What is the Sustainable Fashion Movement?
If you’re interested in exploring sustainable fashion this guide provides an overview featuring a definition, tips for getting started, sustainable fashion brands to love, and ways to get your friends into eco-fashion too!
What is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion is a complicated phrase. To understand what it means we need to look at the impact the fashion industry has on the planet.
According to The True Cost, the world now consumes about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year which is 400% more than the amount we consumed just two decades ago. Obviously this mass production takes a toll on our planet.
We see the harsh impacts such as the use of energy and pollution to meet consumer demand, toxic dyes contaminating water streams, harsh pesticides used on cotton harming farming communities, garment workers getting taken advantage of, and more.
While fast fashion focuses on the immediate need of consumers and disregards the environmental impact, ethical & sustainable fashion focuses on using eco-conscious materials to create high quality garments that are meant to last years.
Why you should care about the fashion revolution?
Consider exploring your closet’s impact with a fashion footprint calculator. You have the ability to reduce your carbon footprint just with the clothing you buy. What a super power! Choose sustainable brands and vote with every dollar you spend!
As sustainable fashion continues to grow it’s important to keep an eye out for greenwashing brands who use words like “sustainable” or “eco-friendly” for marketing purposes, but do not show these values in their business model.
For example, popular fast fashion brand H&M claims to be sustainable due to their line of select products made with recycled materials, but you have to understand that H&M’s business model relies on consumers viewing clothes as disposable.
They take part mass production and pushing out clothes for 52 micro fashion seasons which is not good for the environment at all. It does not encourage consumers to value what they have, but instead to throw it out and buy the next best thing.
These fast fashion, disposable clothing based business types are harmful to the planet. So be weary when you buy and purchase from eco-fashion brands that have sustainability in the core values.
How to Launch Your Sustainable Wardrobe on a Budget?
Starting your sustainable wardrobe doesn’t have to cost you anything! Here are three FREE ideas to make your wardrobe more conscious.
Start by valuing the garments you have. Doing a closet clean out will just create more waste. Learn to love & restyle old clothes
If you need something new consider shopping secondhand
Swap or borrow clothes from a friend
What are the best sustainable fashion brands?
Being part of eco-fashion can be as easy as shopping second hand, valuing what you have, or shopping more locally. These are a few eco-clothing brands I love, but for the full list check out the post 25+ Best Sustainable Clothing Brands.
PACT Apparel focuses on organic cotton basics and works with a Fair Trade Certified factory.
Jackalo is a sustainable brand of children’s clothing that is ethically made and crafted to last.
Paneros creates high quality, slow fashion styles in small quantity runs that are designed and crafted to last for years to come. This ethical brand uses dead stock fabrics and eco-friendly fibers to create their unique clothing and features beautiful, bold patterns in timeless designs.
PrAna focuses on fair trade, sustainability, and giving back.
The Good Tee creates organic fair trade cotton basics for men, women, and babies.
How to Get Your Friends Excited About Sustainable Fashion?
Sometimes it's a struggle when you're trying to be a conscious consumer and your friends aren't on board.
When my friends go to the mall, I love tagging along for the social experience, but often times it leaves me feeling sad that there is SO much fast fashion.
Sometimes it makes me feel that no matter how hard I work to inform people, it's not gonna change. So I thought of a few fun ways to get your friends excited about sustainable fashion, get the conscious conversation started, and socialize with your crew.
1) Secondhand Shopping & Fashion Show
Make it a contest and a fashion show! Set an agreed upon budget for $25 and head to the thrift store. See who can discover the best finds within their budget! After everyone has hit their $25 limit, head back to your house for some wine and a fashion show!
Turn on the music and have everyone walk the runway showing off their secondhand finds. This shows your friends shopping secondhand can be fun, affordable, and maybe you can even throw in a few educational facts on the sustainability aspect while you're at it.
2) Up-cycle Brunch Party
This is a great way to clean out your closet and repurpose old garments! AND the perfect solution for the crafty-Pinterest type. I went to an up-cycle brunch hosted by Revive a few months ago! It was lots of fun!
Invite your friends to bring their unwanted garments and host a craft brunch! Have a table for crafting with supplies such as scissor, needles/thread, beads, embroidered patches, fabric paint, and other supplies for up-cycling garments.
There are so many tutorials and ideas online for reusing garments. Just YouTube up-cycle clothing for ideas, head over to Pinterest, or search Facebook for groups to join. Oh and don't forget the mimosas to keep your guests happy!
3) Closet Clean Out & Swap Party
This is an easy way to spruce up your wardrobe and clean up your closet. Invite your friends to drop their garments off before the party starts. Set-up the clothes like a boutique. Get out some hangers and push pins to hang the clothes up.
Find some cheap clothing racks and set it up for the ultimate shopping experience. When your guests arrive they'll feel like they're shopping for new clothes.
For each garment they brought, they can take one. This creates a fun social experience and prevents unwanted garments for ending up in the landfill.
For more tips & tricks on conscious consumerism be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media.
