A fashionista's worst nightmare is when society as a whole suffers because of their obsession with clothing. It's easy to forget that even occasional shoppers have an outsized impact. For the record, fast fashion is the main source of the issue. It's no secret at this point that the world's growing oversupply of inexpensive clothing is contributing to a number of issues, from unsafe working conditions for workers to an unsustainable drain on the planet's natural resources.
Simply put, there is an excessive amount of manufactured apparel, much of it is produced by immoral means. A century ago, it was common for people to have only a small collection of clothing, each piece of which would be manufactured with care and worn for decades until finally being retired. Nowadays, the typical consumer buys roughly 65 pieces of inexpensive apparel and throws away more than 68 kilos of clothing each year. It can't go on forever, therefore if you are concerned about the world and its inhabitants, you presumably agree that we need to find new methods to shop.
The excellent thing is that it's actually rather simple to make minor but significant adjustments to the way we shop for clothing. Feel good about yourself whether you implement one or all (10) of our tips.
The good news is that there are a growing number of apparel brands that are working to combat fast fashion. They are making clothing using sustainable materials and comprehensive safety features for employees. Unfortunately, their clothes are usually much more expensive than similar quick fashion options. According to a 2016 story in Refinery29, a pair of jeans produced in a way that doesn't hurt people or the environment will cost you at least $100.
While this may seem like a catch-22, there are solutions available for fashionistas who are constrained financially and morally. You can construct a wardrobe that is both ethical and environmentally friendly sans spending any more money than you already do on clothes if you shop smart and do your research.
Understand Sustainable Choices
To begin your search for affordable, eco-friendly apparel, you must first know what look for. The fabric of the garment and the treatment of employees are two key considerations.
Eco-Friendly Fabrics
Carbon emissions are reduced through eco-friendly textiles. The fibres used to make them don't need a lot of water or harmful chemicals to develop, and the same is true for the textile manufacturing process. The dyes used to colour them are all-natural or environmentally friendly. And instead of ending up in landfills, where they would produce methane, they might be recycled or back to the environment through composting.
Cotton and other natural fibres can seem like a no-brainer when it comes to environmental friendliness compared to synthetic materials manufactured from petroleum. Still, there are times when that is not the situation. For instance, according to textile expert Gail Baugh, recovered polyester is more environmentally friendly than cotton, even organic cotton. It has a smaller environmental impact throughout its lifecycle and may be recycled once it has served its purpose.
Trusted Clothes and Go Climate Neutral both provide helpful instructions for spotting eco-friendly materials. The authors evaluate the impact of various textiles on the environment. Lyocell, hemp, linen, jute, peruvian wool, and silk, notably "peace silk," which is produced without the use of animal byproducts, are among their prefered materials.
The opinions of these sites on bamboo cloth are conflicting. The plant from which it is woven grows quickly and requires no pesticides, but the production process uses a lot of water, energy, and potentially dangerous chemicals. There are benefits and drawbacks to using organic cotton. Although it doesn't use as many pesticides, organic cotton still necessitates a lot of land and water to cultivate.
Treatment Of Workers
Even if the shirt is manufactured from the most eco-friendly material, it is unethical to produce it if the workers who put in 16 hour days in a cold, dark warehouse are paid below the poverty line. The International Labor Organization (ILO) reports that these types of situations are far rarer now than they were a decade ago. Many in the clothing industry, however, continue to deal with significant issues at work. It was reported in 2019 by The Guardian, for example, that factory workers in Bangladesh often work long shifts for low pay, and that safety rules are rarely followed.
Brands of apparel don't always have an easy time investigating the working conditions of their suppliers. To give just one example, The Guardian exposed how T-shirts marketed by the brand Represent—which promoted itself as using ethical sourcing practices—had been produced by workers who were paid less than the minimum wage and who described their working circumstances as "inhuman."
Some sustainable companies, however, go the extra mile to protect the rights of their employees. These products are typically labelled as "Fair Trade," which guarantees that their manufacturing facilities are secure and that employees are paid a fair wage. Businesses who have achieved Fair Trade status have committed to having their manufacturing facilities audited on a regular basis to ensure compliance with these requirements.
FAQs About Shops
- Research Brands. Once you know what to look for, you can research your favorite brands to learn how they measure up on ethics and sustainability.
- Seek Out Sustainable Producers.
- Focus on Investment Pieces.
- Hunt for Bargains.
- Get Into Secondhand Style.
What To Look For When Buying Ethically Made Clothing
- Look For The Company's “Impact Report” The first place to start when determining if your clothing was made ethically or not is simply to ask. ...
- Seek Out Ethical Labels. ...
- Choose Smaller Companies Who Know Their Garment Workers By Name. ...
- Opt For Local.
Ethical fashion is garment design, production, and distribution that focuses on reducing harm to people and the planet. Most consumers interpret ethical fashion as a term created in response to an industry that's notorious for underpaying employees—and in unsafe factories and working conditions, no less.
Here's what we look for when evaluating brands for ethics and sustainability:
- A lot of specific, well-organized, and clear information.
- Third-party certifications.
- Where they are and where they want to go.
- Labor transparency.
- Accurate information and promises.
- Cultural awareness.
10 simple steps to being more sustainable
- The 30 wears test.
- Be more informed.
- Change your attitudes to shopping.
- Invest in trans-seasonal clothes.
- Donate your unwanted clothes.
- Look after your clothes so they last longer.
- Learn how to repair clothing yourself (or find a good tailor)
- Go for quality over quantity.
How To Buy Ethical & Eco-Friendly Clothing On A Budget?
Master the Art of Shopping at Second-Hand Stores
Buying pre-owned garments is a great way to support ethical fashion. Unfortunately, many people avoid charity stores because they believe it to be too much of a hassle to search through piles of junk to discover a few gems. Don't be scared; treat it as a challenge. Schedule a shopping trip for a Saturday when you have more time, and include a list of things you need.
Instead of buying cheap clothes made out of polyester, opt for those that were expertly crafted from more durable materials like wool, suede, leather, or cotton. Denim, sweaters, coats, and even shoes and boots, the workhorses of any wardrobe, may sometimes be found at a fraction of her original prices at thrift stores. There's always the chance that you'll find a one-of-a-kind treasure at a thrift store that wasn't even on your radar. To complete the cycle, consider giving your own used clothing.
Acquire More Information
Knowing how to begin and, more significantly, where to shop is one of the most challenging aspects of attempting to be more sustainable. Thanks to the proliferation of sustainable-minded businesses, it's now lot less of a hassle. Find a few companies that you really like after doing some research, then build from there. Your knowledge bank will have expanded after some time, and you'll be able to categorise it in a variety of ways. If you're trying to determine how sustainable a brand is, a good rule of thumb is that if their position is hard to uncover, it's probably because they aren't as efficient and environmentally as they look.
Buy Items That Can Be Worn Across Seasons
Don't waste your money on seasonal necessities; instead, invest in things you know will last all year. Don't waste your money every year on a new summer clothing if you live in cold and damp Australia. Invest more heavily in items that can be worn in more least 1 season. A wardrobe composed of jeans, T-shirts, timeless dresses, and coats and vests will have a far smaller environmental impact.
Give Away Your Old Clothes
Instead of just letting your old clothes gather dust in the back of your closet, consider donating them to a good charity where they can be put to good use. Having a "one-in, one-out" strategy, where for every item you buy, you give something else away, is a terrific approach to do this.
Take better care of your garments and they will last longer
It may seem trivial, but it's crucial. Of course, you may expect your clothes to last longer if you spend more money on them, but this is true of everything in your closet. If you take good care of your belongings, you won't have to replace them as often. Go the additional mile to maintain the quality and longevity of your wardrobe by doing things like washing jeans inside out and preserving your cashmere.
Learn How To Repair Clothing Yourself
It's not always necessary to toss something because of a tear or a broken heel. Master the art of mending your garments and accessories, or hire a seamstress to do it for you. Stop and think before you use it as an explanation for anything brand new. Renting clothing is a terrific way to support the circular economy, and we all know that thrifting is superior to fast fashion. Instead of discarding items because they appear worn, practising sustainability could be as easy as hiring a reliable tailor.
Choose Excellence over Quantity
Preparation is the key to success. Compared to a low-quality, low-priced product from the high street, the cost of a high-quality, sustainable piece is likely to be more. However, you just need to adjust your perspective. Sure, it'll set you back more initially, but you can rest assured knowing that you won't have to replace it as frequently. If you want to significantly lessen your impact on the environment, it's best to invest in a handful of high-quality things each year rather than hundreds of inexpensive, less eco-friendly ones. Spare money, put it towards investments, and reduce your consumption.
Adjust Your Spending Habits
Adapt your spending habits. Spend your 'investment' money on things you wear frequently rather than on one-time purchases like a wedding dress or a particular pair of shoes. You need to get over the idea that you'd never spend that much on jeans. But if you can only buy single pair of pants a year, or one thing this month, make it those. After investing in a few key pieces, you'll have a wardrobe to just be proud of that will last for many years to come.
Conclusion
Because of their preoccupation with dress, fashionistas exert disproportionate cultural influence. The primary driver of this problem is fast fashion, which has been linked to increased worker danger and an unsustainable consumption of the world's natural resources. A rising number of clothing businesses are producing garments with sustainable materials and safety features in an effort to counteract rapid fashion; nevertheless, these items are typically more expensive than comparable quick fashion options. The fabric of the garment and the treatment of employees are two essential concerns when trying to locate inexpensive, eco-friendly clothing. Textiles that are environmentally friendly use natural fibres that don't require a lot of water or toxic chemicals in their production, hence reducing their carbon footprint.
Though it doesn't take as much resources as conventional cotton to grow organic cotton, recycled polyester is better for the planet. You can learn more about how to identify eco-friendly products by visiting websites like Trusted Clothes and Go Climate Neutral. They love materials like lyocell, hemp, linen, jute, Peruvian wool, and silk, especially "peace silk." There are tensions inherent in the production of bamboo cloth because of the high water and energy requirements, as well as the usage of potentially harmful chemicals. It's unethical to make if the people who toil away in a dark, cold warehouse for 16 hours a day are paid less than the poverty rate.
Some sustainable companies go above and above to defend the rights of their employees, and buying ethical and eco-friendly clothing on a budget is a terrific way to support ethical fashion. You may help the cause by donating your own gently worn clothing, shopping at thrift stores, and finding and supporting companies you truly believe in. Finding sustainable-minded businesses used to be difficult, but things have changed. Now, it's much simpler to get started. Rather than keeping garments for just one season, invest in pieces that can be worn year-round and donate your old ones to a worthy cause. The life span of your clothing will increase if you take better care of them by doing things like washing jeans inside out, protecting cashmere, and fixing them yourself.
Instead of spending money on things that will only be used for part of the year, you should buy things that can be used all year round. Learn to mend your own clothes or hire a seamstress if you don't feel comfortable trying it. In order to help the economy's cyclical nature, renting clothing instead of buying new is preferable to thrift shopping or quick fashion. Prioritize quality above quantity and make some changes to your shopping habits to cut down on waste. You can have a wardrobe you're pleased with for many years to come if you spend a little more money on a few staple items.
Content Summary
- As a matter of public record, fast fashion is the primary driver of this problem.
- The growing oversupply of cheap clothes around the world is a known contributor to multiple problems, including unsafe working conditions for garment workers and an unsustainable consumption of the Earth's natural resources.
- Fabrics that are made with minimal environmental impact have a direct impact on lowering emissions of carbon dioxide.
- They are coloured with all-natural or eco-friendly colours.
- For instance, recovered polyester is preferable than cotton (even organic cotton), as claimed by Gail Baugh, a specialist in the field of textiles.
- You can trust that these goods were produced in a safe environment where workers were paid a living wage since they bear the "Fair Trade" certification.
- Concentrate on acquiring pieces that can be worn for more than one season.
- Donate Your Outgrown Clothes
- Donating your gently-used clothing to a worthy cause is a better option than letting it gather dust in the back of your wardrobe.
- If you take better care of your clothes, you can extend their lifespan.
- Despite its seeming insignificance, this is actually quite important.
- Take good care of your stuff, and you won't have to buy new things as often.
- Learn how to mend your clothes and accessories, or pay someone else to do it.
- The price of a high-quality, long-lasting piece is likely to be more than that of a low-quality, low-priced product from the high street.
