Sustainable Fashion

Sustainable Fashion is a term thrown around pretty loosely. In a world of fast fashion, where products are bulk made, often in exploitation-heavy factories, bought by consumers cheaply and, realistically, only worn a few times until it ends up in landfill it seems impossible that sustainability can be a focus of the fashion sector. While this is true for many brands, we have created a list of ‘Do’s and Dont’s, to help you figure out how to be environmentally conscious in the fashion world!

In terms of ‘Do’s’ the list is short - but effective! Here are our tips to being more sustainable:

1. Repair what you have! Stitching up small holes, sewing buttons back on and hemming clothes that are too long is easily done. This stops items going into landfill and saves you money in the long run!

2. Try and buy second hand from charity shops, online stores such as Ebay & Depop or from car boot sales. By buying second hand, often you are putting a bit of cash directly into someone who benefits pocket, but you are also stopping things from going to landfill by reusing and styling them. Second hand isn’t old, it’s new to you! With this, do consider in person over online, due to the carbon footprint of posting a singular item.

3. Consider borrowing or swapping clothes with your friends for special events. Autumn is a big season for events from upcoming Halloween parties, schools being back in term and weddings. Instead of buying a costume or a dress that realistically you’ll only wear once, consider asking around and seeing what you can swap with friends for the occasion, stopping waste!

To follow our Do’s here is a Don’t list - the stuff to avoid!

1. Just because a big brand says something is sustainable it doesn’t mean you should buy it. Even if a pair of jeans from a chain is from their ‘eco’ line that doesn’t mean it wasn’t bulk produced or made in a sweat shop! Do your research before you support these lines.

2. Don’t bin old fabrics and clothes. Old clothes that are not wearable can be used as rags for cleaning or donated to shelters to create bedding for rescue animals.

3. Don’t buy in bulk! Buying loads of clothes at once can seem more efficient but buying only one item as you need it saves you money and prevents you wasting items you buy lots of and forget about.

Fast fashion can be unavoidable sometimes, but by trying to decrease your involvement you do a lot for your own carbon footprint, but also to lessen your impact in supporting big chains who rely on exploiting people in developing countries to create their products. Small changes make big impacts, give our tips a go this season!