A True Wardrobe Audit

Neha Bhandari
1 day ago
2 min read

Your closet shouldn't be a graveyard of last season’s mistakes—it should be a living library of your values and memories

As the cherry blossoms bloom in April we mark two key milestones- The Earth Day and The Fashion Revolution Week. The latter serves as a somber reminder of the Rana Plaza tragedy in Bangladesh which the world will never forget… This lead to the fashion industry’s most uncomfortable question: "Who made my clothes?"

I have said this a bazillion times that the most sustainable garment is the one already hanging in your closet. Yet, most of us only wear 20% of our wardrobe 80% of the time.

So I urge that this April, instead of "spring cleaning" (which often results in bins of clothes heading to landfills), we together perform a Circular Wardrobe Audit. This is a deep dive into the lifespan, origin, and future of your garments. An audit isn't about guilt; it's about clarity. When you understand the origin of your clothes, you stop seeing them as disposable items and start seeing them as the result of human craft and immense use of natural resources.

I am breaking down the audit steps for you so you can get on with it right away---

Firstly, The Origin Investigation

Start by pulling out your five most-worn items. Look past the brand name and check the inner care label for-

Traceability: Can you find where this was made? A "Made in [Country]" tag is just the start.
The "Who" Factor: Research the brand’s labor ratings on platforms like “Good On You.” If the garment workers who made your favorite clothing item aren't earning a minimum living wage, that garment carries a "human cost" that no discount can justify.

Secondly, The Lifespan Assessment

Next, evaluate the physical integrity of your spring wardrobe. We often discard clothes because of minor "failures"—a pilling , a jammed zipper, or a lost button.

The Repair Pile: Separate items that are "broken" but high quality. Either fix them yourself or get it done by a seamstress.
The Fiber Check: Are your garments made of microplastic-shedding synthetics? If so, April is the time to invest in a “Guppy friend wash bag” to prevent those fibers from entering our oceans.

Thirdly, Transitioning Through Circularity

Now that you know what you have, how do you refresh your look for 2026 without buying "new"? This is where the Circular Mindset comes in:

The Luxury Swap: Organize a "Stylist-Curated Swap" with friends. Trading your high-quality stuff with friends is the ultimate zero-waste shopping trip.
Upcycling as Art: "Visible Mending" is a style statement. Add a contrasting embroidery or change the buttons to give the piece a second life and you a new look.
The 1-in-1-out Rule: If you must purchase something for the new season, ensure it is pre-loved or from a brand with a verified "Take-Back" scheme.