Are you a fashionista who yearns for the latest catwalk looks but doesn’t want to forego their ethical credentials? If so, then you are not alone. Sustainable and ethical fashion is becoming the norm as the millennial market wants to turn away from animal testing, fur, and giant carbon footprints. You don’t have to spend your hard-earned cash on fast fashion because it will be made thousands of miles away for a pittance and will only last a short while before deteriorating. You need to be pickier when it comes to the retailers you purchase from if you want to do your bit to save the planet and treat people fairly. Take a look at his ultimate guide to making your fashion credentials just that little bit greener.
Carbon Footprint
For a decade or so, people have been talking about the size of our personal carbon footprints. If you fly to the Maldives twice a year alongside partaking in a range of European city breaks each year, then your carbon footprint is going to be big. These emissions damage the environment and cause our planet to heat up a la climate change. To ensure that you don’t buy clothes that have traveled thousands of air miles, you need to consider buying local. Check out those local artisan boutique designers that keep their manufacturing in house. This way, your carbon footprint will be tiny.
Go for those retailers that choose to make their garments out of sustainable fabrics and materials. You can even source ethical and sustainable bikinis so you look good on the beach the next time you take a short-haul flight on vacation. Sustainable fabrics mean those materials that are not sourced from areas that damage the habitat of wildlife and are not tested on animals.
Fairness
It is crucial that we all take a stand against slave labor and the unfair treatment of workers. The fashion industry is highly corrupt unfortunately and often takes advantage of those workers desperate for any sort of pitiful wage. If you shun the fast fashion trend, you can help put a stop to this unfair practice. Think about the sorts of retailers you want to purchase from and check out their fair and just employment and supply chain policies.
Although big companies like Asos and Boohoo do outsource the manufacturing of their garments, they have to do so in a fair way. This is why local boutique designers can be the most sustainable outlets to buy from. You will also be supporting small business rather than the more corporate fashion houses. Check out sites like Etsy and Shopify to find designers who create garments that you adore. The chances are they will be better made, last longer, and will be ethically made.
Green fashion doesn’t mean adorning yourself in lime and jade outfits. Your pieces need to be chosen carefully and you need to begin to shun the world of fast fashion. Buy what you need, alter your current clothes to make new garments, and shop locally to enhance your green fashion credentials.
