So you want to shop more sustainably, but aren’t too sure about the ins and outs of what an ethical wardrobe really means, and don’t have any idea where to start.
You’d be forgiven for thinking the task is a slightly daunting one. After all, you’re changing a lot about what you know the shopping experience to be, your usual go-to’s or maybe even the rush you get from impulse buying (we’ve all been guilty).
The good news is that strutting in the right direction isn’t as hard as you might think. Part of why choosing sustainable fashion choices seems like a lot of work, is because fast fashion companies profit from the ease of the experience.
However, if it’s the planet you’d really like to benefit, then you’ve come to the right place.
1. Understand why we’re addicted to fast fashion in the first place
The Conscious Style’s Elizabeth Joy sought to answer the above in a brilliant explorative piece. Speaking to Climate Change Magazine editor Zainab Mahmood, they discussed some reasons for fast fashion’s chokehold on people all over the world.
The first nod to its addictiveness comes in that fast fashion is widely accessible and bears the illusion of being cheap or a good deal. Although, as many of us avid shoppers know from experience, sometimes our purchases fall under the old saying “easy come, easy go” or easy shrink, or easy rip.
The next thing to understand is the trend cycle. In another podcast by Emma Chamberlain, the internet superstar spoke about how she, an avid trend follower, was overwhelmed by how quickly trends move today.
Because trends are moving so fast and furiously, more and more clothes are being produced. Some companies like Shein, roll in new looks every day.
So, what’s the problem? After all, a cute T-shirt with the logo Love Yourself The Planet and Others doesn’t seem harmful, especially not just one shirt, right? The backends of clothing production cause a lot of waste, toxins from textile production, greenhouse gasses and carbon emissions. The fashion industry is actually responsibly for 10% of global CO2 emissions each year, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. When that one shirt is seen as a few hundred thousand, suddenly things start to add up.
What sustainable fashion and shopping actually means
When you hear the words ‘sustainable’ and ‘fashion’, images of people wearing drab clothes made out of pineapple leaves that you could never imagine yourself wearing might come to mind. For those in the know, sustainable doesn’t mean sacrificing style or even giving up shopping from your favourite brands. What it really looks at, is clothes that are produced with the environment in mind – from how they’re made to how long you’ll love wearing them. And actually, pineapple leaves aren’t nearly as drab as you’d think. Nike actually made an entire sneaker collection dedicated to the textile!
Some of the most incredible natural materials are used to create pieces that are often way more stylish than what you’ll buy from fast fashion stores. Why? The people who make them do so with longevity in mind, and because they create smaller batches, their goods are often doused with ineffable creativity.
It also means shopping a little less, for pieces that will last a lot longer. So don’t worry about never buying from some of your favourite brands again – if it’s second-hand, it has a place in the sustainable cycle!
How can I jump on the sustainability train?
So much of shopping sustainably is an adventure, like seeking good-quality treasures. Does it mean you can never buy anything new again? It doesn’t have to. But like a good pair of jeans, it’s the quality you’re after, with an added side of consciousness.
There are a lot of ways to start the journey, but here are three rules for building your treasure chest:
- Buy more selectively
- buy consciously
- or buy second-hand
Style always triumphs trends, and the one thing we should never let go out of style after all, is the earth.
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The power of Dopamine Dressing – Finding joy through your wardrobe
FEATURE IMAGE: Pinterest
