Responsibly participating in the fashion industry can come in many forms. From renting high-quality garments to avoiding buying clothes made from virgin synthetics that take years to degrade, there are various ways we can all play our part and make a difference.
Make an investment that will stand the test of time by purchasing timeless pieces made from sustainable fabrics and dyes, thus helping to minimize waste. Search out brands that prioritize this area.
Buy Less
Advocates of the sustainable fashion movement prioritize quality over quantity by purchasing clothes made from superior fabrics that will outlive trends and last longer, thus reducing waste while also helping to protect the environment by decreasing replacement needs.
When shopping for sustainable clothing, look for brands that prioritize transparency and accountability in their supply chains. This means they are willing to disclose information regarding sourcing practices, environmental impact assessments, and materials used, along with ethical production standards.
Consider looking for certifications from third-party organizations that ensure that the fabric and fibers used in clothing are responsibly sourced, such as the Global Organic Textile Standard, OEKO-TEX Made in Green by OEKO-TEX labels, or Bluesign certification.
Wear your clothes more and wash them less frequently, which reduces wear and tear, extends their lifespan, saves energy and water resources, and lowers your carbon footprint by keeping garments from landfills that contribute methane emissions.
Donate clothing you no longer use to a thrift store or charity instead of throwing them away; this is an effective way of getting new looks without breaking the bank while simultaneously helping reduce waste in landfills. Furthermore, hosting a clothing swap with friends and neighbors may provide another avenue.
When shopping for sustainable clothing, try restricting yourself to only making one or two purchases per season. This helps plan your wardrobe and prevent impulse buys that lead to overconsumption; additionally, it reduces storage requirements due to clothes you won’t wear often enough.
Shop Second-Hand
In addition to saving money by shopping second-hand, many fashion enthusiasts who support sustainable fashion are turning to thrift stores, consignment shops, and second-hand markets for affordable clothing. Purchasing second-hand clothing not only saves money but also lessens the environmental impact of manufacturing new garments.
Ethical production and fair trade are at the core of sustainable fashion, as these practices ensure all workers involved receive fair wages and working conditions that comply with the global organic textile standard (GOTS). Some brands work directly with their suppliers to promote these standards, while others seek certifications such as Fair Trade or GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) to demonstrate their dedication to sustainable fashion.
The most responsible way to shop is to opt for timeless pieces that will last you for years, rather than constantly replacing items as trends come and go. Not only will you save money while also decreasing environmental impact, but investing in timeless classic jeans, t-shirts, and jackets will allow you to build a timeless wardrobe reflective of your personal style that won’t need replacing annually with seasonal garments.
As an alternative, you could try washing your clothes less frequently; washing shirts and pants every 10 times instead of every 2 will save 75% of the water used to create them.
When purchasing new clothes, it is best to opt for ones made with natural materials like cotton, wool, leather, and viscose. Avoiding synthetic fabrics like polyester, rayon, and acrylic helps minimize the use of harsh chemicals and fossil fuels, while biodegradable or recycled fabrics like bamboo flax and soy will further decrease the impact.
Avoid fast fashion.
As more people become conscious of how their lifestyle choices impact the planet, many are seeking sustainable alternatives. Fashion is no exception, and many shoppers are willing to pay more for garments produced using socially and environmentally responsible methods. According to Jay Yoo, associate professor of apparel merchandising at Baylor University, there are various ways you can shop more sustainably:
Avoid fast fashion.
It is better to invest in quality pieces that will outlive their lifecycle, reduce future purchases, and reduce the environmental impact of purchasing new clothing items. This way, you will save money while reducing the environmental impact of rapid fashion trends.
Cotton, hemp, and linen fabrics are more sustainable than synthetic ones like polyester, which require more water, energy, and chemicals to produce. Furthermore, look out for certifications such as organic, recycled, and forest stewardship councils to verify a garment’s sustainability.
Avoid clothing that requires dry cleaning or special washing conditions to reduce its environmental footprint, and if any unworn pieces don’t fit or no longer interest you, you can donate them to resale stores or sell them on social media platforms like eBay and Craigslist.
Sustainable shopping requires education on the environmental and ethical impacts of various fabrics, manufacturers, and brands. Once you understand what you’re searching for, it will be easier for you to add sustainable styles to your wardrobe while taking business away from companies that pollute the planet for personal gain. Therefore, supporting sustainable fashion brands that prioritize fair wages for workers as well as ecologically sound production processes should be prioritized; you can easily do this online through searches like “eco-friendly clothing brands.”
Look for natural materials.
Fashion has an immense environmental impact, so the more conscious purchases we make can help reduce this effect. But knowing which brands and materials are sustainable can be daunting if you’re new to the movement. To help make better choices for yourself and your wardrobe, choose natural textiles such as cotton, hemp, bamboo, jute, or linen, which require less water for production while being biodegradable, to reduce microplastic pollution in our rivers and oceans.
Next, look for eco-friendly certification from your brand of choice, whether it appears on their label or online description. Certifications such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Made in Green by OEKO-TEX, or Bluesign can guarantee the use of fewer chemicals during the manufacturing process.
Beyond choosing eco-friendly textiles, consider how you will care for them. To save energy and water, it is wise to reduce how often you wash, using cold or even warm water instead of hot when possible, and air-drying clothing whenever possible in order to save energy and water usage.
Finally, look for versatile pieces that can be combined and matched easily to form different outfits. Investing in high-quality staples, such as classic white shirts or jeans, can reduce the number of items needed and extend their usefulness, making them worthwhile investments. If you need help managing your wardrobe effectively, renting clothing through companies such as Hurr and By Rotation could also provide solutions.
Take care of your clothes.
Proper care of your wardrobe will not only reduce waste, but will also significantly extend its lifespan. Therefore, it is crucial that you understand the various washing detergents, wash cycles, and drying needs for each garment in your closet to maximize longevity, saving both money and minimizing environmental impacts due to synthetic fabric’s water-intensive production.
Research the sustainable fashion brands you consume so that you know whom and their production processes you are supporting. There are numerous apps and websites, like Good On You, that provide transparency into a fashion brand’s sustainability efforts.
Repurposing or upcycling any no longer-worn pieces of clothing is another eco-friendly clothing tip to follow, providing an effective way to refresh your wardrobe without contributing more waste—often for less cost than buying new. Reusing old shirts as tote bags or shorts as cutoffs could work wonders here!
As you strive to build an environmentally friendly wardrobe, the price of some sustainable items may seem prohibitive. However, keep in mind that cheap clothing usually carries a much higher environmental cost due to being discarded and ending up in landfills; thus, it would be wiser to invest in some quality pieces that you will wear for longer rather than purchasing lots of cheap clothes that won’t even make it through one season of wearing! If this concerns you too much, then rental brands such as Pact or Reformation could offer sustainable clothing rental solutions to help.
