Now that we’ve talked in depths about the problems of the fast fashion industry, it goes without saying that everyone should try and incorporate sustainable living into their clothing. I started learning about this topic a few years ago, and since then my fast fashion consumption has dropped to almost nothing. You can still love and experiment with fashion without buying the trendiest pieces from H&M once a month. If anything, learning about sustainable practices within my own consumption has made me think harder about what I wear and developing my own sense of style.
5 Steps to a More Sustainable Wardrobe
1. Reworking what you already own
This doesn’t necessarily mean wearing the same clothes you did in middle school. Think of ways to upcycle and rewear old pieces in a new way. Crop that old tee shirt and make it into a matching crop top and headband. Turn a pair of shrunken jeans into shorts. There are so many tutorials you can find on youtube depending on your level of comfort. Also, experiment! No one taught me how to use a sewing machine, but one day I hauled up my grandma’s old 1950s machine and started messing around until I could figure it out.
2. Borrow for Special Events
I know it’s tempting to buy a new dress for every wedding or school dance you are invited to, but try swapping with your friends. I personally love stealing clothes from my roommate, so I would 100% recommend it (you might want to ask first though).
3. Shop second hand
Okay I get it, in the highly consumerist culture we live in, buying a cute shirt might be the only ounce of serotonin you get all day. While a minimalist wardrobe is ideal, sometimes you want to expand. Try shopping second hand for any pieces that you want, but don’t need. Thrifting is as close as you can get to guilt free and affordable ethical shopping. (Not to mention, it’s a fun thing to do-by yourself or with friends.) Also, thrift online! Depop, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, Thredup, Ebay, Etsy- all these places can be wonderful platforms, especially when you use the filter features to narrow done what you are looking for.
4. Think really hard before purchasing something
This applies to second hand shopping too, but even more so to buying fast fashion. Sometimes, it is the only option. I understand that, and it’s not constructive to tear down others for buying what they need from stores that are accessible to them. Not everyone has the time or resources to sort through an entire Goodwill to find a nice white button down. On the other hand, I can not tell you how much clothing I’ve bought over the years on a whim because it was cheap and trendy only to wear it once. It was really a mindset shift when I started thinking about what I was buying.
Ask yourself these questions before buying something from a fast fashion brand:
- Do I love the item or just the price?
- What is the quality-is this material going to fall apart after two washes? (If you are purchasing a basic you know you are going to wear a lot, this question is especially important)
- How does this piece integrate with my existing closet? Do I have multiple things to wear it with?
- Do I already own something like this?
- Am I still going to need/want this in a few days? A few weeks?
5. Invest in Sustainable Brands
There are a ton of articles out there listing environmentally friendly and fair trade clothing companies. These brands do tend to be more costly. It makes sense, they pay their employees fair wages and use durable and environmental fabrics. Consider checking out places like Pact or Patagonia for great quality basics and outerwear. They may cost more than places like Shein, but they are going to last. For more affordable options, trying patronizing small artists. (If you like cool earrings like me, I highly recommend looking through Etsy).
Thank you guys for following my ramblings on the issue of ethical fashion, and I hope you consider taking some of these suggestions with you the next time you look for new clothes 🙂