Within the past few years, sustainable fashion brands have started to become more popular as people have started to realize the repercussions of fast fashion and department store brands. But as a college student, shopping sustainably isn’t always the most practical choice for our bank accounts. So, for those who still want to look good and do good for the environment, here are 4 places to shop sustainable that won’t (entirely) break your bank.
1. Everlane
Everlane is known for partnering with ethical factories around the world and sourcing only the finest materials. They also have cool features that show you how much it cost them to make the item and how much a normal company would charge. While there are more expensive items on Everlane (they sell a lot of ethical cashmere and recycled coats), they sell a multitude of basic shirts for under $30 and jeans for under $70! Plus, they even sell work-appropriate clothes for any students struggling to find that perfect outfit for their latest internship.
2. Reformation
Reformation is a bit more expensive, but they have sales every season where their clothing gets marked down by over 50 percent. Reformation focuses on sustainability first and invests in green building infrastructure to minimize their waste, water, and energy footprints. They even let you know how much water and carbon dioxide you’re saved after purchasing an item! Tip: if you shop the RefJeans collection, you can find a lot of shirts for under $50 that are super high quality. Plus, you can find some amazing denim for under $100. Be sure to watch out for the sales! Also, a new Reformation store just opened in Georgetown. You’re welcome.
3. Depop
While Depop is not exactly a clothing brand itself, it is a good way to minimize the impact that your own shopping has on the environment. Depop allows users to buy and sell their own clothes. It’s kind of like a curated thrift shop, or eBay just for cute clothes, that ships right to your door. It’s a great way to find some more expensive items that you may see on other websites, because people often sell their clothes for discounted prices after only a few wears. Instead of spending a bunch of money on new clothes, you can feel better about buying some recycled pieces off Depop instead, and your bank account will thank you.
4. Grana
Grana is a brand that stands for quality without inflated prices. They focus on being transparent about how much an item costs to make and cut out the middle-men, so the prices don’t get marked up. Some of their items are a little pricey, but if you look hard enough they sell great jeans for under $60 and shirts for under $20.
While we are all guilty of popping into H&M or Forever21 sometimes, in the future try to think about what is going into the pieces that you’re buying. Chances are, you can find something at a more sustainable shop that will last longer–and come without the guilt.