There is an ever-growing pressure to make smarter choices when shopping for clothes. With environmental issues being more prevalent, you have to ask yourself what you are doing to contribute to the environment. Instead of thinking that it is someone else’s responsibility, try and challenge yourself to think of small things you can do in your small world that can have a positive impact.
In the world of fashion, brands are offering an eco collection and faux leather in a bid to greenwash the problem and confuse the situation.
Here are my ethical fashion tips for creating a sustainable wardrobe.
SWITCH FROM LEATHER TO VEGAN LEATHER
I love wearing leather, but what I don’t like is the price to wear it. One of the biggest problems with switching to a vegan leather alternative is the vegan leather business is still a long way from matching the properties of real leather. There are a few brands that are increasing their awareness and providing innovative craftsmanship and alternative materials to match the real thing. On the sneaker front, brands like Yatay are leading the pack of high-quality vegan alternatives.
SWITCH FROM DOWN TO SYNTHETIC
One innovation that is gaining traction is the synthetic down market. While there have already been several synthetic down alternatives and innovation, no other brand can claim to have a down alternative while helping clean up the ocean. Embassy of Bricks and Logs pride themselves in having down filling made from 100% recycled PET from ocean waste —a great addition to your sustainable wardrobe.
BUY FEWER CLOTHES
One of the easiest ethical fashion choices you can make is to be more conscious is to keep an eye of how much you spend on clothes. It’s a challenging habit to curb with the array of trends enticing you every season. A good tip is to focus on a wardrobe the has high-quality pieces that will stand the test of time.
BUY HIGHER QUALITY CLOTHES
One of the mistakes I always make when I need to refresh my wardrobe is buying cheaper items because I can get more value for my money. The down-side with this thinking is that the lower quality items never last, resulting in a repeat purchase.
The trick here is to bite the bullet and spend slightly more on your clothes. This may mean you won’t be able to buy as much, but this will help save you money in the long run.
DONATE YOUR CLOTHES
Instead of chucking your clothes away or letting unworn pieces lay dormant in your wardrobe, why not donate your unwanted items to charities. The start of a new season is the perfect time to gut out your closet and give to people less fortunate than yourself.
SHOP AT CHARITIES AND VINTAGE SHOPS
Instead of increasing the demand for the production of new clothes. Why not shift your money to clothes that have already been made and have lived in someone’s wardrobe? Charity and vintage shopping can be overwhelming, but my advice is to get stuck in, find a good shop and don’t look back.
What are some of the ethical fashion tips you do to create a sustainable wardrobe?