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Easy ways to dress more sustainably at a festival. Wear what you own, swap rent or borrow clothes, wear biodegradable glitter, bring reusables and recycle.
British charity Barnardo’s “found that single-use outfits for music festivals, such as Glastonbury and Coachella, alone, account for approximately $307 million worth of items per year, or about 7.5 million outfits worn only once.”
Here are some easy ways to dress more sustainably this festival season:
Wear what you already own
We’ve said it before and we will say it again: the most sustainable thing you can wear is something you already own. Find new inspiration by experimenting with colour or pattern clashes that you wouldn’t usually put together. Focus on layering and don’t forget to consider comfort when assembling your look.
Swap or borrow from friends to save money
Even extending the life of our garments by an extra nine months of active use would reduce the carbon, water and waste footprint by around 20% to 30% each.” (Fashion Revolution). Ask friends if they have anything you can swap or borrow. Many people fall into the impulse of purchasing outfits that they only wear once at a festival and they’ll welcome the opportunity to lend it out. You might even have an old look that you can swap with them yourself. It’s cheap and sustainable…ideal. “
Choose preloved
Reskinned’s pre-love section has plenty of items to inspire this year’s festival look. Bright colours, fun patterns and a focus on physical comfort is where we recommend placing emphasis on. Sportswear and outdoor wear can be a good investment as they will serve you for years to come. We always encourage you to think about how many wears you will get out of something - don’t buy something you will only wear once. If you can’t find the right thing for you on Reskinned, explore your local charity shop to find some hidden gems.
Choose biodegradable glitter
Glitter is synonymous with festival makeup looks.
According to a 2019 paper published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, glitter may be a significant source of microplastic in the environment and become a hazard to various organisms, as well as contribute to ocean plastic waste. It can be confusing - how does the glitter I wear end up in the ocean? That’s because our water systems are connected to the sea. Filters are usually good at catching anything that goes into the ocean but glitter is so fine it can bypass that filter system. So everytime you wash your glitter off your face and down a sink, it risks the chance of contributing to ocean plastic.
Biodegradable glitter exists. Look for Bioglitter certified retailers who offer glitter that is made from eucalyptus trees.
Take reusables
Ok, this one isn’t about your outfit but it’s not to be sniffed at. Bring reusables. More and more festivals are building sustainability initiatives into their setup and many independent stalls offer incentives for those who pack a reusable. Reduce plastic waste by bringing your own Tupperware and water bottles. It will save you money, too.
Leave no trace
A 2015 report ‘The Show Must Go On’, was based on 279 UK summer festivals and estimates of 3.17 million people attending UK music festivals every year creating 23,500 tonnes of waste. The report further estimates that over three-quarters of that waste ends up at landfill.
The impact of this waste is staggering. It can cost Glastonbury nearly £1million to clear up the waste left behind each year. All this can be upsetting for animals and ecosystems, as well as using up financial resources that could be better invested in positive environmental initiatives.
Don’t litter. Don’t leave anything behind. Be respectful to the land and help keep our environment clean. Definitely don’t leave your tent behind.
Return items to Reskinned when you’re done
Festivals are great opportunities to experiment with more eccentric styles but it can mean that sometimes we end up with clothes that we don’t end up wearing for the rest of the year. If you’ve damaged an item or just no longer want it, and it is eligible for one of our programmes, send it to us. We’ll make sure anything that can will be fixed, resold or up-cycled and anything beyond the point of repair will be recycled responsibly.