Sustainable fashion has become popular in recent times, and for good reasons. For starters, eco-friendly clothes and accessories can stand the test of time, meaning you don’t have to spend excess money on replacing them.
Moreover, sustainable brands produce items with fewer resources, limiting their carbon footprints on the planet. You can also rest assured that you won’t contribute to animal cruelty. Since sustainable clothing items and accessories are durable, there will be less landfill waste. It’s no wonder that 53% of men and 47% of women prefer to patronise sustainable brands. These tips can be beneficial if you want to switch to sustainable fashion but don’t know where to begin.
1. Shop locally
A great way to embrace sustainable fashion is to shop locally. This requires you to patronise clothing, shoes, and other accessories made by local fashion designers. Indeed, shopping locally has many benefits worth considering.
For starters, getting whatever you want within a short distance is convenient. Moreover, local businesses don’t have to rely on ships and trucks to deliver your orders, reducing their and your carbon footprint and helping the environment. Likewise, investing in local brands can translate to a stronger economy, boosted employment, and lower crime rates.
Since local producers aren’t affected by the dictates of larger corporations, they can freely create unique clothing and accessories. That said, your wardrobe will be versatile and far from boring. Seeing these benefits, you should start shopping locally if you haven’t already. Thankfully, the internet can help you research local fashion brands nearby, so feel free to leverage this helpful tool.
2. Repair or alter old clothes
Sometimes, you don’t need to spend money to revamp your wardrobe. Your old clothes can be repaired or altered to create newer designs. However, it’s not uncommon for people to throw away older clothes regularly.
This is not a sustainable practice, as they can end up in landfills and increase pollution levels. Moreover, it encourages wasteful spending, which may not be a good idea if you work with a tight budget. Fortunately, by repairing or altering old clothing, you can wear what you love for a long time while reducing your carbon footprint.
Likewise, you can use this as an opportunity to learn a new skill, so feel free to consider this. That said, it’s advisable to deep clean your closet, removing every clothing item. Afterwards, you can inspect them for damage signs and fix them accordingly.
3. Consider longevity when shopping for fashion items
Admittedly, the fashion industry can be volatile, with various trends coming and going. However, building your wardrobe around passing trends can be more harmful than beneficial. In your bid to stay in vogue, you may abandon clothes, shoes, jewellery, and other “so last season” accessories. Moreover, fads revolve around a few people, so they may not suit your personality and style.
Keeping up with unpredictable fashion trends can cause you to habitually buy impulsively, which isn’t good for your finances. Therefore, experts recommend focusing on longevity when shopping for fashion items. This means investing in timeless attire, jewellery, footwear, and other items. This way, you can stay in style regardless of what is trendy. Moreover, timeless pieces can give you a sophisticated and classy look, so keep this in mind.
Considering longevity also involves focusing on the quality of purchased fashion items. This leads to the next point.
4. Don’t overlook quality
Admittedly, cheaper fashion items may seem cheaper initially, and you may be tempted to buy various options. However, this may be a big mistake worth avoiding. Although cheap items may look fashionable, they often lack the right symmetry, measures, cut, and perfection. Therefore, it isn’t unusual for these items to look awry after a few uses. Likewise, their poor quality means you must constantly replace them, causing you to spend more than intended. Moreover, throwing away fabrics, discarded jewellery, peeling bags and shoes, and so on, isn’t eco-friendly, as it increases waste and land pollution.
The best option is to invest in high-quality fashion pieces, regardless of their prices. This is cheaper in the long run, as these items can stand the test of time, and you’ll get true value for your money. Furthermore, they are often crafted from high-quality materials, so you don’t have to worry about allergic reactions or other skin issues. As a tip, seek sustainable brands with a penchant for quality before getting any fashion piece. For instance, ear piercings make direct contact with your skin, so buying them from a trusted jeweller is key.
5. Join the cloth rental trend
Renting clothes is one trend worth considering if you wish to embrace sustainable fashion. Admittedly, everyone has clothes they adore but won’t wear regularly. For others, these attires are simply too expensive to buy and utilise occasionally. Fortunately, you can wear your dream designer outfits with clothing rental without straining your finances. Additionally, this trend extends each clothing piece’s lifespan and reduces the resources needed to produce new ones. Moreover, it’s a more eco-friendly way for fashion enthusiasts to stay in vogue, so keep this in mind. Since these clothes aren’t designed with only you in mind, you should check the rental company’s size charts to choose the right size. Also, ensure you maintain and return them in impeccable condition to prevent fines.
6. Visit thrift stores
Thrifting is also a popular practice among sustainable fashionistas and for good reasons. For starters, you can reduce your carbon footprint while preventing the needless destruction of used items in good condition. Likewise, you can get quality items for a lower price at thrift stores. Moreover, you can find unique fashion pieces to help you carve your personal statement.
However, it’s worth noting that you can spend more than necessary at thrift stores due to their prices. Therefore, consider shopping with cash to avoid impulse buying. While at it, only buy items you would wear regularly to prevent waste. Admittedly, some clothing can have blemishes, so keep that in mind when shopping at thrift stores. As a tip, examine each garment for missing buttons, stuck zips, tears, and so on.
7. Shop during off-seasons
Maybe thrifting isn’t your ideal shopping experience, but you want to embrace sustainability. In this case, shopping during off-seasons may be your best option. During this period, you can get your dream clothing, shoes, and other accessories for half the price, saving some money. Moreover, you would be doing your part in preventing these items from being thrashed, so feel free to consider this.
The trick is to look for non-peak times when retailers unload all merchandise, and the demand for your dream item is low. Since business owners would prefer to make some money instead of throwing commodities away, they will sell them to you at a significantly discounted price.
8. Patronise sustainable fashion brands
Although many fashion brands are moving towards sustainability, specific companies are more passionate about protecting the environment. That said, their products and production practices reflect their beliefs and values. You can show your love for and dedication to the earth by patronising these brands. Perhaps you aren’t sure what makes a company eco-friendly.
Fortunately, several tell-tale signs can help you make an informed decision. For instance, eco-friendly fashion brands use sustainable materials, leverage ethical labour practices and use renewable energy. Fortunately, these brands are becoming increasingly popular, and an internet search on local sustainable fashion retailers can help you locate one nearby.
Indeed, sustainable fashion has become increasingly popular, making people look their best without harming the environment. It also encourages people to save more and prevent waste. Hopefully, you’ll consider the above tips for a smooth transition into sustainable fashion.
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