Join the conscious club
Doing sustainable shopping right can feel deceivingly overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. The key to doing it successfully is attitude. Once your attitude to shopping changes, the rest will soon follow.
One of the most problematic traits in fashion is overconsumption. This leads to overproduction which comes at a cost. Who pays for this if we’re not? The people who make it and our lovely planet.
The most important thing we can do as consumers is to S L O W D O W N ! Fast fashion is a result of the grotesque consumerist demand that large and unethical corporations thrive off. In order to shift this, alongside your attitude you need to take accountability. 10,000 items of clothing are sent into landfill every 5 minutes and its our responsibility not to contribute to that wasteful number.
Mindful shopping and a positive conscious attitude means using your perspective. Unconsciously buying cheap trend based garments that swiftly go back out of fashion, probably equites to them having an inevitably sad and short life span at the back of your wardrobe. Nurture your clothes and make them last; Know you’ll love them in the long run and not just for a night. It will be worth it.
Think TRANS-SEASONAL! Buying high quality wardrobe staples for a capsule wardrobe is key to achieving longevity in your outfits. This helps you to choose garments that you know you’ll continually rewear and enjoy, over and over again. Sustainable and ethical fashion can come at a higher price point, but this comes hand in hand with slowing down your shopping habits.
Unfortunately, more expensive doesn’t always mean you’re making more sustainable and ethical choices. To shop mindfully doesn’t just mean to be more aware of what you’re buying but also who you’re buying from. The easiest way to go about this is to avoid greenwashing and look for transparency. Make an effort to avoid big fast fashion chains and aim for brands with a clear ethos.
The good news is that the number of businesses realising the significance of fast fashion and making an effort to do something about it is on the increase! This means that you don’t have to compromise. With it becoming easier and easier to find brands that put an emphasis on sustainability, you no longer have to limit your choices. To make it even easier for you, we’ve put together an edit of our personal favourite sustainable brands for you to start your journey with.
1) ILK + ERNIE
At Ilk + Ernie our clothes are fashion forward without compromising on ethics. Our zero waste strategy uses fabric that would of otherwise ended up in landfill. Combining versatile fits, playful print and bold colour, our collections are here to empower you. Our vision is to see every woman wearing clothes that not only turn heads but have a positive impact on the environment too.
2) COMPLETED WORKS
Taking inspiration from a better environmental future, Completed Works sets out to ensure they do as little harm to the environment as possible, creating subversive jewellery for more than just the seasons to come, with intent to last for decades. Their focus on reductionism means they are aim to be as resourceful as possible, using recycled materials to create sculptural pieces.
3) LALO THE SHOP
Lalo the shop produce a range of beautifully vibrant durable shoppers. Made from 100% recycled plastic, they make sure to eliminate any chance of waste. The female creatives who hand weave their bags in Mexico are supported with a system that ensures a fair wage, whilst preserving their traditional trade.
4) PANGAIA
Pangaia works with an ethos of trying to better the environment. Their material science tests fashions possibilities, with t-shirts made from seaweed, puffer coats filled with flowers and tracksuits dyed with fruit and vegetables. For each piece purchased a tree is planted meaning you can wear your everyday tracksuit knowing you’ve done some good.
5) MOLBY THE LABEL
Molby the label is a British based slow-fashion brand who not only sets out to be as sustainable as possible but to encourage consumers to be more conscious too. Each piece made specially to order is designed and handmade by the designer herself from the space of her own studio, in an effort to reduce her carbon footprint.