Looking to refresh your wardrobe for the new year, or already starting to think about updating your clothes ready for the warmer months?

With the climate crisis continuing to make headline news, it’s even more important now to think about how sustainable your wardrobe is, with the fashion industry accounting for up to 10% of greenhouse gas emissions!

But sustainable fashion can be a sometimes pretty confusing concept and often quite expensive, so we’ve put together this easy guide to sustainable fashion – perfect for a student budget!

Shopping Sustainably

There are so many ways to shop sustainably, but it’s important to make sure that brands aren’t just claiming to be ‘sustainable’. So many have been seen to use vague or misleading claims to suggest it’s more sustainable than it actually is!

The easiest way to start shopping sustainably is by buying second-hand clothing, either through charity shops and vintage sales or websites such as Depop or Vinted.

Buying clothes second-hand is great for so many reasons; not only does it mean you can find some absolute bargains, but it also keeps clothing in circulation for longer, which is so much better for the environment!

If you are looking to buy something new, then there are ways to ensure you are shopping sustainably. There are certifications to look out for depending on the material, that ensures your clothing has a lower impact on the planet. These include:

• Global Organic Textile Standard
• Leather Working Group 
• Forest Stewardship Council

As well as this, you can also look out for things that are made from recycled materials, but it’s always worth considering whether those garments can be recycled again after you’re finished with them!

Renting Clothes

An alternative to buying is to rent clothing, this keeps clothes in circulation for much longer, and is much cheaper than buying things brand new only to wear them once!

There are so many different websites for renting clothes that are perfect for different occasions, from everyday basics all the way up to ballgowns and three-piece suits!

How can I rent then?

There are a couple of different ways to rent clothing, each great for different occasions and budgets!

First, you have subscription-based services, where you pay a monthly fee and this allows you to hire a number of pieces every month and swap them as you please. This is a great option if you refuse to be an outfit repeater or you're a social butterfly and love to get a new outfit for every occasion.

Varying from £40 to £100 each month, these are a little more on the pricey side but can be cheaper than buying new clothes regularly, and of course much more environmentally friendly!

There are also clothing rental services that allow you to hire one-off pieces for a fraction of the cost of buying new, which people have been doing for a long time for things such as designer suits or dresses. But did you know you can now hire everyday clothing from your favourite high-street shops!?

Here's a list of some great clothing rental options, great for any occasion or budget:

• Hirestreet. Great for one-off rentals of high-street brands, with prices starting as little as £5 per day!
• Selfridges Rental. If you're looking for something for a special occasion, this is great for designer clothing hire, with prices from around 10% of the cost of buying the clothes.
• Swished. This is a great option for hiring AND lending women's high-street clothing. So a great option if you're looking to make some extra cash as well as having a wardrobe refresh!

Capsule Wardrobes

Traditionally the capsule wardrobe was a couple of pieces that could be easily mixed and matched with one another to create multiple outfits, and while this is still great for some people, it’s really easy to get bored of certain pieces/outfits and that’s when fast fashion comes in and catches you out!

Instead, many fashion experts have recommended finding a few pieces that you continue to reach for as each season rolls around, and instead of buying brand new when you’re bored of something, consider changing the way you style it by looking for a new accessory or finding a ‘new’ second-hand item to change things up a bit.

So now you've learnt a bit more about sustainable fashion, which of these tips will you be trying first?

And if you've got any that we haven't included, let us know in the comments below!