How to reduce your fashion consumption with the Rule of 5 (2024)

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Fashion / Fashion News

WORDS Jasmine PirovicPUBLISHEDWed, 17 Jan 2024 - 6:00 pm

How to reduce your fashion consumption with the Rule of 5 (4)

At the beginning of each year, I've noticed more friends and acquaintances pledging to buy less fashion or refrain from adding to their wardrobes altogether. My response is always "good for them," before I brush the news aside as irrelevant to me. I rarely buy new pieces and don't I shop secondhand and vintage anyway? But this mindset ignores a few certain facts.

According to a reportby the Hot or Cool Institute published in 2022, high-income countries like Australia need to reduce their fashion consumption by 60% before 2030 in order to meet a 1.5 degree target, as outlined in the Paris Agreement. Without doing so, we're on track to double our emissions.

Most importantly, it's Australiathat has the highest fashion consumption footprint in the world, at 503 kg of CO₂e per year. On average, a single Australian consumes 27 kg of new clothing per year and discards around 23 kg. To remedy this, we must cut down the amount of clothes we buy – or commit to a challenge such as the one Tiffanie Darke coined 'The Rule of 5'.

What is The Rule of 5?

So what exactly does The Rule of 5 involve? It's simple: you can only buy five new fashion items a year, with an exception for socks and underwear – however, only what you need. I'm sorry but bags and shoes count too. You can mend and repair your wardrobe, you can also have pieces altered. Renting, borrowing and swapping items is also allowed.

What's not allowed? Besides buying more than five new pieces, it's also noted that any gifts count to your overall total. Shopping secondhand and vintage is technically allowed too, but not too much since the aim is to reduce the amount of clothing in circulation.

Five is a radical number, but it also allows room for progress over perfection. It lets you partake in the joy of fashion but forces you to think hard about the pieces you choose. Admittedly, the challenge might be difficult during pregnancy or shifting bodies, but the principle is straightforward: buy less. Darke encourages participants to choose one new piece per season instead of blowing your quota all at once. The idea is to encourage mindful consumption, especially given how most people tend to only wear 20-30% of their existing wardrobe.

Aside from the fact that The Rule of 5 challenge is a tangible way of taking action against climate change, you may also find it saves you money and deepens your own relationship to style since you're forced to exist outside of trend cycles.

So will you try it?

If you're looking for more sustainable ways to shop, here's our roundup of sustainable fashion brands. You can also explore brands with buy-back schemes.

Stay inspired, follow us.

Image: Pinterest

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How to reduce your fashion consumption with the Rule of 5 (2024)

FAQs

How to reduce your fashion consumption with the Rule of 5? ›

It's simple: you can only buy five new fashion items a year, with an exception for socks and underwear – however, only what you need. I'm sorry but bags and shoes count too. You can mend and repair your wardrobe, you can also have pieces altered. Renting, borrowing and swapping items is also allowed.

What is the rule of 5 in fashion? ›

It set a specific brief: “If no other actions are implemented, such as repairing/mending, washing at lower temperatures, or buying secondhand, purchases of new garments should be limited to an average five items a year for achieving consumption levels in line with the 1.5-degree target.”

How can we prevent overconsumption in fashion? ›

What can I do instead of buying fast fashion?
  1. Buy second-hand.
  2. Organize a clothing swap.
  3. Rent clothesGo shopping in your own closet.
  4. Shop local.
  5. Invest in timeless pieces.
  6. Change your habits.
  7. Look for sustainable materials.
  8. Opt for ethically made clothing.

How might we reduce fast fashion waste? ›

How can we reduce our Fashion Environmental Impact?
  1. buy less. ...
  2. Buy CLOTHES FROM sustainable BRANDS. ...
  3. Buy better quality. ...
  4. Think twice before throwing out your clothes. ...
  5. Buy second hand, swap, & rent clothing. ...
  6. Keep an eye on your washing.

What is the 5 suit rule? ›

Common Questions: What 5 suits should a man own? Everyman should own a black suit, a navy suit, a grey suit, a brown suit and a tan suit with white, powder blue or cream shirts.

What are the 5 R's of fast fashion? ›

Get to know the 5 Rs of fashion

A lot can be said for some catchy alliteration at the core of this shift that can help you get started: reduce, rewear, recycle, repair, and resell. Ready?

What is the 60 30 10 rule in fashion? ›

Follow the 60/30/10 rule when experimenting with colors. 60% is a main neutral color, 30% is a secondary color, and 10% is an accent color. This ensures a balanced look.

How can I consume less clothes? ›

The first step in consuming less is to simply limit your purchases. Buying fewer clothes is the best way to reduce the negative impacts of your wardrobe. To reduce your clothing consumption, simply ask yourself “do I really need this?” before buying the latest fashion item. Most of the time, the answer is no!

What causes overconsumption in fashion? ›

We long to purchase so much that we end up overconsuming. One of the main perpetrators of overconsumption and waste globally is the fashion industry. The desire to meet demand has caused companies to reduce the quality of materials used to produce clothes to get them out quicker.

Is lululemon fast fashion? ›

In conclusion, Lululemon carves out its niche not as a fast fashion brand, but as a beacon of quality, community, and mindful consumption in the fashion world.

How to solve the fast fashion crisis? ›

Here are some steps you can take:
  1. Educate Yourself. Start by learning about the impact of fast fashion on the environment and labor practices. ...
  2. Buy Less, Choose Quality. ...
  3. Make Repairs. ...
  4. Create a Capsule Wardrobe. ...
  5. Support Sustainable Materials. ...
  6. Reduce Washing. ...
  7. Secondhand and Vintage Shopping. ...
  8. Donate.

How can we consume fashion more sustainably? ›

Here are some simple tips to fill an environmentally-friendly closet with a wardrobe that looks great and lasts a long time:
  1. Shop secondhand first. ...
  2. Buy fewer clothes. ...
  3. Invest only in clothes you really like and need. ...
  4. Shop locally. ...
  5. Go natural. ...
  6. Buy organic. ...
  7. Shop sustainable brands. ...
  8. Shop for quality over quantity.

What is the fashion 5 rule? ›

So what exactly does The Rule of 5 involve? It's simple: you can only buy five new fashion items a year, with an exception for socks and underwear – however, only what you need.

What is the five garment rule? ›

What Is the Five Outfit Rule? Per Barber, the five outfit rule goes like this: If you're going to buy something, it has to go with five things you already own. If it doesn't, you need to leave it behind. Overconsumption is a global issue that can impact your mental health more than you realize.

How many days in a row can you wear the same suit? ›

In fact, with the right mixing, we estimate you can wear the same suit at least three times a week. Think of your suit as the neutral foundation and mix up the underpinnings you wear with it.

How does the rule of 5 work? ›

Commit to taking small consistent actions every day, and eventually, you will make big progress in achieving what you want in your life. So, identify all the necessary action steps you can take each day and list them down. And then commit to executing just 5 of them every day. That's how success is created.

What is the rule of 3 in outfits? ›

The idea behind the third piece rule is that for an outfit to go from good to great, it needs three key elements. Your top and bottom (pants or skirt) are your first and second elements. The third piece is that extra something that finishes off the whole look.

What are the 5 elements of fit fashion? ›

Judging fit in fashion apparel involves five basic factors, namely the grain of the fabric, the construction lines, the set of the garment, the balance and the ease2.

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