5 Easy Ways to Make a Change to Sustainable Fashion
Currently, the majority of the world is living through a global pandemic. While being locked up in our homes, forced to stay in a shelter-in-place position, there are always more ways you can change small things in your life to live more sustainably. Here are some tips and tricks that I have been inspired by. They are easy, quick and beneficial!
- Choose Ethical Brands
As consumers, it is important to pay attention to how your clothing is made, and then disposed of. One way to make sure you do not encourage Fast Fashion brands is by paying attention to which brands are transparent about their process of making/ disposing clothing and their circular story. Even if the stories are not perfect, knowing that these brands are honest, depicts that they have the right intentions. If you understand the story of each product you purchase, then you are a “conscious consumer.” “Do your research, as some companies pose as being ethical/sustainable but actually they’re not. Also, before you buy anything, really try and think about if you’re going to use it and wear it enough. I like the 30 wears idea and try and adhere to that.” @englishlassinla
The 30 wears idea brings us to our next tip, choosing quality over quantity through classical pieces.
- Opt for Classical Pieces
Classic fashion is something that lasts for years and is widely accepted by a range of people. They are the clothing pieces that can be worn and re-worn, styles and restyled in countless numbers of ways, all while looking as fresh as though it were your first wear. Here, it is also important to drop the mindset of quantity over quality. When shopping in fast fashion stores, you may find the price of four pieces of trendy “in” clothing matches the price of one piece of more traditional clothing from a more ethical store. Think about all the shopping you do in a year, and how much of it is the result of poor-quality clothes or items that have gone out of style and need to be replaced. While buying quality clothes might require more of an investment, they also last much longer – both in time and in taste – meaning you’re going to get your money’s worth.
Some examples of Timeless Fashion Include:
- Black Pumps
- Trench Coats
- Dark Wash Jeans
- Classic Button Up Shirts
- Classic Blazer
- Little Black Dress
- White Tee
Here, remember “quality of quantity.” In this situation, and any other, you must keep this in mind:
Purchase clothing that can be paired with more than 30% of your closet.
If the piece of clothing you are looking at can be styled with at least 30% of your closet, then that will guarantee multiple uses, which makes the clothing worth the money being spent on it. Often, clothing that are fads, do not check off this box, because they stay in fashion for one season, and then find themselves disappearing. It is important to stay away from such clothing, because they cannot withstand many uses, and do not stay trendy for long enough to make the most of it. By following fast fashion trends, you create more waste than necessary, ultimately harming the environment through the disposal process of these garments.
- Clothing Must Sustain Washes
The better quality the clothing is, the longer it stays looking fresh and crisp. Many fast fashion attires do not make it through ore than 5 washes before looking as though you’ve had it for years. It’s not a good look. The bad quality will cause you to throw out the clothing, therefore creating a larger pileup of trash in the landfills. Additionally, if your clothing cannot sustain more than 30 washes, then it is a wasted purchase. Be wise, do not waste your money on clothing that cannot sustain washes.
- Avoid Impulse Buying
If the clothing you are looking at checks off the first two boxes, then you are on the last, and final checkbox. When the clothing catches your interest, it is best to leave it, sleep on it, and then come back the next day after sleeping on it, and see if you still feel strongly about it. If you sleep on it and the next day you have lost interest in the garment, then you know it would have been an impulse buy, and wasted away sitting in your closet. If you are still interested in the purchase the next day, then, by all means, go buy it!
- Make sure to have a Sustainable Mindset
It is important to remember that making the change to a more sustainable lifestyle will have more long term effects than immediate benefits. When purchasing new clothing, you will be tempted to keep up with the trends and follow along with your friends, but you need to remind yourself that long term, you will be making a better difference, both on the wellbeing of your own wallet and the planet. It may be a change that will take time to adjust too, but in the end it will be worth it.
These 5 tips will automatically move you in the right direction and promote a more sustainable and fashionable lifestyle!
Be sure to check out your local, more ethical clothing stores and brands, rather than large factory businesses!
Let Clothes Live Long 
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