Written by Menswear Style in Tips & Advice on the 31st August 2023

Sustainability is a hot topic, with many of us actively embracing the three R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle to lessen carbon emissions. But can this practice be extended into the classic men's wardrobe? Shifting to sustainable fashion practices is challenging. However, with a little effort, the modern man can unite on-trend styles and sustainability. Doing so is crucial to solving the most significant fashion ethical concerns, like pollution, cheap labour, and overconsumption. Moreover, styling with sustainability in mind is not a statement of responsibility only. It's an expression of trendy fashion tastes for the modern gentleman. Below are ways the modern man can unite style and sustainability to reduce the impact of fashion on the environment.

1. Choose Quality Over Quantity 

When building a stylish and eco-friendly men's wardrobe, focus on quality over quantity. This approach helps you avoid buying items you don't need. Instead, you'll stick to the basics and style them to fit your preferences. Investing in essential menswear goes a long way in reducing waste in the garment industry. According to the United Nations, fashion accounts for 2-8% of the world's carbon emissions. By stopping hyper-consumerism men can help protect natural resources and reverse the impacts of climate change. Fashion pieces every man should have in their eco-conscious wardrobe are a dapper suit and a pair of dress shoes. You should also invest in quality low-tone casual attires, such as: 

- High-quality tees in neutral colours 

- solid coloured hoodies 

- trench coats 

- jackets 

- sneakers 

- brown boots 

These casual elements mix and match with different outfits, allowing you to maintain elegance without hurting the environment.

2. Personalise Your Style 

Every modern gentleman understands the importance of adding a touch of personalization in fashion for self-expression. Besides curating a unique wardrobe that reflects your personality and confidence in different situations, personalisation can help build sustainable styles. If you are yet to develop a personal wardrobe style, the time is now. 

How to Develop Personal Styles 

1. Review your wardrobe 

Check your existing clothes to identify the ones you wear most. Then ask yourself why you prefer specific colours, designs, and fabrics. Is it the versatility, quality, convenience, or comfort they offer? Asking these questions helps you develop a style that blends with your lifestyle and makes you feel good. 

2. Explore timeless fashion essentials 

To achieve personalization in fashion, many men invest in classic elements, from tailored suits to casual wear and accessories, to balance comfort and sophistication. You can also borrow this method to elevate your style while maintaining sustainability. For example, if you like rocking in t-shirts, jeans, hoodies, and sneakers or loafers, consider buying these essentials in different colours and cuts. 

3. Buy custom-made outfits 

When you choose to personalise your style, buying custom-made clothing makes sense. Bespoke clothing or made-to-measure garments reduce overproduction, thus promoting sustainability in fashion and design. That's because tailored menswear is designed with style and longevity in mind. Once you have personalised your style, you can wear the same outfits consistently but in different combinations. As a result, you’ll buy less to reduce the overproduction of garments and waste.

3. Invest in a Capsule Wardrobe 

Creating a capsule wardrobe enables you to mix and match different pieces and achieve the perfect look that defines your style. A capsule wardrobe is a minimalist approach to fashion that emphasises quality and timeless pieces. It encourages the fashionable man to embrace conscious and sustainable clothing. Building a capsule wardrobe that's stylish and eco-friendly takes time. But with the right fashion pieces, styling your closet can be easy. When picking fashion elements for your capsule wardrobe, focus on the following: 

- Neutral colour palette- grey, navy, white, brown hues, and black are easy to mix and match. 

- Black and navy denim jeans, white t-shirts, shorts, pale blue and white dress shirts, knit sweaters, and hoodies in neutral shades. 

- Statement pieces, such as leather and denim jackets, a pair of sneakers in bold colour, brown or black dress shoes, an overcoat, and printed shirts. 

- Brown and black leather belts, hats, scarves, watches, cufflinks, and scarves that complement your fashion taste. 

4. Add Versatile Pieces to Your Capsule Wardrobe 

When styling with sustainability in mind, pay attention to versatile fashion pieces. Navy blazers, for example, are essential wardrobe elements for the modern man. You can pair these pieces with a matching pair of tailored pants for a suit. Or pair your navy blazer with grey flannels, chinos, and denim jeans. Another must-have wardrobe piece is the hoodie. Typically, you'll want to wear black, grey, or white hoodies to achieve the perfect casual look and maximum comfort. But why not choose brown hoodies to elevate your casual and formal attire? Since brown hues blend well with other colours, you can style your brown hoodie with anything in the closet. An oversized brown hoodie, for instance, makes an excellent layering piece under a denim or leather jacket on cold days. You can complete your look with straight-legged denim jeans and white sneakers. You can also wear your brown hoodie with a matching trench coat or blazer for a classic flair or office dress code. Aside from adding interest to your outfits, buying the BELLA+CANVAS brown hoodie in bulk variations can help save the planet. Bulk purchases allow you to choose different designs for different occasions. Plus, you get premium-quality clothing made of earth-friendly fabrics like organic cotton and fleece.

5. Pick Earth-friendly Fabrics 

Choosing stylish clothes crafted from earth-friendly materials is one of the simplest ways fashion can be more sustainable. Therefore, choose menswear from brands that use organic cotton, wool, hemp, and lyocell fabrics. These natural materials don't contain microplastics like polyester, nylon, and other synthetic fabrics. This means they break down naturally and compost into the environment without causing any harm. Plus, organic fabrics don't wear and tear quickly. So, you don't have to worry about replacing your outfits after a few months of wearing them. When you concentrate on quality and earth-friendly fabrics and pick fitting clothes, styling a fashionable and sustainable wardrobe becomes easy. When united, style and sustainability help reduce fashion's carbon footprint, thus protecting natural resources and preventing climate change. For this reason, the contemporary should strive to style his clothes with sustainability in mind. Styling a green wardrobe is simple. It only requires careful evaluation of personal style and choices of the fabrics and quality of clothes you introduce in your closet.

Choose Quality Over Quantity, Personalise Your Style, Invest in a Capsule Wardrobe, Add Versatile Pieces to Your Capsule Wardrobe, and Pick Earth-friendly Fabrics.