Creating a More Sustainable Wardrobe in 2026: Five Things You Should Do

Posted by Victoria Lochhead on January 19, 2026

Five Principles To Help Create a More Sustainable Wardrobe in 2026

Updated for 2026

Making mindful choices about how we buy, wear, care for and recycle our clothes can have a huge impact on both the planet and our personal style. A more stylish and conscious wardrobe is achieved through thoughtful, intentional changes over time.

If you're thinking of creating a more sustainable wardrobe this year, here are our five fundamental principles to help guide you as you go. They are easy to remember and by following the principles, you'll create a more sustainable approach to your clothes.

1. Wear More of What You Already Own

This is a deceptively simple idea, but the clothes you already have hanging in your wardrobe are the most sustainable thing you can wear. The production impact has already happened so wearing those things more often can reduce the environmental impact over the life of those clothes.

On average, most of us wear 20% of our clothes 80% of the time, and the other 80% only come out 20% of the time. To figure out what's so special about your 20%, start by turning your hangers the wrong way on the rail when you've worn something. Over time you can start to get a sense of your most loved items, and then play around with what you don't wear. In our online course Sustainable Style Studio, we set challenges to create new outfits from our not worn section to see if we can incorporate them into our outfit choices more often.

Many of us have way more clothes than we have space for, and if you're in a rush in the mornings, you're more likely to grab what you can see. In our free Facebook Group, we run a wardrobe revival week twice a year where we pack away out of season clothes and organise everything else so it's easy to see and access, making more of our clothes available and more likely to get worn.

2. Repair, Up-cycle & Care for Your Clothes

Learning simple repair skills like sewing on a button or fixing a hem can significantly extend the life of your clothes. Caring properly for garments — washing less frequently, using cooler temperatures, and air-drying where possible — also reduces wear and tear.

Sometimes items need to be adjusted to make them more wearable, so if you're not skilled in alterations, find a good tailor or seamstress and invest in having your clothes fit you perfectly. You might also find that great fun can be had up-cycling old pieces of clothing to make something new. Try some ideas on Pinterest to get started.

3. Know Your Style & Build a Colour Capsule Wardrobe

When we choose styles and colours of clothes that compliment and fit with our sense of identity, we feel more confident and are much more likely to wear those clothes more often. Understanding your personal style helps prevent impulse purchases that don't get worn. A capsule approach based on a colour palette that compliments your colouring creates a wardrobe that can be mixed and matched easily, so more of the wardrobe works together. A colour analysis session is a worthwhile investment to make sure your outfits hang together based on a colour palette that compliments your natural colouring and is designed to work harmoniously.

Discover more: The Hidden Benefits of a Colour Analysis Session

4. Buy Less New & Choose Quality Over Quantity

When you do shop, be intentional. Ask yourself whether an item fits your style, works with existing pieces, and will be worn regularly. If you're something of a serial shopper, these tips might help you to cut down on buying new pieces:

1. Clear out your wardrobe and create a list for the coming season of what you actually need, and stick to the list when shopping

2. When you're at the shop changing rooms trying something on, ask yourself these key questions:

Do I need it?

Can I think of at least three occasions when I might wear it?

Are there at least two other items in my wardrobe at home that this will go with?

Does it fit me well and is it comfortable?

Do I love it?

If you answer no to any of the above then it's not likely to make the cut as a coveted piece in your wardrobe and so might be better left in the shop.

If you looking at a possible purchase, check the label to see what it is made of. Prioritise natural, durable fabrics such as linen's, organic cotton and responsibly sourced wool. Select well-made garments designed to last in classic styles that won't date.

Explore: Choosing Sustainable Fabrics Blog

5. Shop Second-Hand First

Buying second-hand is one of the most impactful ways to reduce fashion’s environmental footprint. Shopping preloved keeps clothes in circulation, reduces waste, and often allows you to find high-quality or unique pieces often at a fraction of their original cost.

If you've never done it before, check out a local dress agency or start by typing your favourite brands and your size into the search bar on eBay. There's lots of places to shop for preloved treasure online, or head down to your local charity shop. My book In the Jumble explores lots of different places to find amazing secondhand clothes.

Bonus: More Sustainable Wardrobe Resources

Final Thoughts

Creating a more sustainable wardrobe in 2026 is about making thoughtful, consistent choices. By wearing what you own, buying less but better, and embracing second-hand fashion, you can build a unique wardrobe that reflects your style and your values and supports a more sustainable future.

If you have any guiding principles you like to follow in your wardrobe, leave us a comment below - we'd love to know what you think!

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Tags: Buy Less New, Capsule Wardrobes, Clothes, Colour Analysis, Outfits, Preloved Clothes, Recycling, Slow Fashion, Sustainable Fashion, Sustainable Style, Wardrobes, What to Wear

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