By Eeshwa Jiwan.
"Summertime made promises it knew it couldn’t keep, the fairytale was climbing up a mountain far too steep." When Alex Turner sang this in Calm Like You, all I could think about was my heap of clothes in the wardrobe, waiting for the annual ‘spring cleaning.’
The season of abundance — ‘Spring’, flowers blooming, bugs roaming, and the perfect prelude to summer. Traditionally, spring cleaning meant sifting through your wardrobe, taking stock of forgotten impulse buys, sentimental keepsakes, and pieces you swore you’d wear but never did—like that one dress you thought you’d wear but never did, clothes that remind you of ex-partners, or hand-me-downs from your mother that you could never throw away. Maybe even something stolen from your sister that she can never know about. It’s a trip down memory lane, but it can also be a mindful way to shape your future wardrobe.
Rethinking the Cleanse
Spring cleaning often feeds into current consumerist habits—out with the old, in with the new. But what if we made it a more intentional ritual? Here’s a Mṛjā how-to guide:
Fashion Therapy: Understanding what truly works for you—your style, body type, and color tone—can turn spring cleaning into an understated fashion therapy. Instead of blindly following trends, assess your wardrobe with intention. Are you drawn to warm or cool tones? What silhouettes flatter you most?
Curbing Impulse Buys: Fast fashion thrives on disposal and repurchasing rather than mindful decluttering. The best way to resist sales gimmicks? Make a mental note, wishlist the item, and sleep on it! If you can’t stop thinking about it, then maybe it deserves a place in your closet—otherwise, it was just another passing temptation.
What to Do With the ‘Dump’: Your floor might look like an emo girl’s aesthetic before the transformation, but the real challenge isn’t just decluttering—it’s being intentional about what happens next. Instead of creating waste, categorize your castoffs: swap, mend, donate, customize, or archive. Spring cleaning doesn’t have to mean just discarding. This year, my sustainability icon, my partner’s meticulous approach taught me that—he labeled, sorted, and assessed donation requirements. His old, soft cotton shirts? I kept them, because reusing is also sustainable, right? Try things on, get second opinions, and be realistic about what you’ll actually wear. Photograph items for online resale, and explore second-hand platforms that would love to give your pieces a new home.
Maintaining this Ethical Closet: Now comes the task of maintaining a clean, ethical closet. This means making mindful purchases and truly embodying what slow fashion is all about:
- Invest in Quality Over Quantity: Focus on investment pieces that make a statement and are transseasonal, ensuring they last through multiple seasons without losing style.
- Repair and Care for Your Clothes: It’s time to channel our inner mothers and dig out that old cookie tin filled with sewing supplies. Mending clothes, instead of replacing them, is an essential part of sustainable fashion.
Choose Ethical Brands or Thrift: In a world flooded with sustainable buzzwords, it can be tricky to identify truly ethical brands. But this is where careful consideration comes in—opt for those that align with your values, or head to second-hand stores for a more sustainable, one-of-a-kind find.
A Fresh Take on Slow Fashion
As we embrace these new slow habits, we’re reminded that small changes can create lasting impact. This approach mirrors the ethos of Mṛjā, a collective bringing together handcrafted brands under one roof. It’s a space where quality, craftsmanship, and sustainability are prioritized, offering a refreshing alternative to the fast-paced, throwaway culture we’re often caught in. Just as spring cleaning is about more than just decluttering—Mrja is more than just a celebration of conscious fashion but a propagator of traditions and stories lived on for centuries.
