Reasons to Shop More Sustainably, and How

When I became a Personal Stylist seven years ago, I had a LOT of clothes. I felt I needed to, seeing as I was ‘in the business’. However, I have learned that I don’t need many clothes at all. Having too many and buying even more, leads to feelings of overwhelm, guilt and stress, and makes those clothes feel like they have less value. There is joy in owning fewer, but better clothes that become your best friends.

Now, I’m thinking more sustainably. I will donate clothes that don’t fit or discard them only when they are worn out, and I’m making more conscious choices when I buy.

If you are interested in a slower, more sustainable approach to fashion, read on…

What is fast fashion?
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It refers to all the clothing, shoes and accessories that are produced in unsustainable and unethical ways. The essence is speed. Fast fashion brands launch a new collection every few weeks, if not days. This encourages us to buy more and more, making us think that we constantly need to update our wardrobes.

These products are poorly made, and most fall apart after a few weeks or months and need to be replaced fairly quickly. Initially, the item may be cheap to buy, but in the long run you will spend more if you have to keep replacing it.

The environmental impact
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Fast fashion negatively impacts the environment on many levels. The whole supply chain of garment production from the extraction of raw materials, to manufacture, transportation and consequently the management of landfill, has huge consequences.

The fashion industry is the world’s second largest consumer of water. It takes around 2000 gallons of water to create a single pair of jeans!

How to make positive changes
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Shop your wardrobe

When you feel like you need to be a new item of clothing, have a good look through your wardrobe and reassess what you already have. If you have lots of clothes, you can easily forget about pieces which are hidden at the sides and haven’t seen the light of day for a while. Avoid buying new versions of what you have already because you’d forgotten about them!

Buy pre-loved

This is the best way to have a sustainable wardrobe. When you buy something pre-owned, you are not increasing the demand for new products, and you are saving clothes from being discarded. Some of my favourite pieces of clothing were Ebay finds. They would have been expensive to buy new, so they cost much less and some were unworn or only worn once or twice (obviously avoid buying something pre-loved stuff just because it’s an unbelievable bargain, as it defeats the object of owning less!).

Support sustainable brands

This could be unrealistic if you’re on a tight budget, as genuinely sustainable brands tend to sell at a higher price point than fast fashion. Sustainable clothing brands pay employees in the supply chain a fair wage and working conditions are good.

You are paying for better quality items that will last for years and end up cheaper in the long run, as the cost-per-wear is low. Generally, the materials used, such as organic cotton, linen, modal and recycled polyester, are better for the planet in the long term.

Check a brand’s sustainability statement on their website, and look for certifications like OEKO-TEX and Better Cotton Initiative for transparency about their standards and commitment. This allows you to make an informed choice about what you buy.

Is buying more sustainably on your mind?