With the slow fashion movement picking up speed, more and more women are deciding to take the leap. The fast fashion industry has changed so much over the years and with trends and fashions changing more quickly, more waste is building up. The slow fashion movement is a movement to fight fast fashion through more conscious shopping. For today’s blog I wanted to share some tips with you if you are thinking about or have recently taken the leap toward ethical shopping.
Educate Yourself.
The first step toward shopping ethically is to educate yourself on what brands are living up to their social responsibilities. When deciding if you should buy from a brand, The Good Trade suggests you ask yourself these six questions: Who made this? Is this price fair? What fabrics are used? Is this brand transparent? Do I truly need this? And will this piece last 30 wears or longer? The answers to these questions can help you determine if the brand/product is ethical, sustainable, worth it and if it will last.
Lots of trendy fashion brands today make products that are cheap and last only a few wears. While they are affordable, they usually come at the cost of a poorly paid worker in a third world country and with materials that are harmful to you and the environment.
Buy Secondhand.
If you want to give the ultimate F U to fast fashion, stop buying from them completely. Thrift and vintage stores are an awesome way to shop more ethically. By buying second hand, you are preventing thousands of clothing items from ending up in landfills for the next two hundred years. It might take some time sifting through racks of clothes at the local Goodwill to find that piece that you will love for years to come, but it is so worth it!
Plus, if you love shopping online there are ways to shop secondhand online. Apps like Depop, threadUP, and Poshmark offer a second life to both vintage and trendy clothing and you can do it while binging Love is Blind on Netflix.
Make your own clothing.
Okay, okay. I know not everyone is Alexander McQueen, but it doesn’t hurt to try, plus your grandma would be so proud of you. If you know nothing about sewing or don’t really see yourself as having an eye for design, that’s okay, but if you’re interested in learning there are plenty of YouTube videos out there for beginners.
Buy Locally.
Support local boutiques and stores that make and sell sustainable and ethical clothing. This option is a more expensive one than the previous, however, it’s a good way to find up-to-date fashion you love that LASTS. A few of my favorite stores in the Cincinnati area are: Wolfpack, Grind and Glaze, Pixel 19, and Idlewild. These local brands make it their mission to create, sell, and design fashion that has you and our planet in mind.
Give second life to old clothing.
Repurpose the clothing in your closet that you no longer wear. Organizing a clothing swap with your friends is one way to give your clothes new life, or you can crop that old high school sweatshirt and turn that old dress into a two-piece set. There are endless possibilities when it comes to repurposing clothes and if you need inspiration why not turn to Pinterest.
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