Promote ethical choices through your wardrobe.
Recently
I've been thinking more and more about sustainable fashion and how to
make the most of my fashion choices while limiting my impact on the
planet and the people working at making the clothes. There are more
and more brands deemed sustainable that offer an alternative to fast
fashion. Over the past few weeks I've enjoyed reading Deborah's posts
on the matter over at Coffee,
Clothes & Pretty Clothes - she goes straight to the
point and addresses several relevant issues on the topic of
sustainable fashion. As I have been thinking about my own
consumption, I have found that I am at a tricky standpoint - between
wanting to make an impact, but also not ready to invest in more
expensive clothes.
Personally,
I am very strict in my budget and where I put my money, and at this
moment clothing is still not a priority when it comes to spending
more. There are many reasons for that, one of them being that I am
not sure which clothes I would like to invest in (Am I still gonna
like that dress in two years' time?) So instead buying - just yet -
into sustainable brands, I found some ways in which I, in my own little
way, can be more fashion-conscious. If you would like to make a
change at your own level too, please read on!
1. Stop buying new clothes every season.
Let's
start with the obvious, shall we? The more you buy, the more you tell
the industry "make new clothes, I'll buy them all". Sounds
silly, but the big brands that produce fast fashion answer a demand
that keeps growing, in an era where people buy loads to display their
style on social media and keep refreshing their wardrobe to keep up
with the trends. There is no need to buy a new coat every winter, or
a new swimsuit to add to your collection every year, or to go to the
shops every month or so just to see what's in. Check out your
wardrobe: everything you need is there. Nowadays, I almost only shop
when I need to replace something, or to buy an item that has a
purpose, i.e. i need a pair of trousers for work. Instead of buying pieces from a thousand different trends, curate a style that lookslike you, with a selection of clothes that you will keep throughout the years. Which leads me to...
2. Shop your wardrobe.
Although
it's always fun to experiment with different styles and trends, it's
also great to grow into your own style and have your signature
outfits. For that, nothing better than shopping your wardrobe - keep
rummaging through your clothes, and I guarantee you that you'll find
some that you have never worn before, or rarely so. There are plenty
of fashion challenges that you can take, to style what you own in
lots of different ways. And if you're looking for a *new* outfit, why
don't you shop another friend's wardrobe? (With their consent, of
course.)
3. Take good care of what you already own.
Another
obvious one, but if you don't take care of your clothes, the turnover
will be high and you'll have to rebuy staples every so often. Avoid
synthetic fabrics and cheap materials, especially for shoes and bags,
and always make sure you wash and store your items carefully. No
matter whether it's fast fashion or high end, really: I've got some
clothes from New Look and Forever 21 that have lasted me years (not
kidding, some stuff in my wardrobe dates back to when I was in high
school seven years ago!)
I
know second-hand shopping is not always accessible, but there are
more and more of charity shops everywhere, where you can browse and
find some good deals. There are plenty of websites too, like Depop to
only name one, where you can buy clothes for less. A lot of people
use second hand as a way to avoid fast fashion and to stop giving
money to those big firms and brands. An ethical choice to make a
statement!
5. ... Unfollow those excessive buyer bloggers.
Harsh
maybe, but you need to surround yourself with those who will inspire
you in your personal choices. We always say unfollow whoever makes
you unhappy, right? Same thing applies here - I still see so many
bloggers and social media creators who keep on buying, buying, and
promoting new products all the time, and although there was a time in
my life where I totally loved this content, I've grown out of it now
and I get very tired of bloggers-turned-advertising boards,
especially because it pushes you to buy more, or makes you feel like
you'll be so happy and sophisticated if you buy this and that.
Thinking forward, I think our society needs to slow down in these
tendencies to buy and consume more than we actually need. So once and
for all, be the change you want to see - and get away from those who
don't promote the values you're after.
Are you becoming more fashion conscious? How do you shop responsibly?
Lots of love,
Julia x
Lots of love,
Julia x
