Let’s talk about the fashion industry being the second largest polluter in the world after the oil industry. Garments are produced in toxic wastewater that is untreated and this water contains chemicals like mercury and lead that are toxic to people who live by the water and sea as well as aquatic life. In developing countries around 90% of the wastewater ends up in rivers without being treated. Of all industrial water pollution, 20% comes from dyes and textile treatment. In addition, a lot of water pollution comes from the production of cotton. Around 5283 gallons of water can go into just 2 pounds of cotton. According to Stephen Leahy, The Guardian, “85 % of the daily needs in water of the entire population of India would be covered by the water used to grow cotton in the country. 100 million people in India do not have access to drinking water.

So how can we do better? Well the solution isn’t so far fetched! Some simple habits to imbed into your life are thrifting, keeping a minimal closet, sharing clothes, up cycling or repurposing old clothing, and renting! Sharing clothes with friends is a simple way to maximize your closet on a budget and get more use out of your closet. While we love having a big closet as much as the next person, it’s not the most sustainable or affordable. Keeping a minimal closet with staple pieces and renting for bigger events will give you the flexibility and fun of having a big closet without spending as much on individual pieces. Another one of our favorite things to do is thrift and epicycle. Upcycling is when you transform an old or seemingly useless piece of fabric or clothing and give it a new purpose. The possibilities are endless with this but it does require a little more creativity and effort. 

Here at tkoor we certainly have a favorite way to consciously shop! What is it? You guessed it, renting! Our motto is rent, rock, return, repeat and we LIVE by these words. Renting is a simple solution to not only cure the dread of buyer’s remorse and indecisiveness but it’s also an actively sustainable practice. What’s amazing about renting is that you can expand your closet by peering into other closets and borrowing just like you would a library work. Through efforts like this we can ease the load on the garment industry and decrease our textile consumption. Join us in celebrating fashion through a conscious lens!