Organic cotton running shorts by Ninety Percent, Lightweight sleep set by Pact, Upcycled vintage scrunchies from Etsy, Girlfriend Collective Ivory Topanga bra, By Mölle linen bedding, hobo + co. Rest room mist
Last week, I’ve outlined the optimistic scenario for this summer: my 2020 slow summer bucket list. This week’s post is basically plan B – if we need to stay at home, at least I wanna spend my days in comfortable loungewear.
I know that for some people getting properly dressed every single morning is a key element of productivity. To each their own, but I’ve personally seen zero correlation between productivity and proper work attire. But that doesn’t mean that what we wear at home has no impact on our mind and wellbeing – comfort above all is my motto, but we can still aim for practical and chic at the same time.
A sustainable loungewear wardrobe for me is about mixing old items that I wouldn’t really wear outside anymore but that still look acceptable (my litmus test is whether I would feel really awkward wearing them in front of the postman) and a few ethically and sustainably made basics. Often, when people start their sustainable journeys, they can feel pressured to throw out their whole wardrobe and start anew with more sustainable items. But it’s important to keep in mind that the most sustainable wardrobe is the one you already have. Keep wearing your clothes as long as you can, and only add new items (even if they are sustainably made or second-hand) if you really have to. In that case, here are a couple of summer loungewear items to consider.
Vintage or upcycled (basically cut-off) denim shorts are great for going out and about in the summer, but for home I personally prefer organic cotton shorts. You’ll see a lot of organic cotton items in this list, because while my favorite sustainable summer material is linen, it’s not very ideal for lounging around as it wrinkles easily. The wrinkly aesthetic doesn’t bother me when it comes to bedding for example, but clothes and loungewear are different, and while I’m prepared to iron my linen shirts or shorts that I wear outside, there’s no way I’m ironing my loungewear. Organic cotton is easy to care for, comfortable, and it’s more environment-friendly than regular cotton as it is grown without pesticides or fertilizers and it requires 70-80% less water. I wear these organic cotton running shorts in camel by Ninety Percent at home, and here are 2 other organic cotton alternatives in black by ThokkThokk.
For chillier summer days, I recommend the Shivaa leggings by German fair fashion label ArmedAngels. I’ve been living in these leggings all spring and I love them. They are made of organic cotton, but they also have 5% Elastane in them. Elastane is not a sustainable material per se, but it’s frequently added to athletic wear and leggings due to its exceptional elasticity, which means the leggings will keep their shape for a long time.
One of the easiest introduction to sustainable fashion is through tops and T-shirts just because there are so many sustainable and ethical brands that make them (to be honest, sometimes I think too many, we definitely do not need another sustainably-made white T-shirt). While I do have some tops by ethical brands in my wardrobe I don’t use them for loungewear – I have so many old tops and T-shirts from my previous life when I still shopped at fast fashion brands that they will probably last for a lifetime. Some of them are a bit too loose or lost their shape but I don’t feel comfortable just throwing them out as they are still perfectly fine for wearing at home. But if you need sustainable (and still affordable) alternatives, check out Honest Basics.
For sustainable athletic wear, Girlfriend Collective, Ecoalf, and Organic Basics all use recycled materials (either pre-consumer waste like textile scraps or recovered nylon and plastic waste, like plastic bottles or fishing nets from the oceans) and produce their leggings and tops in a sustainable and ethical way. Upcycling is also an option here – I’ve just taken one of my old Nike leggings to the seamstress to be converted into bicycle shorts.
As for PJs and nightwear, you can try hemp, tencel, or organic cotton pieces from Thought, Pact, Coyuchi, or Noctu. Don’t forget to take care of your care of hair as well – scrunchies are so much better than simple elastic bands and you can find cool ones made from leftover fabrics and scraps online (I buy mine from Etsy, just search for upcycled or zero waste scrunchies).
Lastly, if you want to add a few luxurious finishing touches to your home, I recommend a linen bed setting from a sustainable brand like By Mölle. Linen bedding is not cheap but it’s a long-term investment – it’s durable, comfortable, and ideal for summer as linen is known for its moisture-wicking and cooling properties.
