When I was growing up, girls I went to school with loved hanging out at the mall. While I never understood this, fashion companies sure do. That’s why they pump out new styles every week. As quickly as possible and and with the biggest margins that they can manage.
While most people love $7 tops and $20 shoes, I’d rather compile a quality collection of sustainably-made (and non-toxic) clothing. That’s why I make every effort to be a conscious consumer, doing my research on the fashion industry and looking for alternatives to fast fashion.
What I found out was that the true cost of fast fashion is far greater than any bargain. For starters, if there’s a new “season” of clothes every week, you’re bound to be out-of-style before you’ve even worn your new find. To keep up you have to buy more and toss more – the average American throws out more than 68 pounds of textiles per year!
And that’s just the beginning of the environmental impact. In order to keep costs down, manufacturers don’t adhere to safety standards and some of your fave inexpensive accessories contain lead, in addition to all the other chemicals – pesticides, insecticides, formaldehyde, and flame-retardants – that are routinely used in mainstream fashion.
20% of all water pollution comes from the apparel industry. If we change the way we shop we can make a huge impact.
Perhaps the most tragic cost of all is the human cost, with up to 60 percent of fashion being produced by ‘informal’ workers, there’s no way to regulate their working conditions.
But you don’t have to participate in all this madness. You can step out of the fast fashion system, by following the below tips:
Shop vintage
The most reliable path to being a sustainable fashionista is to by buying vintage. While you can’t be sure the vintage piece was ethically made, by purchasing a vintage piece you’re breathing new life into something that might have been discarded into a landfill. Here’s my guide to getting great deals on eBay.
Look for natural materials
Did you know that polyester is actually toxic because it’s made from petroleum? Always avoid synthetic fabrics, as the processing chemicals and dyes used in these materials are particularly toxic. Instead, opt for (organic, if possible) cotton or linen.
After all my wool and cashmere sweaters got moth holes in them, I replaced them with with thick sweaters, denim, t-shirts, pants and more — all made from cotton or linen. If you can find it, hemp is another great choice.
Manufacturing practices and supply chain matters
For example, bamboo products are being marketed as green, but while bamboo itself is very sustainable, it is often processed with so many chemicals that it becomes toxic. And even if a brand uses “organic” cotton doesn’t mean they’re using non-toxic dyes.
There are some certifying companies such as OEKO_TEX or GOTS which cover parts of the supply chain, so you can also look out for those certifications. If you are buying non-organic clothing, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification will ensure that there are no toxic chemicals used in the textile dyeing and finishing process.
Think you can just wash away the toxins? Think again
Washing clothing does not thoroughly remove toxins, but it does spread the toxins to our local water.
Made in… where??
There is a lot of haziness in labelling law, since it’s a ‘standard’ rather than a rule. Companies take advantage of that and put a ‘Made in USA’ label when the component parts are not actually American made.
The good news is that fashion-conscious consumers don’t have to compromise. A simple rule that I’ve adopted is to build my wardrobe slowly by picking out sustainable pieces I love. I try to find brands that don’t use toxic dyes and chemicals or underpaid labor. That doesn’t have to translate into expensive clothing; check out a couple of my favorites brands: Wildlife Works (their profits save animals) and Thought, or search for “organic clothing”.
Being an ethical consumer is all about educating yourself then doing the best you can. After all, if you want to change the world, the best way is to vote with your dollars.
What’s your best fashion tip? Do you try to shop sustainably?
Let’s be honest, none of us really like rules, especially when it comes to how you should dress, right? But nice article, anyway.
It’s fun to experiment with trends, even better is when you add your personal style to a popular trend. I believe that a real fashionista knows how to rock a trend well while adding a piece of her own style, thus resulting in your own trend. ☺️
All women should know how to demonstrate their personal style, in ways that make them fashionably unique and how to keep up with trends, decide what works for her, but above all demonstrate a style that represents who she is and differentiate her from other fashionistas.
Not all clothes will look good on you. Learn how to choose the right clothing based on your personality. And in case the current trend isn’t your style you can always personalize it. That’s what I actually do.
“I don’t know much about fashion but if you want to be a fashionista, you should do a lot of research or look for a mentor.”
Balance is key. If you have a bold, flashy or detailed element you should balance it with something sedate, classic, or solid colored. A fashionista also knows that you can mix different looks.
Right! If you want to stand out, you have to be unique. And you can be unique if you know how to dress appropriately.
You only have two options when it comes to buying clothes. First, buy cheap clothes but they can only last for so long. Second, opt for a branded and pricey ones but they will surely last for very a long time.
Someone once told me that you know you get your money’s worth when you were able to wear the clothes you bought for more than 10 times if not then it’s not a good buy.
Short but very informative article. Well, the best advice that I want to share with you ladies is to wear what fits you, not what you’d like to fit into. Accessorize well with a few good pieces, and learn to care for fabric the right way. Do this and you’ll be an instant hit. ☺️
Sweet! I love your advice. Sometime,it’s not all about the price and brand but how the clothes look on you.
Don’t keep on buying and tossing your old clothes if there’s a new ” season” of clothes just because you don’t want to be out-of-style. Learn to dress in what suits you for your coloring and body type, and forget what the runway models are wearing.
You’re absolutely correct! There are other useful and important things you can splurge on.
I don’t get why women like to buy top name labels and when they wear it, the style don’t look well on them. From a guy’s point of view, just create a look that is totally you.
Because we’d rather spend on good quality items even it’s pricey rather than splurge on fake items!
For me, just go with what looks good on you. You don’t really have to pay much attention to the brand or the price tag. What matters is it looks good on you and you’re comfortable wearing it.
I totally agree with you!