The ecoconscious green-minded society is making great strides to ensure that we are informed when we shop for foods, plastics and other consumables. We also ensure we learn about the best ways to dispose of them. However, one thing that isn’t talked about much in the Eco blogosphere is our need to ensure that our textiles are also managed in a sustainable manner.
Are we thinking about the planet when it comes to our clothes?
Fast fashion is the act in which retailers put out trendy clothes at bargain prices so that we consume them faster. We replenish our closets at a faster rate. We buy more clothes!
As we buy more clothes we use more resources to do so. We use cheap labor. We use cheaper raw goods and manufacturing processes. And then we throw away those clothes. Right into our landfills. And fast fashion creates a habit where, as consumers, we do this more often every year.
There is a better way.
Slow fashion is on the rise. Slow fashion is about quality over quantity. When we slow down and choose our brands and fashion purchases more carefully we consume less in the process. This is the fashion equivalent of being a green, or eco-conscience, consumer.
Here are some simple ways to join the slow fashion movement and keep those closets green:
Choose artisan clothing
You’ll help to support smaller businesses, fair trade and locally-made clothes by looking for artisan fashion providers. Search for local artisan fashion providers in your community and connect with the creative’s behind the brands.
Choose second-hand or vintage clothing
Vintage is in style. Thankfully. One of the great things about most fashion is that it can often come back with the help of savvy artists and stylists. It’s fun to hunt around a vintage shop, with your current closet in mind, hoping to land a great piece that will complete an outfit. Plus, you’ve helped to eliminate an article of clothing from hitting those already overcrowded landfills.
Recycle unwanted garments
When most people consider cleaning out their closets they often think about donating to a local church or thrift store. That’s great. But also consider that recycling your unwanted clothes, shoes, toys and household textiles with a reputable recycling company you ensure everything is used, nothing is thrown away and you’re helping local and emerging economies by providing jobs in a growing industry. It’s all part of the circular economy.
Choose clothing made with sustainable, ethically-made or recycled fabrics
Just as you choose foods and other goods by these standards look for fashion brands who are planet friendly. Look for keywords like “organic cotton”, “ethical fashion” and other indicators to help you make a good conscious decision.
Choose quality garments that will last longer, transcend trends, and be repairable
This is about less waste. Plain and simple. Classic clothes transcend trends and don’t go out of style as fast. High quality garments are manufactured to rigorous standards and last longer than fast fashion. Also consider garments that are multifunctional. A simple blouse, for example, can be paired and accessorized to suit many different needs as opposed to something trendy that won’t work next season.
DIY your clothes!
Making, mending, customizing, altering, and up-cycling your own clothing will not only save the planet it will also save your wallet. Be creative and fun with this. You can use old jeans and cut them into shorts. There are endless possibilities with t-shirts and tops where a bit of embroidery or some smart cuts can create a new look in minutes. You have been to Pinterest, right?
Ultimately the goal is to slow the rate of fashion consumption by buying fewer clothes less often. We reduce waste at the front end by creating less demand for consumables. We reduce waste at the back end by throwing away less clothing. The Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle philosophy shouldn’t be limited to aluminum, plastics, glass, etc. The EPA estimates that the average person throws away 70 lbs of clothing per year. That adds up to 3.8 billion pounds of unnecessary waste added to our landfills. (Source: SMART – Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles) So make sustainable shopping part of your consuming habits and you’ll have a green closet in no time!
Here are some of our favorite sustainable sources in fashion:
Synergy Organic Clothing is a sustainable clothing company that creates fashion forward clothing and yoga apparel for women.
Check out Threads For Thought if you’re looking for a small business using sustainable materials to make their products, working with factories that respect their employees and treat them humanely and fairly.
We love vintage finds on Etsy! Who doesn’t?
Don’t forget to DIY! Here’s a great resource of DIY tutorials to get the most out of your clothes.
If you’re determined to shop at a fast fashion department store, H&M is an admirable option. They’re integrating organic cotton into their line, and they accept recycled clothes for discounts and coupons while you shop!
Damien Franco does social media and marketing magic for American Textile Recycling Service and is passionate about the planet.