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Sustainable Wardrobe: Practical Advice and Projects for Eco-Friendly Fashion
Statistics show that how we are consuming, maintaining, and discarding our clothing has a devastating effect on the planet. Every part of the cycle has problems, and they won't be fixed overnight, so what can we actually do to make a difference? Sophie Benson, a journalist specialising in sustainable fashion, breaks down the problem and explains how we can mitigate it, from the clothes we purchase to the way we care for them to how we dispose of them. With easy tutorials to follow (how to read a label and have a conscious closet clear-out; upcycling hacks; how to darn socks; and how to care for your jeans), Benson shows how small changes can result in a more sustainable, eco-friendly wardrobe without breaking the bank.
160 pages, Hardcover
Published September 12, 2023
2 people are currently reading
2043 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 9, 2024
While I miss working at an active public library, I am now free to browse the shelves at my leisure and I found this book during one of my library visits. I believe I might not have come across it otherwise. It's a great book and speaks to my practical nature. I'm one of those people that still practice the art of daring and I loved the clear illustrations that show all the steps.
December 15, 2023
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Sustainable Wardrobe is a practical and insightful book perfect for anyone looking to do more to save the planet, cut costs, and upcycle their wardrobe. This book has a wealth of information and really makes you think about your spending habits, unnecessary purchasing, and ways to be more eco-friendly. I'd love to get this in physical format one day as there's some great advice and information that I want to go back on and refresh myself with and follow. I've been buying more second-hand clothing for a few years now, and this has given me even ideas of little projects to try in the near future.
Sustainable Wardrobe is a practical and insightful book perfect for anyone looking to do more to save the planet, cut costs, and upcycle their wardrobe. This book has a wealth of information and really makes you think about your spending habits, unnecessary purchasing, and ways to be more eco-friendly. I'd love to get this in physical format one day as there's some great advice and information that I want to go back on and refresh myself with and follow. I've been buying more second-hand clothing for a few years now, and this has given me even ideas of little projects to try in the near future.
January 5, 2024
Actually the most comprehensive, informative, and concise writing I’ve seen on the topic. Actionable and approachable for anyone.
November 14, 2023
Not necessarily applicable to me, but this was a great book to get an intro into sustainable wardrobe and re-use. Publishing wise, I enjoyed the images and text. Often for books regarding sustainability we are introduces to the theory and importance of the concept, rather than practical ways to apply skills to daily life. I found that this book helped to show me that achieving a more sustainable practice for my clothing was achievable with a little time and effort.
Though I don't think I would use the specific project done throughout this book, it sparked ideas on how accessible environmental shopping/mending/and re using is.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.
Though I don't think I would use the specific project done throughout this book, it sparked ideas on how accessible environmental shopping/mending/and re using is.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.
January 12, 2025
A good book for teaching you basics on repairs and giving beginner information, but I can't give it more that 3 stars for the lack of references. So many statistics, but no way to track them.
August 25, 2023
Each and every one of us has a relationship with fashion. Whether we’re fashionable or not, following a trend or creating our own; or simply wearing our favourite t-shirts and jeans on a loop. Unfortunately, a lot of the clothing we come into contact with on a daily basis is highly unsustainable. Both for the environment, and the people who made our clothes. So, if you are interested in sustainable fashion, keep reading.
Be The Change
In the book Sustainable Wardrobe, Sophie Benson explains how if we want to change the industry, we have to fully understand what needs to be changed. She begins by introducing us to the facts and fiction behind fast fashion. Myths such as, “Fast Fashion Creates Jobs”, and “Sustainable Fashion is Boring”. We look inside the factories and the lives of those who work for low wages and under poor conditions. Making garments such as t-shirts that we may only wear a few times.
Styling & Repurposing
One of my favourite parts about Sophie Benson’s book is the sections on up-cycling, repairing, re-purposing what you already have, and creating your own natural dyes. It’s a “make-do-and-mend” kind of manual and it’s super simple.
It’s not all about turning an item of clothing into a different garment either -Sophie includes directions to turn a padded jacket into a laptop case. With some simple directions and a little imagination, ensuring that your worn out/no longer used garments are saved from landfill is easy – and fun.
Out of sight – Out of mind
A very important point to take from Sustainable Fashion is being mindful about what you do with your cast offs. It’s very easy for us to think “away” is good – when the reality is just that we’ve put it out of our minds and told ourselves what we want to hear. In many cases, clothing we give to charity (with all the best will in the world) end up exported to Africa (where much of what is received is unsuitable) or straight into landfill. There’s just too much fast fashion to cope with. So we have to be more thoughtful of how we discard. In fact, selling on a second-hand marketplace online is often better than donating, because you are sending it to someone who actually wants it.
Slow Fashion
Ultimately, shopping can never be truly sustainable. We need to re-use, re-purpose and truly use what we have. Second-hand and vintage shopping must come first. Ethically produced fashion second.
We have to learn how to maintain our clothes with careful washing methods, to share clothes and attend swapping parties. To make simple alterations. This book can help with every aspect and guide you with some truly useful information.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would encourage anyone on the path to have a sustainable wardrobe to buy it. It’s due for publication on the 12th September and available to pre-order.
Be The Change
In the book Sustainable Wardrobe, Sophie Benson explains how if we want to change the industry, we have to fully understand what needs to be changed. She begins by introducing us to the facts and fiction behind fast fashion. Myths such as, “Fast Fashion Creates Jobs”, and “Sustainable Fashion is Boring”. We look inside the factories and the lives of those who work for low wages and under poor conditions. Making garments such as t-shirts that we may only wear a few times.
Styling & Repurposing
One of my favourite parts about Sophie Benson’s book is the sections on up-cycling, repairing, re-purposing what you already have, and creating your own natural dyes. It’s a “make-do-and-mend” kind of manual and it’s super simple.
It’s not all about turning an item of clothing into a different garment either -Sophie includes directions to turn a padded jacket into a laptop case. With some simple directions and a little imagination, ensuring that your worn out/no longer used garments are saved from landfill is easy – and fun.
Out of sight – Out of mind
A very important point to take from Sustainable Fashion is being mindful about what you do with your cast offs. It’s very easy for us to think “away” is good – when the reality is just that we’ve put it out of our minds and told ourselves what we want to hear. In many cases, clothing we give to charity (with all the best will in the world) end up exported to Africa (where much of what is received is unsuitable) or straight into landfill. There’s just too much fast fashion to cope with. So we have to be more thoughtful of how we discard. In fact, selling on a second-hand marketplace online is often better than donating, because you are sending it to someone who actually wants it.
Slow Fashion
Ultimately, shopping can never be truly sustainable. We need to re-use, re-purpose and truly use what we have. Second-hand and vintage shopping must come first. Ethically produced fashion second.
We have to learn how to maintain our clothes with careful washing methods, to share clothes and attend swapping parties. To make simple alterations. This book can help with every aspect and guide you with some truly useful information.
I really enjoyed reading this book and would encourage anyone on the path to have a sustainable wardrobe to buy it. It’s due for publication on the 12th September and available to pre-order.
October 15, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Sustainable Wardrobe is a volume in a green living series; this volume written by Sophie Benson. Released 12th Sept 2023 by Quarto on their White Lion imprint, it's 160 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Dwindling resources and an ever increasing climate catastrophe has caused pretty much everyone on the planet to re-evaluate their consumption. This book is part of a series aimed at helping readers to make more informed and responsible decisions.
The book has an accessible and logical layout. Information is gathered thematically: background/waste and fashion, assessing the reader's wardrobe, shopping habits & consumption, clothing maintenance, and repair. The tutorials are streamlined, sensible, accessible, and well photographed.
There are a number of good exercises included for helping readers track their current wardrobe, find out what changes are practical for them, and make a plan to implement changes in a reasonable way.
Four stars. Well written and useful. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, and potentially for classroom use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Sustainable Wardrobe is a volume in a green living series; this volume written by Sophie Benson. Released 12th Sept 2023 by Quarto on their White Lion imprint, it's 160 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Dwindling resources and an ever increasing climate catastrophe has caused pretty much everyone on the planet to re-evaluate their consumption. This book is part of a series aimed at helping readers to make more informed and responsible decisions.
The book has an accessible and logical layout. Information is gathered thematically: background/waste and fashion, assessing the reader's wardrobe, shopping habits & consumption, clothing maintenance, and repair. The tutorials are streamlined, sensible, accessible, and well photographed.
There are a number of good exercises included for helping readers track their current wardrobe, find out what changes are practical for them, and make a plan to implement changes in a reasonable way.
Four stars. Well written and useful. This would be a good choice for public or school library acquisition, home use, and potentially for classroom use.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 3, 2023
This book has an attractive layout and design, with short sections of text and illustrative photographs. The author shares a wealth of helpful information about the fashion industry, taking an in-depth look at the problems with fast fashion, what we can do about this, and how we can maintain sustainable wardrobes. Even though I have already read a lot on this subject, I still learned many new things from this book, and I appreciated how the author engaged with the pros and cons of different things without relying on easy environmental slogans. There's a lot of helpful nuance here about problems and their potential solutions.
The title is a bit misleading, making it sound like craft projects are a bigger part of the book than they really are. This is mainly an informational book, and the handful of interspersed projects tend to be very specific, such as dying clothing one particular color or hosting a clothing swap with friends. If someone is primarily looking for ideas and instruction for mending, making, and altering clothes, they will want to pursue a different resource.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
The title is a bit misleading, making it sound like craft projects are a bigger part of the book than they really are. This is mainly an informational book, and the handful of interspersed projects tend to be very specific, such as dying clothing one particular color or hosting a clothing swap with friends. If someone is primarily looking for ideas and instruction for mending, making, and altering clothes, they will want to pursue a different resource.
I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.
June 29, 2023
I consider this book to be an attractive reference guide for beginners that want to lessen their footprint on the environment. We are all aware of the benefits of eating less meat, using less plastic, using less gas, but less attention is given to the inhumane garment industry.
Most people don't realize just how detrimental the fashion industry is to the environment, or that giving their clothes to Goodwill doesn't always help matters. Benson points out that many of those clothes end up in landfills, and reminds the reader that, as with plastics, the last step in the "reduce, reuse, recycle," is meant to be recycle.
The cycle of clothing is as invisible to people in Europe and North America as the commercial meat industry is. An ugly thing that almost everyone participates in, but happens far away from our Targets and Walmarts.
While Benson's book is far from the only book on this topic, I find it to be one of the better ones.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but my review is not paid for.
Most people don't realize just how detrimental the fashion industry is to the environment, or that giving their clothes to Goodwill doesn't always help matters. Benson points out that many of those clothes end up in landfills, and reminds the reader that, as with plastics, the last step in the "reduce, reuse, recycle," is meant to be recycle.
The cycle of clothing is as invisible to people in Europe and North America as the commercial meat industry is. An ugly thing that almost everyone participates in, but happens far away from our Targets and Walmarts.
While Benson's book is far from the only book on this topic, I find it to be one of the better ones.
Disclaimer: I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but my review is not paid for.
November 26, 2023
A quick, breezy guide for yourself or friend who falls anywhere on the scale from crunchy to zero waste. This is a good starter book for anyone who is wanting to learn about the modern fashion industry, the basics of waste/pollution/overconsumption, and how each individual can make an impact (positive or negative.)
Again, this is a very basic and brief overview so it does come with some handy and helpful “how-to” sections and plenty and is self aware about the basics, but this is just one of many guides out there. There is an index, but there is not a bibliography or comprehensive list reference regarding research.
This is a good reference book to have on your shelf if you are committed to a sustainable lifestyle or a good read to borrow from the library or a friend of your interested in learning a bit more about what sustainability and sustainable fashion means.
Bonus points for being well researched, well written, and the diversity of interviews that the author was able to do with workers and founders in different industries (featured at the end of every chapter.)
Again, this is a very basic and brief overview so it does come with some handy and helpful “how-to” sections and plenty and is self aware about the basics, but this is just one of many guides out there. There is an index, but there is not a bibliography or comprehensive list reference regarding research.
This is a good reference book to have on your shelf if you are committed to a sustainable lifestyle or a good read to borrow from the library or a friend of your interested in learning a bit more about what sustainability and sustainable fashion means.
Bonus points for being well researched, well written, and the diversity of interviews that the author was able to do with workers and founders in different industries (featured at the end of every chapter.)
October 14, 2023
I received a copy of this book through the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review.
This is a nice little book!
It has introductory information like definitions of various words like compostable, sustainable, etc. as well as information on caring for different fabrics, how to shop more sustainably, how clothes are made, and how to do basic clothing repairs. It doesn't go super in depth about why fast fashion is bad, but focuses on how to reduce clothing waste and the environmental burden of caring for fabrics while finding clothes you like. While the book doesn't have a ton of detail or nuance, it's a good book for people who are looking for ways to have more sustainable closets.
This is a nice little book!
It has introductory information like definitions of various words like compostable, sustainable, etc. as well as information on caring for different fabrics, how to shop more sustainably, how clothes are made, and how to do basic clothing repairs. It doesn't go super in depth about why fast fashion is bad, but focuses on how to reduce clothing waste and the environmental burden of caring for fabrics while finding clothes you like. While the book doesn't have a ton of detail or nuance, it's a good book for people who are looking for ways to have more sustainable closets.
August 17, 2025
I got this book for its clean lines, lovely pictures, and a few visible mending tutorials in the last section. But I enjoyed reading all of it. It has several thought-provoking statistics scattered throughout, and makes a great case for learning to mend, repurpose, and share our clothes. I may not end up dying a T-shirt with avocado skins, but I am looking more closely at a few pieces in my closet which “don’t fit right” to see if a small change can tailor them better to me. It was a quick read, with a surprising amount of detail and pointers to further resource for its size. I’m definitely considering my wardrobe in a new light.
August 7, 2023
This book teaches you how to give a second life to your clothes in a fashionable and easy way. Also how to gives us advice in how to keep the state of our clothes and how to repair them in unique ways.
The photos add so much to the tips an helps to inspire readers even more.
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and the author for this book
The photos add so much to the tips an helps to inspire readers even more.
I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and the author for this book
August 2, 2025
This book has lots of great advice based on thoughtful and researched explanations of the situations. The advice was very beginner to medium level friendly with ideas and mindset changes that you can both start right away and work up to over time. Sophie Benson is also very compelling when she shares insider experience from the textile industry it helped further encourage me to work on being more sustainable for the people and planet.
March 17, 2025
A good overview on how to make your wardrobe more sustainable which touches on environmental and human impacts of fast fashion, styling and refashioning clothes you already own and also how to perform some common repairs to clothing.
November 5, 2025
This was an overall informative read and I certainly feel inspired to be more mindful about my wardrobe. I enjoyed the practical tips and lessons interspersed with the facts and information on the fashion/clothing industry.
August 31, 2023
I would like to thank netgalley and Quarto Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Pretty and full of lots of useful information.
Pretty and full of lots of useful information.
December 3, 2024
Informative chapters regarding there is no such place as “away” as in you throw something away and in which countries being polluted with tonnes and tonnes of donated clothes.
February 5, 2025
Handy info -- bottom line. Stop buying fast fashion. Upcycle your own or go a-thrifting.
August 8, 2023
Sustainable Wardrobe is a book that outlines what is wrong with the fashion industry and how you can be more conscious when engaging in it. It goes into depth about ways that you can prologue or change up garments that you already own through many helpful tutorials. There is a fair amount of information about how the current model of clothes making in the fashion industry is bad environmentally and labor wise. My only issue is that the books formatting is can make actually reading the passages a little difficult because of font size. Overall this is a solid 4 star read.
March 13, 2024
I love the how she explains microplastics and more. Many great suggestions here.
July 17, 2023
A very beginner guide to creating a sustainability mindset for your wardrobe. I appreciate Benson's set-by-set walk-through of the journey clothing takes before leading the reader through what we can do to lessen our impact in this industry. I did find a lot of this book to be very basic concepts but the patterns and how-to's made it enjoyable and framed the theme in a fun way. I would also have liked to see some brands which the author supported used more or at least as footnotes for folks who don't have the time to do as much research.
Overall a very quick read and informative!
Thanks to Sophie Benson and NetGalley for the advanced readers' copy in return for a review
Overall a very quick read and informative!
Thanks to Sophie Benson and NetGalley for the advanced readers' copy in return for a review
July 14, 2023
Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC.
This is an excellent source on sustainable fashion. It covers the lifecycle from purchasing choices/habits, alterations, washing, repair, and options for removal from your closet. There were lots of actionable pieces and simple tutorials on maintenance and repair that were easy enough to use as someone who hasn’t sewn since childhood. You learn about the problems with the fashion industry, but I never felt shamed or guilted. It also has beautiful photos and an engaging writing style.
It’s a great reference that I expect to refer back to again in the future.
This is an excellent source on sustainable fashion. It covers the lifecycle from purchasing choices/habits, alterations, washing, repair, and options for removal from your closet. There were lots of actionable pieces and simple tutorials on maintenance and repair that were easy enough to use as someone who hasn’t sewn since childhood. You learn about the problems with the fashion industry, but I never felt shamed or guilted. It also has beautiful photos and an engaging writing style.
It’s a great reference that I expect to refer back to again in the future.
July 5, 2023
I picked this up because I recently read a book on toxic clothing dyes and I was like "yeah no more." It has great advice.
Unfortunately even well maintained sustainable wardrobes don't last forever if you gain a ton of weight, like I did this year.
Luckily, I can pack this stuff up until I get the weight off and just wear the looser stuff for a bit.
I love the images and the way the book is laid out.
Unfortunately even well maintained sustainable wardrobes don't last forever if you gain a ton of weight, like I did this year.
Luckily, I can pack this stuff up until I get the weight off and just wear the looser stuff for a bit.
I love the images and the way the book is laid out.
July 5, 2023
I loved the interviews with psychologist and actual garment workers in this book. Additionally, the chapter on maintenance is not something I have seen in similar fashion books, and I really appreciated that chapter. There is some minor formatting issues on some of the images where they are labeled wrong, but it doesn’t take away from the overall book. A great read, a great resource, and a wonderful gift to anyone in your circle who wants to be more mindful and sustainable.
July 4, 2023
This is a great read for someone who is worried about their consumption and how it affects the world in so many ways. This book focuses on the wardrobe, and it is indeed a place many of us could think about more. Do we need all the clothes we own? Do we need to buy more? How sustainable are our clothes? When is it time to rid ourselves of some clothes? There are many questions to be asked, and many questions get answered. The world is filled with clothes, some clothes are dirt cheap, more keep on coming. is there really a point to continue like this?
July 6, 2023
I learned a lot about clothing production and the waste and affects of mass produced cheap clothing. The author does a great job providing alternatives to what feels readily available as far as dressing options.
June 30, 2023
This is a really lovely book. Sophie Benson provides a comprehensive introduction to sustainable fashion: why it matters and practical strategies for implementation, from how to wash and store clothing to mending and secondhand shopping. The strategies and guides are supplemented with brief essays from experts in relevant topics, such as fashion psychology and the inner workings of the garment industry. The photo illustrations are nice, but to be fully honest the book doesn’t really need quite so many; fewer illustrations would probably bring down the cost of the print book and make it more readable for e-readers. Recommended, especially for those who are new to this subject. Thank you to #NetGalley for the advance copy.
June 30, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for access to this arc in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say that this books is not what I thought it would be. I love to sew and I thought it would a be sewing pattern book.
Still, it is quite an interesting read. I read it in one sitting. Learning about history, the different steps, the different kinds of fabrics I didn't even know about. There are a few quite interesting interviews.
There are also a few DIY projects in there, even if you don't sew or own a machine.
If you are green conscious, this book is for you. You'll learn how to create your own wardrobe capsule and how to decrease your consuming.
I have to say that this books is not what I thought it would be. I love to sew and I thought it would a be sewing pattern book.
Still, it is quite an interesting read. I read it in one sitting. Learning about history, the different steps, the different kinds of fabrics I didn't even know about. There are a few quite interesting interviews.
There are also a few DIY projects in there, even if you don't sew or own a machine.
If you are green conscious, this book is for you. You'll learn how to create your own wardrobe capsule and how to decrease your consuming.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews