Quick question: have you ever found yourself staring at your wardrobe wondering what to wear? No matter how many clothes we have, we’ve all found ourselves in this predicament – but fear not, ladies! Rather than buying more clothes, a capsule wardrobe is what’s needed.
The term ‘capsule wardrobe’ was popularised by British fashion icon Susie Faux in the 1970s. A traditional capsule collection comprises anywhere between ten to 50 practical and versatile pieces of clothing, put together to create an entire wardrobe.
The great thing about a capsule wardrobe is that pieces are interchangeable, enabling you to build countless outfits from fewer items overall. This concept is even more relevant now in the age of fast fashion and should inspire us to change our consumption habits.
Here are my top picks for three key, eco-friendly pieces to invest in for a summer capsule wardrobe.
See also: 13 Fast Fashion Quotes To Inspire
1. Jeans
A pair of blue or coloured jeans is my go-to weekend outfit. Throw on some jeans, accessorise them with a cute top and a pair of laid-back sneakers, add a belt and matching bag, and you’re ready to go!
Unspun
Hong Kong-based brand Unspun has a really sustainable business model, selling only made-to-order, custom-made jeans. I’ve been wearing their light bootcut jeans over the last few months; I love that they’re curve-flattering and their high-waisted silhouette gives my legs a boost. You can simply pick the design you like and scan your body measurements through their app. In about a month’s time, they’ll send you a pair of jeans that’s been 100 percent tailor-made for your body shape.
Available at Unspun
Kuyichi
My other summer go-to are Kuyichi’s Lisette cream-coloured, super high-waisted, 70s-inspired flared jeans. They are made of organic cotton and eco-friendly Tencel Lyocell, which keeps me cool in the summer heat. They go perfectly with crop tops and I love pairing them with a linen blazer or light trench coat.
Available at Kuyichi
2. Crop Tops
Summer simply calls for crop tops! No matter what body shape you have, a crop top is a lady’s best friend.
Honest Basics
I am currently in love with Honest Basics, a brand from Germany. They’re on a mission to make sustainable fashion accessible to everyone, while paying everyone throughout their supply chain a fair wage. Here, you can find quality basics that are essential for building a capsule wardrobe – like this black spaghetti crop top.
Available at Honest Basics
Rifo
My other go-to summer crop top is from Rifo. Their Nora knitted crop top is made with a yarn crafted from recycled old jeans. Rifo estimates that this top has been recycled from two to five pairs of jeans, consuming only 80 litres of water throughout the production process – rather than the 3,000 required by an identical virgin cotton garment.
Available at Rifo
3. Blazers
Blazers add instant spunk to any outfit and work for many occasions. For instance, I’d throw on a blazer in Hong Kong summer whenever the indoor temperature gets too cold!
@White By Gosia Orlowska
My @White By Gosia Orlowska pink blazer is made from deadstock silk in Hong Kong. It’s perfect for work occasions or weekend brunches and the silk material makes it extra breathable and soft to the touch – and I love the pink colour!
Available at @White By Gosia Orlowska
Linen Handmade Studio
Linen is the perfect material for hot, humid Hong Kong summers as it’s so breathable and versatile. My Colette lavender grey linen jacket was made-to-order from Linen Handmade Studio; its classic, timeless design is just perfect for a summer capsule wardrobe. I also love that this brand has 27 colours to pick from for each design, and most items are made-to-order for your size, which minimises waste.
Available at Linen Handmade Studio
Remembering the manta of “buy less, buy better”, a capsule wardrobe is the best way forward to remedy the ills of our past consumption habits. Let’s all try to minimise our environmental impact through small, conscious steps that make a huge difference for the one planet we all share!
See also: 3 Sustainable Swimwear Brands to Wear This Summer
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