One of the worst industries when it comes to being ethical and sustainable is fashion. 100 billion garments are produced each year and with the rise of fast fashion, it is concerning to think how many of them are likely to have gone to landfill.
So, you can make a difference by ensuring that your wardrobe is ethical. It may be daunting to know where to start, but the best thing to do is keep the items you will wear regularly in your wardrobe, take the rest to charity shops so they don’t go to waste and start from there. Be mindful of each item you buy from now on and you will gradually build up a stylish and ethical wardrobe.
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Look For An Ethical Supply Chain
One of the most important things to do when shopping is to buy from companies who have an ethical supply chain. By this, I mean companies who implement fair and environmentally friendly practices from where their materials are grown to how it is distributed. Ethical practices protect people from poor working conditions and wages, as well as reducing their impact on the environment.
To identify whether a company is ethical, you should look out for key indicators such as Fairtrade or Vegan labels. Companies like the Ethical Consumer also offer plenty of resources with ratings of different companies that indicate how ethical and sustainable they are. After a few years of ethical shopping, you will get used to knowing where to shop.
Choose Timeless Pieces
When you are shopping you should look for items that you know you will wear time and time again. Ask yourself if you will wear this item 30 times, and if the answer is no, then it isn’t right for your wardrobe. You should prioritise items that you will happily wear year after year in order to protect the environment, encourage a more ethical fashion system and also save money.
Aim to have staple items that can be mixed and matched with other items in your wardrobe. For example, a mens full tracksuit or a ladies skirt and top co-ord would be ideal to wear together or separately with other items. If you have things that you love and wear regularly, you won’t need to throw anything away. Avoid trends that will come and go in a matter of months, as it is usually fast-fashion companies creating these trends and they have very little concern when it comes to ethics and sustainability.
Shop Second Hand
Although shopping second hand makes it difficult to know whether the product was produced ethically, you will be preventing something from going to landfill which of course is fantastic. Places like thrift shops and charity shops are full of fantastic things that weren’t of use to someone else Love Moschino, but could be perfect for you. You might even get yourself some vintage pieces that collectors will be extremely jealous of!
Final Thoughts
Making a small effort to be mindful when shopping for clothes will have a significant positive impact on the environment and workers all over the world during your lifetime. Before you take the jump to buy that mens graphic t-shirt or that stunning puffer jacket you’ve been wanting, take some time to see how ethical the company really is.
