Creating a sustainable and ethical wardrobe is getting easier. Brands are using campaign strategies to promote their sustainable image. Ethical fashion is no longer rare, expensive, and elitist. High street names are releasing recycled ranges, ethically sourced items, and vegan clothes and accessories, and they’re not compromising on style.
This doesn’t mean that building a whole new sustainable wardrobe is simple, however. You still might not be able to wear the brands that you’re used and you’ll have to restrict yourself in some ways. Fortunately, there are ways you can tell you’re really shopping sustainably, and certain tricks you can try to get a guilt-free wardrobe.
Research brands to get informed
Do your research into the brand you’re interested in. Social media is a great resource. There are many brands that operate with a sustainable focus in mind, including clothing and sustainable home brands. By looking them up on social media you’ll be able to discover whether their values match yours. You’ll also find reviews of various products.
Consumer awareness is a growing trend and more people want to know where their new clothes come from. As consumers become more eco-conscious, brands need to keep up.
Vintage clothing
Vintage does a lot for the sustainable fashion industry. If you choose to buy vintage your helping to reduce emissions caused by manufacturing, dyeing, bleaching, and transporting new designs. It’s also no longer as expensive as it used to be and there are plenty of competitively priced shops where you can buy vintage online.
Compared to the rest of the fashion industry, the vintage market has a much lower carbon footprint. Invest in some timeless pieces and introduce more vintage to your wardrobe.
Repair or repurpose
Rather than throwing away old clothes, experiment with upcycling. If there are several items you can repurpose or refurbish in your wardrobe, get creative. Instead, an easier option is to find a decent tailor. By going to a tailor or cobbler, you can save money by getting clothes or shoes repaired without needing to buy new ones.
Sustainable accessories
Don’t limit your sustainable shopping to clothing. There are also several ranges of sustainable accessories on the market. Check out these vegan watches for example. They’re made from eco-friendly, ethically-sourced vegan materials.
Several green brands are producing stylish accessories that won’t break the bank, so again all you need to do is a bit of research. Here are some examples of eco-friendly accessories brands.
Go for long-lasting quality
You might need to change your shopping mindset. In order to shop sustainably, you’re going to have to go for quality more than quantity. You’ll probably also have to splash out on longer-lasting pieces. In the long run, you won’t need to buy as many clothes so consider it an investment.
Save up and buy half the amount of good quality clothing you would normally. This will help to reduce your carbon footprint as a shopper.
Share your wardrobe
Rather than buying clothes, rental fashion is another option that’s trending right now. Here are some of the best fashion rental sites for you to check out. Wardrobe sharing is all part of the circular economy concept. This is aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources.
Buy using rental platforms instead of buying new, fewer items will be bought that will eventually end up in a landfill. Eco-conscious consumers are driving a boom in rental fashion, meaning there are more and more startups and big brands jumping on the bandwagon.
30 wears challenge
The 30 wears challenge is a concept invented to reduce waste and unnecessary purchases. The idea is that before you buy something, you should think to yourself if you’re going to wear this item at least thirty times. If the answer is no, then you probably shouldn’t buy it.
Rather than buying a statement piece for a singular event, opt for longevity. This is easier said than done however, there’s a reason why it’s called a challenge.
Versatile items
Finally, one of the easiest ways to tell if you’re shopping sustainably is by opting for versatile items. This means things like jeans, t-shirts and things you can wear across more than one season. If you kit out your entire wardrobe for a hot summer and you live in the UK, this might not be the most sustainable way to shop.
Instead look for quality items that will last you longer, that you will wear more often. This is the best way to shop sustainably.
