The Zip Yard has rounded up a few simple (but brilliant) ways to lessen your impact during the festive season (without losing any of that Christmas magic!). 

1.) Forego fast fashion this party season

You need to look fabulous this Christmas, especially as this might be the first proper party season you’ve had since before the pandemic started. You absolutely deserve it. But did you know that extending the life of your clothes by just nine months could reduce your carbon, water and waste footprint by around 20%-30%?

Here are a few ways to minimise your fashion impact this Christmas. First up, do you really know what little party gems are hiding in your wardrobe? The average British woman hoards around £285 of clothes she doesn’t wear, so the likelihood is you’ve got something perfect just waiting for you to rediscover it.

Take the time to go through your wardrobes and drawers and find any items that you love but need a little TLC – broken zips, clothes that no longer fit, or party wear that needs to be altered or restyled. Drop the lot into the talented seamstresses at your local The Zip Yard store – who have on-site fitting rooms and can make your pieces perfect before the first works night out.

If you have chosen something special to wear to the office Christmas party or black-tie New Year bash – then have it tailored to make it fit to perfection, something that makes you look and feel a million dollars is likely to be a wardrobe staple for many years to come.

Finally, consider renting, borrowing, or shopping second hand to refresh your Christmas clothes without the fast fashion impact.

2.) Make an informed choice about your tree

Real versus fake – the great Christmas tree debate continues. If you’re looking for a sustainable Christmas tree that’s been grown using fewer pesticides, your best bet is a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certified, or Grown In Britain tree. These will have been responsibly managed and grown using a minimal amount of pesticides.

Whichever ‘real’ tree you choose, remember that Christmas trees can be disposed of thoughtfully.

• Check your local council to see if they offer a pick-up service

• Flex a little DIY muscle and take on a project for the holidays: just remove the branches and cut your Christmas tree trunk into coasters. Simply sand and seal.

• Turn it into firewood

• Use a shredder or clipper to dispose of your tree, then use the mulch to garden beds or pathways

• If you love the sweet smell of Christmas trees, making your very own festive potpourri is a great way to bring the scent into your bathroom – or other areas around the home – next Christmas. You just need to collect a small bowl of pine needles or fill a few sachets. If you want to take your potpourri to the next level, you might even consider adding in a cinnamon stick, orange rind and cloves.

If you want an even more sustainable option, then why not turn your house plant into this year’s Christmas tree? Sparkling light, a few handmade decorations to hang – the same Christmas magic.

3.) Handcrafted decorations

Aside from making them yourself (depending on the level of difficulty), if you’re buying new decorations for the home, choose handmade using wool, wood, rattan, recycled glass, hemp or jute. If you’re not so handy with a sewing machine, then the seamstresses at The Zip Yard will be able to personalise stockings or fix treasured home soft furnishings in good time for the family descending.

If you need help altering, repairing or restyling your clothes or home accessories, The Zip Yard has stores across the UK. Find your nearest store, here.