5 Ways to Shop More Sustainably
Fast, unethical fashion is fast becoming an issue that's being raised worldwide. As an increasing number of us are made aware of the situation, the more we're open to changing the way we shop. Thinking about purchases, doing your research and even shopping second hand are viable ways of shopping sustainably.
There are many ways in which fashion can be unethical; from the people who made the piece of clothing to the environmental impact it has on the planet, there's more to fast, unsustainable fashion than first meets the eye.
I won't go into it too much in this blog post, but I'll leave some useful resources below should you want to read more about the issue at hand and how people are looking to combat the problem. Please, take a look if you aren't sure about what fast or unethical fashion is!
The Environmental Costs of Fast Fashion
The Human Cost of Fast Fashion
1 | Use social media
Following pages and brands that promote sustainable fashion is a great way to get started. Instagram is great for promoting environmentally-friendly brands that haven't yet made it into the mainstream market, follow them to see what it is they sell and exactly why they're sustainable.
Where you could go to H&M for that new pair of jeans, you could also go to a reputable, smaller fashion brand that offers high-quality, sustainable alternatives.
Use social media to do some research and to check out some reviews, often, what others have to say about a brand and their products is very important as all opinions will be raw and honest. You'll always be able to trust what a valid consumer says, not matter what it is!
2 | Browse second hand stores
Charity shops and second hand stores are perfect should you want to lessen the impact fast fashion has on the environment. You can pick up some absolute gems in there, trust me! When I was about 17/18, I did most of my shopping in charity shops. I'd turn it into a fun task, just to see what I could find on a smaller budget. But this way of shopping won't just save you money, it'll also help save the planet.
3 | Consider renting some clothing
For formal occasions, instead of going out and buying a suit or a dress for this one time thing, rent something out instead. I have a few dresses in my wardrobe that I've only ever worn once, such as my prom dress. But renting a dress out for the evening can make all the difference when it comes to the environment.
Rent out your clothing, have a great time then hand it back in for someone else to enjoy. Now, Covid-19 may mean that there could be some restrictions as to what you can rent or how items are cleaned, but this shouldn't put you off giving it a go or doing some research around it.
4 | Use the 'one in one out' policy
Whenever you buy something new, donate another piece of clothing to charity. For example, if I bought another pair of blue skinny jeans, then I'd donate an older pair to a local charity. Obviously, make sure the clothes you're donating are in a decent condition.
While you're there, you should ask one of the charity shop workers whether they'll take rags - basically anything that's not fit to be worn by anyone else, but could be used for other things. This is another great way of getting rid of tattered clothing, linen and other materials without simply throwing it away.
5 | Do your research
I've left some research links at the start of this blog post, so scroll back up and given them a read through if you'd like to learn more. But being aware of what fast fashion is is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to research.
Think about your purchase before you part with your money. Delve into the company you're buying it from, are some of their practices damaging to the environment? Do they have a fast turnaround time from catwalk to shelves? Do they have thousands of different, on-trend styles available? Are their prices too good to be true?
These are all the questions you should be asking yourself before making a purchase. If the answer to any of the aforementioned is 'yes', then the likelihood is that the brand is all about fast fashion and should be avoided.
***
I hope you enjoyed this blog post, let me know how you like to shop sustainably in the comments below so you can add to my list. I'll see you again really soon with a brand new blog post for you all!
***
WHERE TO FIND ME
PREVIOUS BLOG POST
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Comments
Post a Comment