I Have Nothing To Wear

I couldn’t help naming this post “I Have Nothing To Wear” because this is one of those anxiety-fueled beliefs that many women practiced from a very early age, myself being one of them. The funny thing about it is we we always find something to wear. The more appropriate statement might be “ I can’t find what I’m looking for” or “I forgot to do the laundry” or “I’m having some feelings and this is the only way I can express it”.

Most of my clients find that once we do a heavy purge, and we’ve reduced their clothing down to what fits, their clothing becomes a non-issue in the anxiety department.

Why? Because they actually know where everything is and can access it without going down memory lane, digging through all the clothes that don’t fit anymore when they are getting ready in the morning. Not the best way to start the day, let alone get ready for a first date.

Those that do feel motivated to clear out sometimes get so excited about getting rid of old clothing that they throw them in the trash because they aren’t in the condition to be reused or they fall into the undergarment category. Like the socks with holes in them? And what about the stuff that's got terrible pit stains, or what about things that have a rip that can't really be repaired? People throw that out. If everything was made purely with organic natural fibers, we wouldn’t have a problem. The reality is that most items are blended with a synthetic fiber which in its essence, is plastic, and therefore adding to our already overwhelming pollution problem.

With spring cleaning in full effect, here are my favorite ways to get rid of your old and tired clothing that isn’t “donate-able”:

H&M - This company is in the hot seat due to their “fast-fashion” industry. I believe more companies need to take responsibility for their actions like this. Textiles that are no longer suitable to wear are converted into other products, such as remake collections or cleaning cloths. Textiles that can’t be reused get a new chance as textile fibers, or are used to manufacture products such as damping and insulating materials for the auto industry.

DSW - Their program allows VIP members (free to join) to donate their old shoes or reward points to communities in need. This keeps shoes out of the landfills and put shoes on the feet of those who need them.

NIKE - If you live near a Nike store, most will accept any brand of athletic footwear for their Nike Grind program. Nike Grind materials are created from recycled athletic footwear and surplus manufacturing scraps to make performance products, ranging from new footwear and apparel to sports surfaces. Premium sports surfaces include running tracks, courts, turf fields, gym floors, carpet padding and playgrounds.

Do you know of any other ways to give worn out clothing and shoes new life? Please share in the comments!