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?
Fantastic blog you have here but I was curious if you knew of any forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get comments from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Bless you!
Good advice! A friend’s daughter was hospitalized for several days last month after wearing a top she had purchased from Old Navy the day before. The toxic chemicals in the fabric caused a severe skin reaction that had spread from the abdomen to her entire body within 24 hours.
I’ve tried to move to natural fibers – It’s HARD to find and EXPENSIVE. I went to fabric stores – it’s no cheaper to make your own with the high cost of natural fibers. I’ve slowly transitioned to natural fibers. Donated or threw out all polyester. Any tips on where to find reasonably priced natural fiber fabrics or close will be greatly appreciated!
Another serious issue is the Laundry Detergent used to wash these fabrics. Solvent-based Scents and other chemicals used in Conventional Detergents, since they are against our skin 24 hours per day are DERMAL absorbed through our skin into our bloodstream. Toxic Body Burden is a horrible reality.
I have found a website qualitago.com where you can find a lot of items made of cotton, silk and other natural or semi-natural fabrics from most common brands like Zara, AE or H&M. They show detailed composition, so you don’t have to click on every item to check if it’s 100% of cotton or 1%. They don’t have the search engine, unfortunately, but worth to check.
Is there actual evidence that wearing these can affect your health long-term?
Good article but I find it interesting how many fail to mention that people who have latex allergies and/or sensitivity should avoid rayon. It wasn’t until I researched on how rayon was made that I finally made the connection. Finding clothes that are 100% cotton is not easy and sometimes I have issues with cotton which may be from the chemicals to make wrinkle resistant.
Thank you for this information, I have been allergic to polyester since I been I child, I realize how hard it is to buy clothes and even to live my daily life without coming in to connect with the fabric.the older I have become the more difficult it is and the more isolated I have become from the world.i was wondering whether I can get any advice from anyone that has a similar problem or whoever has some added knowledge to share. Thank you!!!
Terrible to see how plastics are just in everything now. Even body wash. Shame on them for manufacturing it. I don’t like to buy synthetic materials it just doesn’t seem right to me. But every store and everything the older I get is all plastic. Cars, clothes water bottles, vinyl siding on your home, plastic everywhere. It isn’t good for the environment or the future.
It took me several years to figure out that on the rare occasion I would wear one of 2 polyester shirts in my closet, I would wake up the next day with significant joint aches that would last for approximately 10 days. I can wear fabric with less than 10% polyester content with no obvious effects. I wonder how many people suffer from ailments without any idea that their symptoms are caused by the clothes they are wearing.