To live sustainably is to do so in such a way that reduces our impact on the environment around us. In the past years, the concept of sustainable living has changed how businesses and brands develop their products and marketing. In the same way, more and more people are drawn to living an eco-friendly life. A recent Bosch survey of 2,000 Americans found that 64% care about the planet’s health as much as they do their finances. As much as 66% claimed they’d be “willing to try anything that can help save the environment,” starting with small habits such as turning off the lights or taking quicker showers.

Of course, sustainable living is great not just for the environment but for our general wellness as well. In this post, we’ll explore the different aspects of our personal wellness and how sustainable living can help improve it.

Physical Wellness

When we live sustainably, we approach life more mindfully and intentionally. This involves choosing our actions carefully, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat. Adopting a vegetarian, vegan, or organic diet is a common first step to sustainable living, reducing individual environmental damage while staying healthy and even boosting weight control.

Modern weight loss programs today reflect this shift towards mindful, sustainable living by focusing on building healthy habits. Instead of following the restrictive rules of dated, fad diets, experts recommend focusing on eating nutritious foods instead of categorizing them into “good” and “bad” foods. This can help change your relationship with food for the better. Adopting an active lifestyle can also help you stay physically healthy without harming the environment while preventing an unhealthy fixation on food.

Mental Wellness

Most people don’t realize that living sustainably will also take effect internally. Insights from Earth.org indicate that environmentally aware people may suffer from climate anxiety — a chronic fear of environmental doom. In today’s digital age, learning about environmental issues, from wildfires to natural disasters, through real-time news (aptly dubbed “doomscrolling”) can be harmful to our mental health.

The good news is that living a sustainable, eco-conscious lifestyle can help alleviate some symptoms of common conditions like depression and anxiety. By visiting and spending time in green spaces, we can improve our health and well-being and feel more relaxed or energized. Our individual sustainability efforts and daily mindful practices can also help us develop a more resilient mindset. This resilience can help us further work on important issues such as ecological protection, renewable energies, and the protection of vulnerable communities.

Financial Wellness

Finally, beyond its impact on our physical and mental health, a sustainable lifestyle can also benefit our financial wellness. One of the misconceptions of healthy and environmentally-friendly living is that you will end up spending more on organic and exclusive products and services. However, we should be wary of companies who indulge in greenwashing to profit from the eco-conscious demographic.

In fact, it’s best not to center your sustainable living on what you consume but on how you consume. In a previous post on maintaining a sustainable wardrobe, we discussed essential tips such as organizing your closet and sourcing your OOTDs from charity shops. Instead of relying on fast fashion and faux “green” clothing labels, one of the best ways to reduce environmental damage is by recycling unwanted items and buying from these sources. You can also borrow or rent clothing and outfits you need if you know you will only use them once.

At the end of the day, pursuing a more sustainable life is as advantageous for you as it can be for the environment. Participating in sustainability initiatives and projects in your community can also help improve your social wellness by exposing you to like-minded people and keeping you motivated and accountable in your sustainability journey.

For more on organic clothing and sustainable living tips, feel free to browse around.

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Sustainable clothing has been increasing in popularity recently due to the negative impact fast fashion is having on the environment and the global concerns around manufacturing and fair trade. If you have been considering a more sustainable wardrobe, here are some essential tips to get you started.

Organize Your Closets

If you can see what is in your wardrobe, you know what you have. This may sound simple but how many times have you gone shopping only to return with an item that is similar to something you already own? This is a waste of both time and money, but it wouldn’t be as likely to happen if you had organized your wardrobe.

Learn From Your Mistakes

Most people have made mistakes when it comes to clothes purchases. The size is wrong, the color doesn’t suit you, or it is not a good length on you. Whatever it is, the chances are the item will stay in your wardrobe unworn until you recycle it. If you learn from your mistakes, you won’t make them again and your wardrobe will become more sustainable because you will likely wear everything in it.

Donate and Buy

Charity shops used to be the domain of impoverished students but that is changing rapidly as people become more aware of the downside of fast fashion and are moving towards a sustainable wardrobe. One of the best ways to reduce the damage to the environment is by recycling unwanted items and buying from this source too. This means that your new clothes won’t do any further damage to the world we live in, and you can purchase some fantastic clothes for a fraction of the price.

Borrow Clothes

If you know you are only going to wear an outfit once, there is no point in buying it new. Ask your friends if they have anything suitable that you can wear to an event, and swap clothes between you when you want to wear something new. That way, you always look like you are wearing something new without having to buy it.

Rent

A similar idea is to rent your clothes rather than buy them. This is especially popular with designer items that rent well because people want the latest fashions without having to break the bank. This is also a fantastic way to acquire one-off clothes like that designer cocktail dress for an important work function or even a wedding dress.

Check the Label

If you are going to buy new clothes you should be aware of the brands you are buying as some are more environmentally friendly than others. Ganni dresses are renowned for their environmental conscience and sustainable fashion from Ganni looks fantastic too.

For intimate items that really need to be purchased new, Faerie’s Dance has an amazing selection of organic cotton bras and organic lingerie.

Care for Your Clothes

It makes sense that if you care for your clothes they will last longer and not end up in landfill as quickly.  Washing them less frequently and at a lower temperature can make an enormous difference to their longevity. You should also consider whether you need to buy dry-clean only clothes as the chemicals they use can be harmful to the environment, and your clothes.

Opting for a sustainable wardrobe does not have to be difficult. Use these essential tips to create the eco-friendly wardrobe of your dreams.

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Around 12.8 tons of textiles end up in American landfills each year, according to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Spread out across the population, that works out to around 80 pounds per person, per year. To turn this shocking statistic around, we need to “close the loop” on textiles by turning our focus to a model of recycling. Here is our four-step guide to textile recycling for a cleaner planet that can sustain us all.

1. Reduce

In the 1970s, the environmental movement coined the slogan “Reduce, reuse, recycle” to encourage a more conscious approach to consumption. The first of the Rs is reduce because honestly, we don’t really need a lot of the goods that catch our eye!

For textiles and clothing, there are several ways to reduce consumption and lighten your wardrobe’s environmental footprint:

• Plan your wardrobe rather than buying on impulse.
• Buy high-quality clothes that last.
• Go for timeless classics rather than one-season styles.
• Find some new hobbies (aside from shopping) to share with your friends — nature walks and volunteering are great!

2. Reuse

Once you have a well-planned, quality wardrobe, you should be able to make it last for years. For example, a solid pair of cotton jeans should last for at least two or three years of regular wear. Imagine how many tons of textiles could be saved if we reused the same pieces instead of purchasing more!

A strong, minimalist summer skirt can easily be reused for fall with leggings and boots and styled for winter with a nice pair of jeans. Some reversible designs are now coming out that give you two looks in one — a creative approach to reusing your clothes that doesn’t sacrifice variety.

3. Repair

For the more minimalist and conservative among us, the main challenge comes when a beloved piece becomes damaged, stained, torn, or hole-poked, and no longer has its original shine. In these situations, learning how to repair your clothes can give new life to a piece that might otherwise have been thrown in the trash.

A later addition to the original 3 Rs, repairing can significantly extend the life of our clothes — giving us several more years of enjoyment or making the piece usable by somebody else. Learn a few of these simple techniques to address the most common issues:

• Take up and let down hems.
• Mend holes and gaps in seams.
• Apply appliqué and iron-on designs.
• Use embroidery techniques to cover a hole.
• Dye and tie-dye irreversibly stained clothes.

4. Recycle

Eventually, there comes a time when you need to pass a garment on. It may be that it no longer suits (or fits) you or has become so threadbare that it’s no longer warm. In both of these cases, there are options for recycling your clothes that don’t involve throwing them away.

Clothes that Are Still in Good Condition

The first rule for giving away a piece of clothing is to ask yourself, “Would you give it to a friend?” If a garment is still nice and not stretched or discolored, here are some options for sharing the love:

• Take it to a homeless shelter or other charity that could put it to good use.
• Bring it to a clothing swap.
• Offer it online through Freecycle or Marketplace.
• Donate it to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Clothes that Are Stretched or Worn Out

Old clothes that are no longer nice to wear can be recycled in a variety of ways. While you’ll probably want to keep underwear for rags (seriously, no one else wants your briefs!), worn-out socks, tops, pants, and shorts can be used as raw material for yarn or used as a filling for insulation, furniture, and more.

The top organizations in the United States that take textiles for recycling include:

• American Textile Recycling Service
• Threadcycle
• Soles4Souls
• Several fashion brands, including H&M, Levi’s, Patagonia, and The North Face

While many of these programs take lightly used clothes as well as old ones, we recommend recycling newer clothes closer to home through clothes swaps, thrift stores, or reselling near-new clothes online, as leftover donations are usually exported to third-world economies where they compete with local textiles for sales. 

Ultimately, buying used clothes near you is the most powerful way to close the loop and ensure that recycled clothes get recycled! And when you do buy new (those briefs, for example), make responsible, earth- and socially-friendly choices that you can be sure will enhance your wardrobe for years.

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Today, the world of fashion is revitalized as it seeks to confront the footprint that it has left on earth with the rise of eco-fashion.

Eco-fashion, or sustainable fashion, has caused many brands to shift how they approach the operation of their entire business — from manufacturing to marketing. As fashion is responsible for up to an alarming 10% of greenhouse gas emissions across the globe, brands strive to cut CO2 emissions by reducing overproduction and waste, supporting biodiversity, and making ethical sourcing and production choices.

In this new dawn in the fashion industry, photographers and influencers are key players. While not directly involved in the CO2-emitting production processes of clothes, they are critical messengers that give shape and form to the advocacies and sentiments of the industry. As eco-fashion continues to grow so too should the eco-fashion photographer and their models rise to the challenge. Here are some tips on how to incorporate sustainability into your work.

1. Invest in Highly Durable Equipment

Before becoming an eco-advocate, you first need to practice what you preach. As a photographer, one way to become more eco-friendly in your line of work is to invest in durable equipment that will last a long time. This reduces your carbon footprint (and saves you a lot of money!). To this end, mirrorless cameras are highly durable as they have fewer moving parts than DSLRs. Many of them also use electronic shutters which further reduce the chance of breakage. You can also use secondhand cameras to reduce e-waste.

2. Work with Sustainable Brands

As a professional photographer, it’s important to choose carefully which brands you partner with by making sure that their sustainability goals and practices align with yours. Fortunately, many smaller brands these days are incorporating sustainability into the very root of their businesses. This results not only in unique and dynamic designs that show up great in shoots, but will help you promote the eco-agenda as well. Be sure to incorporate eco-friendly jewelry in your shoots, which makes use of recycled materials and natural substances like nuts and clay to create unique pieces that represent sustainability.

To know which brands are genuinely upholding sustainable practices, check their story and mission, previous campaigns, and even their environmental, social, and corporate governance data report if it’s publicly available.

3. Incorporate Pre-Loved Clothes in Your Shoots

4. Capture the Production Process

One of the biggest challenges to sustainability is the lack of recognition for the abusive working conditions that many workers face in factories. But as a photographer, working with sustainable and ethical fashion brands may allow you to showcase what positive production environments look like by drawing focus to the workforce and the process behind the fashion you shoot. This image from Indigenous Designs highlights the artisans at the heart of their Fair Trade fashion production.

Not only does this help celebrate the people and the craft behind the clothes, but it also helps build consumer trust for the brand.

5. Make a Statement with Your Platform

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Whether you’re celebrating an accomplishment or doing a holiday swap, choosing gifts for coworkers can be a challenge. Homing in on your coworker’s interests and passion can help you select a meaningful gift that she’ll love.

If your coworker prides herself on living a sustainable, eco-conscious lifestyle, you’re in luck. Here are some fantastic eco-friendly gifts for your female coworkers.

1. A Desktop Garden

Putting together a desktop is an excellent gift for your eco-conscious coworker. This creative project can be scaled for any budget and style and also works well as a group gift. 

When creating a desktop garden, consider the location of your coworker’s desk. If her desk is away from the window, you’ll need to find plants that thrive in a low-light environment. If she has a nice spot, look for bright, sun-loving plants and flowers.

Desktop gardens offer several eco-conscious benefits. They can help purify the air without requiring another drain on the electricity. Furthermore, flowers improve mood, memory, and focus to create a happy, healthy work environment. 

2. Sustainable and Ethical Jewelry

Jewelry often gets overlooked as a gift for coworkers out of fear that it could be inappropriate. By no means should you purchase your coworker a diamond bracelet or give her jewelry if she never wears any. However, if your coworker is known for accessorizing, an affordable piece of sustainable and ethical jewelry is appropriate. 

Look for a jeweler who uses recycled and natural materials to make their products. Consider the symbolism of the piece you choose. Selecting something with a positive message or association is a nice way to share your good wishes with a coworker.

3. Eco-Friendly Lunch Kit

Food packaging and single-use plastics are one of the main offenders against our planet. Things like sandwich bags, plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, and plastic straws add 130 million metric tons of waste to landfills in a year. While most of this comes from major corporations, every little bit of effort counts. 

Put together an eco-friendly lunch kit for your coworker. Include things like bamboo utensils, cloth napkins, stainless steel straws, beeswax and fabric food savers, and glass containers. This gift is a simple gesture that’s both practical and meaningful to someone who cares deeply about the environment.

4. Water Bottle from a B-Corp

A B-Corp is a business that shows proven positive impacts on society and the environment. These for-profit organizations must adhere to rigid standards to achieve their certification. While purchasing a reusable water bottle is a nice gesture, it’s also important to confirm that the producer also uses sustainable manufacturing processes.

If your coworker already has a tried and tested water bottle, choose a travel mug or another vessel instead. You can even get stainless steel beer growlers and wine tumblers for the coworker who enjoys a nightcap after a long day at work. Pair your gift with a sample of your coworker’s preferred beverage for an added touch.

5. Natural Soaps and Lotions

Putting together a collection of natural, handmade soaps and lotions is another great, eco-friendly gift for a female coworker. Look for local makers at small stores and craft markets to support your community. You can also get natural hand sanitizers and beauty products to create a self-care gift basket.

These simple, meaningful gifts are perfect for an eco-minded coworker. Choose one or multiple items from this list to make an impact, both on the recipient and the world around you.

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Modern eco-fabrics like soy and bamboo offer a wonderfully soft finish and convenient stretch properties that make them popular as alternatives to polyester and spandex (elastane). These sumptuous textiles are also popular for intimates like lingerie, flattering stretch tops, and flowing spring and summer skirts.

While the elasticity of soft eco-fabrics is a treat to the eyes as well as the skin, it can also give the garments a tendency to stretch. You’ll often see them marked as “delicate” or “hand wash only” — a difficult proposition in today’s fast-paced world. If you’re a fan of bamboo and soy apparel and want to help your garments last, here are some practical tips for keeping them in tip-top condition for as long as possible.

1. Wear More, Wash Less

The number one way to help your delicate fabrics last longer is simply to wash them less frequently. Of course, when we’re talking about underwear, you definitely need to wash the garments after every use! However, for things like skirts, cardigans, or even tops, it’s often enough simply to air out the piece and wear it again the next day. 

2. Take Advantage of the Delicate Cycle

When the time comes to wash the clothes, delicate stretch fabrics require special care. Rather than simply throwing them in with everything else, wash these delicate items separately with cold water on the “wool” or “hand wash” cycle, which exposes the garments to far less friction. Some brands explicitly recommend not mixing these items with other fabrics, for the reason that the other fabrics could cause them to pill.

3. Use Wash Bag with Eco-Fabrics

Aside from using the gentle cycle, wash bags are your best friend when it comes to conserving the shape of your specialty clothes. We’ve probably all had the experience of opening the machine to find that our clothes (sleeves and pant legs, especially) have all become entangled. This is something you simply can’t afford when your delicate clothes could get pulled out of shape. Instead, turn the garments inside out, soap up any smelly bits by hand, and put each garment in an individual wash bag before placing them in the machine. This is also true for lacy garments as the lace often pulls or tears in the washing machine.

4. Dry Flat, Store Flat

Gravity is your worst enemy when it comes to delicate stretch garments. To prevent stretching as your garments dry, lay them out flat or at least folded in half to minimize the force of the water weight on the clothes. When putting the dry garments away, fold them and lay them flat rather than hanging them up — as well as preventing stretching vertically, you’ll avoid those unsightly “hanger shoulders!”

5. The Effort Is Well Worth the Reward

It might take a little additional work to give your eco-fabrics the TLC they need, but you’ll find that they hold their shape and maintain their soft texture much better over time. Thinking in economic and environmental terms, you’ll also save money on replacement pieces and reduce your contribution to landfills as well.

At Faerie’s Dance, we’re all about the delight that well-made, environmentally responsible clothing can bring. And sustainable stretch fabrics add so much to the range of fashions available to conscious shoppers today. Browse our collections of bamboo men’s underwear and sustainable women’s clothing to discover sumptuous soft stretch styles today.

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Breastfeeding is a natural part of motherhood, where you and your baby will create a bonding journey together. It can both be stressful and exciting, especially for first-time moms. You may be confused about where to start and the possible problems you might encounter. At the same time, you are looking forward to that bonding experience you may have with your baby. You are not alone because almost all mothers go through these conflicting feelings.

Every breastfeeding experience is unique, but an efficient way to handle your worries is to be prepared. We compiled some of the best breastfeeding hacks to help you get through your breastfeeding experience.

1. Choose a breast pump based on your needs.

Choose a breast pump that best fits your needs and lifestyle. Read on customer reviews, brand reputation, and warranty. You can also check if parts and accessories are BPA-free. Toxic chemicals, such as BPA are associated with possible health effects. BPA has been linked to reproductive, neurological, and immunity problems, especially in infants and children.

Consider if the pump is easy to use, portable and adjustable. You can look into brands like Ameda Mya, Medela, and more.

You may also want to consider the Haakaa manual breast pump that uses natural suction to catch your milk. It doesn’t need batteries, and you don’t need to plug it in. Simply attach it to your breast, and it catches the milk into its container. It’s perfect for when you’re nursing your baby on one breast, and you’re leaking on the other.

2. Prepare a breastfeeding area or a breastfeeding kit.

Instead of running around looking for things while your baby is hungry or crying, it’s best to have a space where you already have all your breastfeeding essentials. You can also choose to have a box or a basket with all your essentials ready to go. Here are a few things you can prepare in your breastfeeding station or kit:

• Washable cloth baby wipes
• Reusable nursing pads
• Burp cloth
• Water bottles
• Snacks
• Ice pack
• Nipple cream
• Nipple shields
• Breast pump
• Breastfeeding pillow

3. Get an ethically-made organic nursing bra.

You don’t just want to look at style and comfort in choosing a nursing bra. You also have to consider the material used to help determine its sustainability and durability. As you consider your options, look for non-toxic fabrics made under sustainable and ethical conditions. An ethically made, organic cotton bra is a good example.

4. Keep hydrated and well-nourished.

As you give your baby nourishment, you need to be healthy too. What you eat and drink will affect your breastmilk supply, your energy, and your baby’s health. It is recommended you drink 16 cups of water per day. Load up on superfoods perfect for lactating moms, such as organic brown rice, spinach, salmon, sardines, legumes, beans, oats, and more.

5. Ask for support or take a breastfeeding course.

Sometimes a part of motherhood is the feeling of being supported and encouraged. Reaching out for help is okay and even necessary at times. Instead of trying to learn everything on your own, ask for guidance or look into a breastfeeding course. It can help you address your situation better. Reaching out to a lactation consultant may also be a good idea, especially on health-related concerns such as mastitis and thrush.

As you go through your breastfeeding journey, keep in mind that it’s a learning process. It may take a lot of trial and error until you figure out what works for you and your baby.

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We hear a lot about swapping, mending, donating and recycling your clothes. Of course, focusing on buying sustainable, natural fabric clothes to begin with is a huge sustainability bonus. But when a garment has reached the end of its life, can you simply throw it in the trash? Are some clothes more biodegradable than others? Let’s take a look at how long the most popular fabrics take to break down and how to compost your clothes at home.

Cotton – 1 week to 5 months

Cotton is one of the most biodegradable natural fabrics available — if it’s organic, untreated, and not mixed with synthetic fibers. Close the Loop estimates that pure, organic cotton can break down and return to its original carbon state in as little as a week if it’s composted under the right conditions. Before composting that cotton tee, underwear, or pair of socks, check that it’s 100% cotton and free from harmful treatments and dyes that could leach into your compost.

Linen – 2 weeks

Linen comes from the flax plant and is used to produce breathable fitted shirts and pants. As a 100% plant-based material, linen degrades extremely quickly when composted — two weeks according to some estimates. To help your linen fabric break down faster, cut it into small strips before composting.

Hemp – 2 weeks

Similar to linen, hemp clothing breaks down quickly in a healthy compost pile and returns to the soil from which it came. Hemp is becoming a popular material for everything from tees to tote bags and is valued for its low environmental impact. One hectare of hemp can draw down 10.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide from the air when grown using organic, regenerative farming techniques.

Denim – 10 to 12 months

While the original denim is made from 100% cotton, it takes a little longer to break down because of its thicker and denser construction. Before composting those worn-out jeans, check that they are made from pure cotton and don’t contain synthetic materials. Lee and Levi’s are two brands that sell 100% cotton jeans, though the cotton is not yet organic.

Bamboo, Soy, Pine, and Lyocell

These modern man-made fabrics are produced from processing plant-derived cellulose via the use of chemicals in a closed-loop system. While some estimate that pure bamboo viscose takes a year or more to break down, there is very little data available on the true biodegradability of these fabrics. Many of the cellulose fabrics produced today are mixed with synthetic fibers to make them stronger and help them to hold their shape. To make your purchases more sustainable, look for garments that are made from 100% plant-derived cellulose and colored with low-impact dyes.

Recycled Polyester

Polyester is a synthetic fabric that currently accounts for around 52% of the textile industry. Unfortunately, it takes between 20 and 200 years to break down. To tackle this pressing problem, some manufacturers are recovering used polyester and spinning it into a recycled polyester fabric for use in swimwear and activewear. While recycled polyester can’t be composted, it can be taken to a fabric recycler to be rewoven over and over again.

Tips for Disposing of Your Worn-Out Clothes

 Finding clothing from natural materials is easier than ever thanks to sustainable stores like Faerie’s Dance. But what do you do once you’ve worn the clothes for years and they are literally falling apart? After reusing, repairing, and repurposing your clothes, check that they’re 100% natural and toxin-free, remove any metal rivets and zippers, and add the fabric to the compost pile.

In landfills, clothes produce methane (28 times more warming than carbon dioxide over 20 years) rather than break down quickly with the help of microbes. By composting your well-worn, natural fabric clothing yourself, you will not only have complete control over the ingredients that go into your compost pile, but you’ll have rich organic matter for the garden (or the local organic hemp farm) and the cycle can start all over again.

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Garments that are not quite right often get discarded and replaced. However, with a little know-how and a willingness to try, you can transform these pieces into something you love! Learn three easy ways to mend your clothes, fall back in love with them, and reduce your contribution to landfills.

1. Take Up Hems

Unless you have your clothing made specially to order, it’s likely you have something that doesn’t quite fit — a golden opportunity for learning to take up the hem.

To shorten a garment (usually pants), you’ll need:

• A piece of chalk or soap
• A measuring tape
• Thread the same color as the fabric
• A needle or sewing machine
• Scissors
• Iron and/or sewing pins

Step 1: Put the garment on and mark the desired length with the piece of chalk or soap.

Step 2: Measure the length of the hem to be taken up to ensure an even hem on both sides.

Step 3: Iron the crease to create a sharp line and secure the fold with sewing pins.

Step 4: Hand- or machine-sew a double row of stitches around 1 inch from the bottom to secure the folded length firmly in place.

If the garment is far too long to begin with, you might need to cut it two inches from the desired length before folding the hem twice and sewing the hem by hand or machine.

2. Mend Holes and Gaps in Seams

Another common issue you might find with your clothes is a gap that appears in a seam — either because the thread was accidentally broken (when pulling on tight leggings, for example) or because their was a minor defect at the seam in production. (Even high-quality clothes are sewn by humans operating a sewing a machine, and anyone can have an occasional bad day.) This technique cannot be used for worn seams, such as a crotch, as you’ll need to use a patch instead.

To mend a seam, you will need:

• Thread the same color as the seam
• A needle or sewing machine
• Scissors

Step 1: Turn the garment inside out.

Step 2: Sew over the broken section twice to reinforce the seam.

Step 3: Tie the ends of the new thread to the old thread to stop any further “undoing” and close the hole.

3. Patches: Iron-on and appliqué

Small holes in clothing can rarely be fixed by sewing one side of the hole to the other. The pulling will stretch the garment out of shape and can break the delicate threads around the hole. Instead, you can cover the hole with “visible” mending in the form of an iron-on patch or appliqué. 

Iron-On Mending Fabric

Applying iron-on mending fabric is the simplest way to mend a tear or hole because it doesn’t involve any sewing at all. You’ll need:

• Iron-on mending fabric in the same color as the garment – or a funky complementing color or pattern if you want to make it stand-out. This is fun on pants or as patches on sleeves.
• Fabric scissors
• An iron
• Aluminum foil

Step 1: Cut a section of iron-on mending fabric a little larger than the hole or tear. Round the edges for an easier transfer.

Step 2: Put the mending fabric glue side up underneath a tear or over a hole.

Step 3: Preheat the iron on the “cotton” setting for five minutes.

Step 4: Cover the area of fabric with aluminum foil to prevent sticking and press the iron over the patch for 30 seconds or until the section of fabric is firmly attached.

Appliqué

Appliqué is similar to an iron-on patch except that it is attached with thread rather than glue.

For needle turn appliqué, you will need:

• An appliqué patch in the same fabric as the garment
• Appliqué pins
• 100wt thread that matches the garment
• #10 sharps needle
• Chalk or soap for marking

Step 1: Use the chalk or soap to draw a line where the patch will be stitched.

Step 2: Pin the design over the hole.

Step 3: Thread the needle and tie a knot at the end of the thread.

Step 4: Enter from the back of the patch to hide the knot and sew the patch to the garment, tucking the patch under the line and making alternating tiny stitches in the patch and the garment.

Step 5: Once the patch is sewn on, take the thread through to the back and tie it off on the inside of the garment.

The Most Sustainable Wardrobe

It has been said that the most sustainable wardrobe you can get is the one that you already own, and when you add mending to the picture, your current wardrobe can suddenly become much more exciting! 

If you’re exploring ways to become more conscious with your clothing and accessories, we invite you to check out the full range of sustainable, ethically-made fashion and jewelry at Faerie’s Dance. Our curated collections of clothing are made with years of wear in mind and many of our necklaces and earrings are recycled!

For more tips on living sustainably in style, read the rest of the posts on our blog.

Are you struggling to find the perfect summer outfits to don this year? Well you’ve landed on the right webpage. In this article, I’m going to give you some oh-so-stylish summer looks that you can wear comfortably and flaunt proudly, because everything here consists of natural fabric and organic clothing options. So without further ado, let’s get into the list of the 10 best summer outfits for 2021! 

1. Work Hard, Play Hard 

How many of you are late to work because you can’t decide what to wear? Is your head screaming “I have nothing to wear”, while your wardrobe is literally choking on clothes? Don’t stress, because Faerie’s Dance has the perfect workwear for you! Pair this chic jacket with these comfy pants and white bamboo cami, and accessorize with this cute matching recycled glass neckpiece and earrings. Voila! You’re ready to be the eco-chic boss lady.           

2. Working From Home 

If you’re still working from home, or maybe have always worked from home, the perfect summer outfit is business on the top and comfort on the bottom. Mix and match formal tops or polo shirts with comfortable, classy shorts and get productive.

3. Thank God It’s Friday!

What can be better than knowing that the weekend is FINALLY HERE? Knowing what you’re gonna wear to that weekend night out. Well stress no more, ‘cause this halter dress will make you look the hottest in the room. Keep your makeup and going-out essentials in this VHS bag and there you go! Not your style? Browse through our summer maxi dresses to find your personal favorite.

4. Sunday Brunch Time! 

A perfect Sunday consists of two main things – waking up late and having a Sunday brunch with your family. And to make the most of it, you need to wear the comfiest summer outfits. Since you couldn’t decide what you’re gonna wear (that’s why you’re scrolling through this article, right?), I suggest you wear this basic white tee with this flowy skirt and wrap your wrist with this cute li’l organic cotton bracelet.   

5. BRB… Outfitting for the Grocery Run

Who says you don’t need to look cute while going out to pick up groceries? What if some producer/photographer discovers you and wants to sign you for their next movie/shoot or you bump into your next great love at the coffee bar? Either way, why take the risk? Always go out looking and feeling good about yourself — try any of our beautiful dresses with an elegant, grounding necklace, and thank me later! 

6. Finding Zen at yoga class (or the gym)! 

Need to find some calm and grounding at yoga class or work off steam at the gym? Don’t sweat about your outfit. Pair this organic clothing duo (skinny pants + workout bra) with virtually any top in your closet and you can go directly from… well, anywhere… to the studio or fitness center. 

7. I Got Asked Out!

Swiping right on your crush is fun, but when they swipe back at you – it’s a DATE! Date dressing can be so nerve-racking. It’s important to look your best while also feeling comfortable! Going out with your crush can already be a nervous affair, you don’t need your clothes to cause you any more discomfort. EcoSkin (a Faerie’s Dance exclusive brand) makes eco-fashion dresses that look like a million bucks, while feeling like you’re wearing pajamas! Pair it with a simple recycled artisan bracelet, and go with a natural makeup look.

8. Meet Me At The Beach

Right one or left one? Pick your favorite one or pick both! Both of these bikinis are made from recycling plastics and ocean waste into comfortable, ocean-conscious swimwear. Have fun in the sun, swim like a fish, dance with the waves, and when you’re finally done with water splashing just relax at the beach wearing this beautiful coverup. 

9. Time to Walk the Pup

Complement your pup by looking as cute as him/her! Wear these stylish organic cotton leggings with a comfy two-tone top and play fetch with your little buddy. Don’t forget to take some sweet pictures of your pup and then post them on social media.  

10. It’s A Lazy Day

There are days when we want to overachieve and then, there are days when we want to do nothing. For the latter, you would just want to curl up on your couch; binging on your favorite snacks while watching your favorite TV shows. Guess what? You should do it often. It’s not about being lazy, it’s actually about taking a break from your busy life, which is really good for your mental health. And for the outfit part, pair this bamboo tee with these matching bamboo shorts and just chill!

Okay now you don’t have to thank me for helping you out in picking the best summer outfits because I’m more than happy to help! Just don’t forget to share this article with your girl squad to help them too. And check out Faerie’s Dance for more organic clothing for every season.