The Purge - Declutter and Cleanup your Space

We can all agree that the concept of spring cleaning is not only a perfect reason to rid yourself of that growing pile of..stuff, but also a tipping-point for some. As the season begins to shift for longer days and milder evenings, the signal of spring is a time for self-reflection, corrective adjustments, and a fresh start. It's a time to take a good moment to look through areas of your life that have been in need of cleaning and organization; your living, bathroom, bedroom, and maybe your wardrobe. And let’s be frank - we’re already so busy with virtual meetings, finding new ways to connect while maintaining social distancing measures, and binge watching our favourite TV series. But, if there was a time to do some thorough cleanup around the house, it’s now.

interior couch with throw blanket, Vogue book, and end-table.

Much like any responsible fashion-enthusiast or avid shopper, part of that undertaking includes purging. You've probably experienced first-hand that your closet or storage begins to accumulate rather faster than you had expected. We’ve become so drawn to what is being sold to us that we forget to stop and think deeply about what we need, instead of what we want. In-depth research and careful consideration of your future purchases will prove to help limit the closet from piling up.

Understanding that the constant removal & replacement of products will happen regardless - through random splurge purchases or those one-off pieces you absolutely need - there's no shame. However, if we want to bring about positive change in this area of our lives, deliberate how you would dispose of these certain pieces. A merino wool sweater will natural decompose after 6 months in the open environment, while a polyester t-shirt could take up to 200 years.

Edit Where You Can

Let's continue to consider your closet. You’re going to need to pull out each piece, look at your entire collection, and really consider which pieces you’re going to keep and which ones it's time to say goodbye to. I know, getting rid of your belongings can be a difficult, but think about the opportunities you are making room for in the future. Maybe now you have a little more knowledgable about how things fit your body, or the type of colours that work for you. It's a chance to elevate what you've already got.

As you go through your home, start by keeping your classic pieces that define your taste and ones that will never go out of style - tweed blazers, paintings, throw blankets and books. From there, you'll begin to see and edit the belongings that no longer serve you - and rather just bring extra ‘noise’ and distraction into your life.

clothes being set aside for disposal/donation.

Learn to Let Go

I know this can be a tough truth to swallow, but learning to let go is ultimately good for you. It gets you physically moving while also easing your mental anxiety towards clutter. When we mean to let go truly, it means to forget that little voice in your head that’s telling you keep that plaid shirt that you’ll eventually use down the road. Reality-check; If you haven’t worn it in the past year or two, there’s a good chance you won’t be wearing that piece anytime soon either. So just be honest with yourself, and let go of it. You’ll thank yourself later.

Now that you've gone through and carefully considered your options in front of you, deciding how to properly dispose of your pieces is the final, and honestly the most rewarding step of all. Bringing to light some information, a report by CBC found: Landfills find about 12 million tons of textiles a year. As responsible and smart shoppers, we cannot continue down this path of disposable consumption. Review disposal options in your area to ensure items like technology and textiles are disposed of careful, and potentially recycled for their next life. 

Shop for Functionality, Longevity, and Sustainability

A technique that will prove to be so much more beneficial than just shopping less. Because your closet won’t be full of single-purpose splurge items, actively choosing pieces with the goal of functionality and longevity in mind will also aid with the cleanup that always happens every year. Investing in a classic trench coat or multi-purpose pieces will likely find a special place in your wardrobe or living area year after year.

biodegradable soil and form diffuser.

To all the all-natural aficionados, the environment of course, plays a key role in our lives. This rings truer than ever as the pandemic shed an irrefutable light on our current climate, and how we have been so consumed by products that we forgot to purge our planet of waste. Choosing biodegradable pieces and easily recyclable materials not only makes yearly purging that much easier on ourselves, but is a step-forward to contributing towards our planets longevity as well.

Seeking for less waste and mindful products is now a necessity, and part of our responsibility for positive change.