Introduction
Sustainable fashion is the practice of building an ethical wardrobe. It's about taking the time to find out where your clothes come from and making conscientious choices about what you buy. There's no right or wrong way to build an ethical wardrobe, but there are some guidelines that can help you get started on your sustainable journey!
Know the materials that you buy.
There are a lot of materials you can use to make clothing. Some are more sustainable than others, but it's important to know what they are and how they're made.
Organic cotton is grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, so it's better for the environment. However, it takes more water and energy to grow than conventional cotton does--so if you're looking for an eco-friendly material that doesn't require as much effort on your part (or money), try recycled cotton instead!
Recycled fibers are often blended with new fibers in order to create something unique: For example, recycled polyester might be blended with organic cotton before being spun into yarns or woven into fabric by a miller like GOTS certified mills who adhere strictly to fair labor practices
Take the time to find out where the items in your wardrobe were made.
The first step towards sustainable fashion is to make sure that the items in your wardrobe were made ethically. You can do this by looking at the tags on each piece of clothing, which will usually have information about where it was made and what materials were used. If this information is missing from a garment, ask about it when buying new clothes or ask for more details from brands who already sell their products online (or even in stores).
If you don't want to look up each item individually, there are also organizations that rate companies based on labor practices and environmental impact--you could find one such organization here: http://www.goodweaveusa.org/.
Don't be afraid to try new things!
If you're looking to build an ethical wardrobe, it's important not to be afraid of trying new things. As we mentioned earlier, it's easy to get stuck in a rut when it comes to your style choices and this can lead you down the same path as other people who buy into fast fashion. But if you want your clothes shopping habits (and therefore environmental impact) to be different from those around you then try something new!
Take risks and experiment with brands or styles that aren't necessarily mainstream but still align with your values. One way we did this was by buying secondhand clothing at charity shops; we also tried out some smaller brands like Toms Shoes which have been praised for their ethical practices but may not have been on our radar otherwise.
Look for labels.
You can also look for labels that indicate the fabric is made from organic cotton or recycled polyester. Look for GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and OEKO-TEX (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) labels, which certify that a garment has been made in compliance with environmental, social and working conditions standards. Fair Trade products are another good option if you're looking to buy secondhand items.
Look for "made in USA" or "made in Canada" tags on your clothing as well--these indicate that the item was at least partly manufactured locally, which means it probably used fewer resources during its production process and will last longer than other clothes made overseas.
Learn how to spot fake organic cotton labels.
Look for the USDA organic seal.
Look for the OEKO-TEX 100 label or a brand you trust, like Patagonia or Lululemon, which both have their own organic cotton lines.
If you're looking at a piece of clothing that was made in an overseas factory with no information about its origins, ask yourself if it's worth buying at all--you could be supporting child labor or pesticide use with your purchase!
Consider how much waste you produce by buying new clothes at exorbitant prices.
Consider how much waste you produce by buying new clothes at exorbitant prices.
The amount of waste produced by the fashion industry is staggering. The fashion industry is a significant contributor to climate change, as it uses more than 40% of the world's water and generates almost 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions per year (a figure that rises each year). It's also responsible for over 80 million tons of clothing waste annually--that's about 15 pounds per person!
It's not about perfection, it's about doing something!
You don't have to be perfect. You just have to do something. One of the major reasons why people don't buy sustainable fashion is because they feel like they can't do it all at once and that's okay! You don't need to go out and buy new pieces every week, but simply being conscious about your impact on the environment and making small changes in your lifestyle can help build an ethical wardrobe over time.
The best thing about building an ethical wardrobe is that there are no rules--it's up to you how far you want to go with it! Just start by making one small change today: think about how many times per day/week/month/year someone uses each item of clothing in their closet; then try replacing one non-reusable item (such as plastic bags) with reusable ones (like canvas bags). From there, slowly add more items until reaching a point where most everything has been replaced by something reusable!
Conclusion
I hope this article has given you some food for thought. If you're feeling overwhelmed by the idea of starting an ethical wardrobe, don't worry! Even if you only change one thing in your life, it can make a difference. The most important thing is that we all do something, even if it's small. And remember: there are plenty of resources out there to help guide your journey towards sustainability.
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