Saving the environment doesn't always have to be a grueling inconvenience. Yes, there are many compromises we must make to our comfort for the betterment of the entire planet, and I applaud your personal efforts and ask you to keep persisting.

But sometimes, the answer is so simple—it's right there in your closet.

The garment industry not a commonly discussed contributor when it comes to environmental preservation, yet it's the second largest pollution source in the world. If you take a look at the tags on your clothes, most of them are made in third-world countries where the manufacturing laws are exceptionally more lenient.

The lack of sufficient factory regulations overseas results in toxic waste being produced without legal repercussions. Not to mention—America's excessive consumerist culture stimulates the demand of the products which continue to damage the environment.

Fast fashion is the most guilty party here; cheap clothes means cheap labor and derelict working conditions. While inexpensive clothing is convenient in the moment, it comes at a hefty, dangerous price in the long term. This is the best excuse you can give yourself to splurge on pricey, but sustainably made, articles of clothing. The quality will be better, and the toll on the environment will be much less.

Now, I understand how unfair it is to promote the solution of spending three times the amount you'd usually spend on clothes. However, there are a few things to note:

How many clothes which you've bought just sit in your closet? How many clothes do you use just a couple times before getting rid of them or replacing them? How many clothes deteriorate within a year or so? Quality clothing is an investment. We don't need that many clothes, we need good clothes.

Buying fewer, better pieces will pressure you to buy items of clothing that you will wear more often, as opposed to buying tops that would only be cute for a season. Basics are timeless, and one high-quality t-shirt will last longer than four cheaply made t-shirts combined. Sustainable denim is often 100% cotton, so your jeans won't stretch out and tear after being worn for only a year. Plus, by having fewer pieces in your closet that you wear all the time, you are wasting a lot less (of your money, included).

Secondly, there are ways to shop sustainably and affordably. Several eco-friendly brands such as Everlane and Patagonia sell their clothes at discount stores like NordstromRack. Thrifting is also an amazing option - and probably the most sustainable one. Buy used clothes! You can find great stuff for a modest price and directly engage in recycling! The same goes for donating or selling your old clothes, but if you have damaged clothing that you'd just throw away - don't. There are many recycling programs out there now, for example, the store & Other Stories encourages anyone to bring in clothing of any kind to their shops, and they will simply give it to their recycling partner. Easy.

I'm still working on building an environmentally conscious wardrobe; it takes time, effort, and discipline. But it's an investment, and the results will be worth the process. By shopping less and shopping smarter, we can promote sustainability just one piece at a time.

Check out these links for more information about where and how you can shop sustainably:

https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/old-environmental-impacts

https://www.greenpeace.org/international/story/16087/want-a-fairer-fashion-industry-this-is-what-you-can-do/

https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/reducing-our-impact