A Helpful Guide To Becoming A Sustainable Fashion Consumer
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters worldwide. Constantly purchasing fast fashion is not only a direct threat to the environment, but negatively affects those involved in the production process. However, buying sustainable clothing can be expensive, mostly due to extra costs during production in order to make the process more environmentally and socially friendly. In this article, I will discuss how we can make sustainable purchases without breaking the bank.
Repurpose: Think your nan’s curtains but make it fashion. With 300,000 tonnes of fabric being thrown in the landfill in 2018 alone (Clothes worth £12.5bn are thrown in bin, 2018), you’re bound to have some old clothes or fabric lying around somewhere. Think about repurposing your outdated wardrobe by turning your old clothes into this season’s new hero piece! With hundreds of thousands of free patterns available online and cheap vintage patterns in the majority of charity shops, you can begin to sew and create your own clothes. Use Instagram to find outfit inspiration and create your own unique looks for next to nothing.
By once, buy right: Invest in staple basics or statement pieces by companies who promote environmental and social sustainability. Sustainable clothes usually cost more for a number of reasons, including; the price of environmentally sustainable fabrics, the payment of fair wages to all employees, or reducing pollution during the production of fashion. By investing in sustainable pieces, you can begin to create a timeless wardrobe that no longer relies on the toxicity of fast fashion.
Brands I’d recommend trying to include:
Theory (available at https://uk.theory.com/) Theory creates modern and versatile pieces perfect for all occasions. Their focus is to develop conscious, purposeful clothing with the aim of protecting the future of our planet. Find interesting basics here that will last the test of time. MaisonCléo (available at https://maisoncleo.com/shop/ and https://www.net-a-porter.com/en-gb/shop/designer/maisoncleo) Created by a mother, daughter duo, MaisonCléo offers an effortless style, taking inspiration from the French countryside. Their signature piece is the white blouse, reworking the classic silhouette to create a new, cool look for summer. House of Sunny (available at https://www.houseofsunny.co.uk/) A personal favourite of mine, House of Sunny creates interesting pieces whilst keeping their production sustainable. Find your statement piece at House of Sunny and pair it with basics for an effortless but unique look. House of Sunny releases two limited seasonal drops a year so you must stay alert for their latest drop!
Buy second-hand: Online or offline, second-hand clothes are everywhere. Charity and thrift shops are a convenient way to hunt for unique pieces whilst keeping down costs and keeping your purchase sustainable. On the other hand, millions of second-hand clothes are being sold on the internet right now. Sites from eBay and Depop to luxury sites such as Vestiarie Collective and The Real Real, provide sellers from all over the world a platform to sell their old pieces. Not only is it more environmentally friendly to buy second hand, but it is often much cheaper than buying new, saving your money for well... more clothes! As controversial as it may sound, you can still buy from fast fashion and keep some sustainable principles. Although your purchase is not inherently sustainable, it’s what you do with the garment that can keep your purchase environmentally ethical. Purchase basics that can be worn through all trends. Create a capsule wardrobe of basics that are interchangeable throughout the seasons. If you no longer want the garment, consider donating it, selling it, or repurposing it to give your garment a second life. However, it is important to stress that fast fashion inherently is not sustainable. When possible, I would always encourage people to buy garments they know are sustainable, but we must remember this isn’t possible for everyone. It’s how you treat the garment after the purchase that can help make a positive change to the environment. By abandoning the throw-away culture promoted by the fast fashion industry and focusing on caring for clothes, we can begin to advocate for a better fashion industry.
References:
Andrew Ellson. (2018) Clothes worth £12.5bn are thrown in the bin. [viewed 10/07/2020] url:<https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clothes-worth-12-5bn-are-thrown-in-bin-b8rqfrcg2#:~:text=Britons%20binned%20clothes%20worth%20%C2%A3,almost%20%C2%A3500%2C%20research%20found.>
Image 1: Maxime Fohlen. (2020) MaisonCléo [viewed 22/07/2020] url:<https://www.culturedmag.com/maison-cleo/>
Image 2: House of Sunny. (2019) House of Sunny [viewed 19/07/2020] url:<https://graziadaily.co.uk/fashion/news/house-of-sunny-instagram-fashion/>
Image 3:Stella McCartney. 2017. Discover The Winter 2017 Campaign | Stella Mccartney. [online] Available at: <https://www.stellamccartney.com/experience/us/discover-the-winter-2017-campaign/> [Accessed 27 July 2020].
Editor: Lacey Wint
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