Do you think you can limit the number of clothes you buy this year to just five? That’s the Rule of 5 challenge. It may seem unthinkable in a world full of fast fashion and rapidly changing trends, but this challenge has many benefits.
Why only five items? The Hot or Cool Institute, a non-profit think tank, says that one way the average person can help prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius is by purchasing new clothing. It was confirmed that the goal is to purchase up to 5 items per year. Why 1.5 degrees? This is an internationally agreed goal to limit warming that will help combat some of the worst impacts of climate change, including bushfires, floods and droughts.
This is one way in which personal decisions can lead to greater good, but it requires a significant mindset shift. Karolina Zmarlak is a fashion designer and co-founder of the fashion label KZ_K Studio, where she designs clothes that can be worn not just for a few years, but for a lifetime. She advises on the why and how of her “Five Rules.” At the end of the day, it’s important to find and appreciate pieces that will last a long time in your wardrobe. Plus, you’ll be helping your mental health and the planet.
“There’s always been trends and hype in the fashion world, and I think the rise of digital and social media has only accelerated that trend,” Zumarlak explained. You no longer have to keep up with the latest fashion trends or look for new clothes, which frees up your time. You’ll avoid unnecessary spending and take the time to understand what you feel good in and what best represents who you are as a person. If you do that in one area of your life, it can and will spill over into other areas.
But it doesn’t just help you. “On average, men and women only get dressed seven times,” Zmarlak points out. Old clothing is often thrown away in landfills, and new clothing requires the use of fossil fuels, water, and other potentially non-renewable or non-recyclable materials. Zumerak acknowledged that there is currently no 100% sustainable clothing on the market, but there is always something in the supply chain that needs work, so sustainability means increasing the number of times a garment can be worn. concrete steps you can take to help.
How to change your mindset and increase your creativity:
“Change your view of fashion as a frivolous value and instead see your work as product design that is useful to you,” Zumarlak suggested. “Think about timeless furniture. Impeccable design, manufacturing, and quality. It transcends generations.” You’ll wear that item again and again over the coming months and even years. If this is not practical, leave it on the rack.
When you start rethinking how and how often you add to your wardrobe, you’ll have more options for what to wear and how to wear it, allowing you to express yourself more uniquely. Zmarlak experienced this firsthand. “For me, I truly believe that humans tend to be more creative when there are limitations,” she explained. “That also happens with your wardrobe. Instead of getting overwhelmed with too many things, you can narrow it down and be more creative to create curated looks with a smaller, but better, wardrobe.” ”
Where to start:
Consider acquiring quality outerwear as a starting point on your “Rule of 5” journey. “If these pieces are high quality, they will last a lifetime,” Zmarlak says. “It’s not one season, it’s not years, it’s decades.”
Look for something that is multifunctional. Before you buy something, Zmarlak says to ask yourself, “Will the piece work for me in different ways, different looks, different occasions?” If the answer is no, you can skip it.
Other good questions to ask include: “What is the level of precision and craftsmanship of the product? What is the material? Where does the material come from? How is the sewing done?” He is limited to 5 items per year, so he has time to do that level of research.
You may need to spend money upfront to save money in the long run.
“Think about what you take out of your closet every day,” Zmarlak says. “Those are your core valuables. It’s probably something like your favorite jacket or your go-to pair of jeans. You can get all of these things relatively inexpensively at fast-fashion retailers, but they don’t last long. After several washes, the seams may start to fray or lose their shape, making them uncomfortable to wear. The cycle continues.
Instead, “invest in great value pieces that fit you perfectly and can be worn every day or multiple days a week,” Zmarlak recommended. “The idea is to say to yourself, ‘I want to invest in something of higher value, so I want to buy less and invest more in each of the five products.'”
Help the planet, help yourself, and make this the year you start trying the Rule of 5. That alone may change your life.
Christine Conard has been a freelancer for 10 years and is passionate about the health of both people and the planet. She has written for a variety of publications including 7×7, BBC Travel, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, Paste, and deliveries.
