Fast fashion is slowly becoming one of the biggest contributors to the environmental and
ethical crisis; more needs to be done to improve our fashion choices to ensure that they are
more sustainable. If you are looking to reduce the size of your carbon footprint, a great place
to start is with your wardrobe. Here are five top tips to get you started on your journey to
becoming a more sustainable fashionista this year:
1. Choose brands that are eco-conscious
There are so many clothing brands out there, but not all of them produce their clothes
ethically and sustainably. At first, it might be difficult to cut ties with your favorite brand if
their products aren’t sustainable, but it’s morally necessary if you want to do your bit for the
planet as well as animal and worker’s rights. Only if enough people boycott a brand might
they change their clothing production habits and become more ethically responsible. Bonds
is one such brand with a strong sustainability ethos; they aim to divert 100% of their waste away from landfill by 2020.
2. Be selective with your clothing choices
Spending sprees and shopping days are great fun, but your fashion choice might be
detrimental to the environment as well as your bank balance. It’s much better to wait for the
sales and invest in items of clothing that you’re guaranteed to get a lot of wear from. You
should also consider being more selective about what your clothes are made of, as those
composed of polyester and nylon take longer to biodegrade.
3. Reuse and repair
When the time comes for a wardrobe clear out, don’t just throw everything in the bin; get
creative and see how you can reuse items of clothing. If your long jumpers and T-shirts are
outdated, see if they would make a great crop top. If your jeans are ripped, get the scissors
out and transform them into a trendy pair of shorts. You might think that certain items of
clothing are beyond saving, but if you learn some basic sewing skills, you can easily patch
up a hole or fix a broken zip.
4. Donate
A staggering 235 million tonnes of clothes end up in landfill each year and 75% of Britons
say they will throw away garments instead of donating. We can’t hold onto clothes forever,
but throwing them away is never an option. See if family members would like them first and
give the remainder to charity; most charity shops will even take holey and unmendable
clothes.
5. Do your research
Before you can begin your sustainable fashion journey, you need to see why it’s important to
make changes. Delve into the fast fashion statistics and see for yourself how detrimental it
can be for the planet and those on it; for instance, did you know that more than 100 million animals are bred and killed each year for their pelts? Once you know the numbers you’ll be
more likely to create more sustainable shopping habits and stick to them.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. Clicking them will not cost you any extra money.
