to find who can do it.  We'll list some resources at the end of our blog.   

Finally, for those items you love but don't wear often you can monetise them through loaning them out. In order to do this you must photograph all of these items, if fact we suggest photographing everything you have in your wardrobe and uploading them into a digital wardrobe app.

For the rest of your items, you should make it a habit to sell or donate one, every time you purchase a new one.  So let's turn our attention on how to add to your wardrobe in a circular way.   

 More Circular Rule of Thumb

If you wear something all the time buy it, resale if possible. If you wear something once, rent it and if you wear items on rotation, co-ow them. 

There is a statistic that says we only wear about 20% of what is in our closet - most likely this is because we have pieces we love that we wear all the time.  These are the items you should own. It is also important with these types of items to keep them in pristine condition and repair them when they get damaged.  

Wear it Often - Buy It

We love the idea of keeping the size of your wardrobe fairly constant - so if a new piece comes in, one should go out either via resale, donation or lending.  When purchasing, here are some tips to help make your wardrobe more circular. 

  • Buy Fewer, Better Pieces: The foundation of a circular wardrobe is investing in high-quality garments that are built to last. Instead of purchasing multiple fast-fashion items that wear out quickly, focus on acquiring timeless pieces that are durable and versatile. Brands like Patagonia and Eileen Fisher are known for their commitment to sustainability and producing long-lasting clothing.
  • Timeless Styles: Choose classic styles and neutral colors that won’t go out of fashion. A well-made blazer, a pair of durable jeans, or a little black dress are examples of items that can be worn for years without looking dated.
  • Choose Sustainable Fabrics: Look for clothes made from sustainable materials such as organic cotton, Tencel, or recycled polyester. These fabrics require less water and energy to produce and have a lower environmental impact.
  • Support Brands with Circular Initiatives: Some brands, like Stella McCartney and Outerknown, are pioneers in using recycled materials and adopting circular business models. They offer products made from recycled fabrics and take back old garments to be recycled or repurposed.
  • Think Before You Buy: Before making a purchase, ask yourself if the item will truly add value to your wardrobe. Avoid impulse buying and focus on acquiring pieces that will serve multiple purposes and work well with what you already own.
  • Capsule Wardrobe: Consider creating a capsule wardrobe, which is a small collection of essential items that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. This approach not only reduces the number of clothes you need but also encourages thoughtful purchasing.
  • Shop Secondhand: Thrift stores, consignment shops, and online platforms like ThredUp or Vestiaire Collective offer a wide range of pre-loved fashion. Buying secondhand extends the life of clothing and reduces demand for new production.
  • Vintage Finds: Vintage shopping is another way to incorporate unique and high-quality pieces into your wardrobe. Vintage items often have better craftsmanship and materials than modern fast fashion, making them a more sustainable choice.

Wear it Once - Rent It

    If you are going to wear it once or try before you buy --then rental is of you. Rental is a circular option because it drives up the utilisation of the items, which lessens the need for new resources.  Most rental platforms offer resale - so you can try something and if you love it and want to wear it often, you can purchase it at a reduced price. 

    The great news is you can rent all level of fashion and accessories - at varying price points. You can also use rental platforms to drive up the utilisation of items in your wardrobe that you wear infrequently.  If you are happy to share you can help the planet and earn some money. 

     Wear it on Rotation - Co-own It

    Co-ownership is the new circular kid on the block, but we think it will be the most practical because it allows you to have items you want to wear frequently on rotation. 

    Co-ownership is when you purchase a share in an item (also known as fractional ownership) and you have access to your luxury items for up to 10 weeks per year. You can sell your share to trade up to new items or when you’d like to recoup your investment. 

    By co-owning your items are maintained and repair to keep them in pristine condition, extend their life and retain their value.  Pure genius!  

    At More Luxury Club we believe if you love personal luxury goods, you’re a luxury minimalist, or an aspirational luxury customer, all of these models can be part of building your luxury wardrobe and collections.  Our vision was to launch the world’s first circular luxury club which creates a marketplace for the fractional ownership of luxury goods.  We wanted to offer luxury consumers more than most luxury brands deliver. 

    Building a fully circular wardrobe is a commitment to sustainability, quality, and thoughtful consumption. By investing in durable pieces, choosing sustainable materials, and participating in the circular economy through co-ownership, rental secondhand shopping, recycling, and upcycling, you can significantly reduce your fashion footprint. Not only will your wardrobe be kinder to the planet, but it will also reflect a mindful and intentional approach to fashion—one that aligns with the growing movement towards sustainability in every aspect of life.

    Vote for Me --Loro Piana The Extra L27

     

    The exquisite craftsmanship and dedication to luxury textiles have long been hallmarks of Loro Piana, setting them apart in the world of high-end fashion. Their innovative yet timeless designs speak to a refined taste and appreciation for quality.

    Introducing the latest addition to the Extra line, a masterpiece of sophisticated elegance with a nod to vintage charm. This geometrically inspired piece is adorned with carefully selected details and topstitched trim, showcasing modern lines and a luxurious finish. Crafted from sumptuously soft calfskin, each bag exudes a natural full-bodied beauty that only Italian artisans can achieve. The addition of new lock charms adds a touch of elegance and femininity to this already stunning piece.

     

    And we love this rust colour for autum/winter called deep kummel. This bag is not only stylish but also practical, with a smooth leather cross-body strap for convenience on the go. Made entirely in Italy, this 100% leather beauty is available at an incredible price of £638 per share. 

    If you're smitten with this new arrival, show your love by voting for her today. We'll be sure to follow up and find out which hue speaks to your personal style. 

     

    Love It or 'Hate' It?--Trend: Added Charm

     

    You might remember that several months ago we did a Love It or 'Hate' It called charmification, where we looked at all of the kitschy charms people were loading on to their bags - we were not fans. Most likely this trend skews to a younger demographic.  

    In plain site all along were bags that had charms as part of their DNA.  A few good examples, most famously the Lady Dior (pictured below).

    The ubiquitous Loewe Squeeze bag comes with a gold charm as does the Chanel 22 Mini Bag.  Or as ETRO states about their Vela bag, it comes with a medallion with the ETRO logo and the Pegaso symbol.

     One can also buy a Loewe gold charm chain to use as a strap for your Puzzle bag or other Loewe bags. Both Dior and Louis Vuitton also have these gold charm chains to add a little je ne sais quoi to your favourite bag. 

     We see the appeal of this trend, let us know what you think via What'sApp.

    UK Resources for repairs, up-cycling, alterations (you can also find good local seamstresses and tailors on google).

    Save Your Wardrobe

    The Seam

    The Handbag Clinic, also sells pre-loved designer bags.