Sheena of the Uniform Project is one of my biggest fashion inspirations right now for many reasons: first of all, she pledged to wear the same dress (a “uniform” made by Eliza Starbuck) every day of the year in an effort to raise money for the Akanksha School Project.

But not only is the Uniform Project about raising money for children in India to attend school, it is also about exploring sustainable fashion. Sheena uses pieces already in her wardrobe in different ways: socks layered over tights, thrifted shoes from eBay and local shops, belts as necklaces, necklaces as belts, dresses and skirts layered under the uniform dress… her day-to-day creativity is astounding!

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So what is sustainable fashion?

Also known as eco-fashion, it is the concept of considering the long-term environmental and social impacts of what we wear each day.

For many people, this means recycling: instead of throwing away that tee shirt you ruined in the wash, could you make it into something? Could it become a cute tote bag, a pillow, a bunch of cleaning rags, or a heating pad through some careful stitches? The idea is what we all learned in elementary school: reduce, reuse, recycle!

So how can you participate in the sustainable fashion movement? Here are ten ways.

10 Ways to Support Sustainable Fashion

10. Shop thrift.

Instead of going to a department store or the mall to buy a new floral dress or a laid-back plaid top, take a look in your local thrift or vintage shops. You never know – you might find an AMAZING piece, saving money and the environment in the process.

9. Donate to thrift shops.

It’s hard to think that some people just throw clothes away, but it happens. Before you donate yours, look at all the clothes you want to get rid of. Are they still in good condition? Now think of the person who will find them in a thrift store – and how happy they’ll be.