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?
Unfortunately, the “gentrification” of our basic needs is so pervasive. Eating and dressing organic has become an optional luxury, even a status symbol of the haves, while the have-nots are cornered by the unlimited “democratic freedom” granted to entrepreneurialism so it can push its toxic production on them.
It is very important! What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in our bodies, and many of the dyes and finishes added to conventional textiles contain chemicals that are known skin irritants.
Many people think of cotton as “natural,” but between the pesticides and herbicides, chlorine bleach, and toxic finishes, even “natural” fiber clothing isn’t so natural. Formaldehyde (it’s in much of the clothing made overseas) is a known carcinogen (and less critically but significantly, it’s also a skin irritant). Consumers are particularly susceptible to rashes from harsh chemicals used in making athletic clothing, underwear, and socks because sweating is involved, opening the pores and allowing the body to absorb more chemicals.
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Buying vintage is a very good idea to avoid toxin in clothing. Buying vintage is the best way to attack the problem of waste in fashion—the most sustainable piece is one that doesn’t have to be made in the first place. Additionally, most older clothes are much less toxic than what’s being produced today—chemical use in textile manufacturing wasn’t as ubiquitous until the last fifty years or so. That said, germs and bacteria (including mold) can collect on old clothing, so stick to vintage that’s well-preserved, and clean it before you wear it, like everything else.
I have been suspicious of synthetic fibers for a long time and I appreciate this article very much. Can an organic fiber, such as in underwear, create a barrier so there is no leakage from an outer synthetic garment?
I am sure a barrier would help, but just wear cotton. It is the most common & affordable clothing material. Hemp is better in many respects, it is more durable, is anti-bacterial and wicks moisture away from the skin better- it is more breathable (good for exercise), helps regulate temperature in all weathers. Alas, it is also more expensive and less available than cotton…
This kind of information is hurting my head! Thi is so misleading!! Natural fibers like cotton and wool are so hardly chemically treated to make them wearable, The growing process involves land, human and animal abuse. No way that there would be less toxic chemicals in cotton or wool clothing unless you or your grandma have grown, carded and sewn the things themselves!
I see everything is centered on our health. As if the health of the ecosystems is not important. And, as we are not part of the ecosystem… ahem ahem. Maybe we should try being a little less human-centric and start seeing the bigger picture. All this to say, before saying *natural materials* like cotton are the best material, maybe we should all check out the huge amount of chemicals that go into cotton growing, polluting groundwater, rivers and poisoning people. Tons of reports out on the Internet. What is the solution then? What can we buy?….big dilemma, right? We created a monster textile industry. Maybe we should start thinking twice (or more) before we actually buy anything at all. If that is that we need anything else in our wardrobes or houses.
It is pretty much right. “Natural” fibers like cotton waste so many resources in its production. The people who work on the farm or at the processing unit are treated terribly. Also be careful about bamboo because a lot of organic bamboos is really just rayon; some bamboo is grown on transitional, toxic soil– toxic from what was previously grown on it and the pesticides used. What were the sources used for this “article”
The worst and most hazardous chemicals are used in conventional textiles, so buying certified GOTS, Cradle to Cradle, and/or OEKO-TEX are the best ways to take action. It is imperative that we encourage our favorite brands and retailers to build chemical reduction strategies, especially in their dyeing and processing supply chains. Encourage brands to find ways to reduce chemical-, energy-, and water-use in manufacturing, and to collaborate with one another to eliminate hazardous chemicals before they get into the supply chain.