the fact that the synthetic and fast fashion brands still occupy such a big portion of your wardrob after not buying any new ones in over 10 years is just a testiment to how much longer those synthetic fibers hold up compared to how often fast fashion expect us to get rid of them. even if you managed to get rid of them all they would still be somewhere in this world, for hundreds of years to come, this is just the nature of petroleum-based meterials. better in someone's closet than in the landfill

I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you plan on doing this - it's okay to clean out one drawer/rack at a time, and then stop for a couple of days. If you don't get overstimulated by the chaos, chances are you're going to finish it faster!

Huge respect for not only taking the time to discuss transition to natural fabrics, but also pointing out that keeping what you already own EVEN IF it's synthetic, is the most sustainable option. The same rings true for second hand. I don't like wearing synthetic because of the feel, but if you're ok with it then it is sustainable to buy H&M or whichever secondhand. Ideally we will learn to transition away from fast fashion altogether. But it's far worse to just throw it away.

Seeing how much of Bernadette blinkin’ Banner’s wardrobe is NOT self made really helps me feel better about not having as many self made items as I want. After all, I only started sewing my own clothes a couple years ago, and I have almost no money for fabric plus significant sensory requirements and little knowledge of my own style. Thank you Bernadette for posting this video. It really helped me let go of guilt I didn’t realize I was holding.

19:00 fast fashion isn't "fast" if you've been using it 17 years!! The fact that you've been able to take such good care of garments designed to be cycled out after only a few wears is a really impressive feat and nothing to be ashamed of at all

One thing to factor in before feeling bad if your wardrobe doesn't look like Bernadette: if your body has undergone significant size changes since high school, your wardrobe curation has been on hard mode by comparison. There have absolutely been pieces I really loved that stopped fitting me along the way and that's super common.

1:49 this looks like the kind of project I start at 3 in the morning and then end up having a breakdown about because there’s stuff everywhere and I no longer have the spirit who possessed me to begin the project left in me. You’re stronger than all of us for actually doing this Bernadette :’)

ADHD magpie brain hack: when you see an item you want to impulse buy online, stop to think if you already have a similar item in your closet, and try to style it the way the model does on the website you saw it on. More often than not, I find I'm more drawn to the whole outfit than the specific item, and it feels like wearing something new without buying something new. ❤

"What about swords?" made me burst out laughing. We love to have such problems!

I think the fact that you still own so many of those 'fast fashion' pieces really just doesn't make them fast fashion anymore. Evidently you're taking care of them and evidently they CAN last! Of course getting rid of them eventually is still a problem in terms of sustainability, but you are already getting the maximum possible amount of sustainability out of them, I think.

1:08 "I'm a nerd! I love data!"
Me (a book nerd who works in a library and is actively trying to catalog and prep personal book collection by our library's standards): SAME!

1:28 I won't ask you to show us your financial data, but I would really appreciate the template if you're willing to share it. I'm also a data nerd, but finances are not my strong suit

This is a really fascinating process. I love the data side of things! I think an entire "sustainable" wardrobe doesn't have just one look. This is a good reminder of that, that sustainability is not about only buying small business, or only thrifting, it's about what you do with what you already have, and being mindful of what you introduce. The most sustainable clothing in the world is the stuff you already own right now, and making it last. Your synthetic items are a testament to your ability to do just that. Being plus size often means thrift and small business are less accessible to me, but I can make my clothes last, I can sew new ones out of secondhand fabric. I really enjoyed this peek into your collection and it makes me look at mine with a more grateful eye!

Bernadette is married!?

Every time I am astounded that the little people in my phone are actually big people outside of it too.

13:16 can't believe I am just now finding out Bernadette got married lol.

I think it’s really going to be helpful for your audience to see that your own wardrobe isn’t 100% all natural, all hand made, Bernadette.  Thank you for sharing this.  We all live individual lives with our own unique demands and needs.  Some people have allergies, sensory requirements, accessibility challenges (which includes financial constraints and what is physically available to them).  Some people have unlimited budgets or very specific occupational demands/necessities.  We can’t compare ourselves to anyone else.  Draw inspiration from?  Absolutely.  For reasons, a large percentage of my wardrobe is fast fashion.  But it’s alllllmost all natural fibres.  The best manufacturing practices/quality? Of course not.  But it’s the best I’ve been able to manage.  I also don’t shop on impulse.  A LOT of items I own are in their second decade and still look and function great because I take very good care of them.  I’ve learned how to knit and I’m learning how to sew.  I’m learning how to quilt and how to make rugs.  And I’m using as much re purposed fibres for all of that as is feasible.  I now keep a scrap pile for stuffing and padding.  I yank out all the zippers, buttons, trimmings, pockets, elastics, etc. on old items.  I’m learning.  I have aspirations.  It’s the best I can do and my best is enough.  I love how you approached this topic.  It’s encouraging and inspiring❤

I wish I had found the aproach of "building a wardrobe" earlier.
There are clothes I got as a teenager that I gave away in my early 20s because the "sustainable" thing at the time was to donate everything you're not regularly wearing.
Some of them I donated because they were slightly too big, but they were exactly my colours and they would probably fit me now if I still had them

6:35 "you can't just sit down and make an entire wardrobe in a week or two" Micarah Tewers begs to differ

13:17 this is how i find out Bernadette’s married?!

You do have a relatively large wardrobe, which reflects your chosen vocation and hobbies. Seeing this was like a little archaeological dig into your YouTube channel!