After studying fashion in Italy last year, one specific piece of information continues to stay close to my heart and replays in my mind even to this day: fashion is the second most polluting industry in the entire world. I learned so much about what sustainability truly entails and ways to help better our environment from a fashion standpoint. In sharing these tips with you, my hope is that together, our generation can make an impactful change in our world.
- Buy less
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By asking yourself a few simple questions when shopping, you can mentally evaluate your shopping habits and decrease your material consumption significantly more than you might think. A few questions to ask yourself might be:
1. What is this made out of?
2. Do I really need this or am I impulse buying?
3. Can I think of 5 occasions on the top of my head of where I’d wear this?
- Do your research
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Check the label: Avoid synthetic fibers as they have dangerous environmental implications. Instead, look for environmentally-safe fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and linen.
Research the brand: Many brands have begun to make sustainability and ethicality central to their practices and are transparent about the entire production process and how they treat their workers. Such brands include Reformation and Everlane.
Download the app: Yes, there’s an app for this! With the touch of a button, you can look up any fashion label to check their ratings in terms of ethicality and sustainability. It’s that easy.
- Thrift, thrift, thrift
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It’s well-known that shopping sustainably is a more expensive route. However, there are still ways to shop sustainably without having to break your bank. So here’s the low down: thrift stores will quickly become your new best friend. It’s like going on a treasure hunt, not knowing exactly what you might find. But if you go in with an open mind, you’ll be sure to walk out with a few new fits. If you prefer to shop online, here are a few of my favorites:
1. Similar to Patagonia, Levi’s recently launched its own secondhand program selling previously worn denim, making it easier for you to find that perfect pair of jeans while mitigating one’s harm on the environment.
2. For those of you who have a lust for luxury, the Real-Real is an online shop that can give you just that, but in a more sustainable way rather than supporting fast-fashion. They recently collaborated with Gucci to release a curated collection of previously-loved Gucci goods. If that’s up your alley, head over to the site by clicking here!
3. Depop is a fashion marketplace app that allows people from all over the world to buy and sell to make the fashion industry less wasteful. Some of my favorite sellers are @shopgati, @kikovintage and @designerpick.
When it comes to buying secondhand, the opportunities are endless.
- Upcycle what you have
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Instead of throwing away your clothes, get creative by repurposing them. Whether that be cutting them up, sewing different pieces together, embellishing or adding embroidery, the possibilities are endless. I started doing this a few months ago and it has become my new favorite hobby. Upcycling my own clothes inspired me to create my own fashion brand because I could combine what I love while also helping the environment.
The problem is clear: we are wasteful and it’s hurting our world. This is me trying to make as many people aware as I possibly can. We can’t change the world overnight, but the more informed we become and the more we spread our shared knowledge around, the quicker we can transform what fashion looks like and in turn, make our Earth a better place.