We hear people banging on about sustainable fashion and how we should be shopping more sustainably. Conversely there’s also a lot of chatter about fast fashion and how that’s bad, but all the social media influencers are telling us to buy the latest looks or showing us their online ‘hauls’ – but that’s not sustainable is it? Or is it? The message is confusing and unclear.
Here’s my take:
it’s true that we buy too many clothes – far more than we need. The lure of the new and shiny stuff when it’s constantly flaunted in front of us ,is too good to resist. High street shops have new ‘drops’ every few weeks creating a perceived ‘need’ to get it NOW. In turn, the clothes bought in the previous drop are deemed ‘out’ so hang in wardrobes sad and unworn. When I was younger there was a Spring/Summer and an Autumn/Winter Collection and a couple of sales. That’s it. We saved up for stuff we wanted, waited for the next paycheque. Nowadays we don’t need to because there are constant sales or discounts due to overstock! Even at full price high street clothes are relatively inexpensive due to overseas manufacturing and cheap labour, poor quality fabric and shoddy workmanship – mostly due to long hours and poor pay. All this feeds into a mindset of ‘it’ll do’ or ‘it’s only for xyz..’ creating a throwaway society – literally. I have known people to throw stuff in the bin after one wear! This is sometimes due to it washing badly or because ‘it was so cheap, I’ll just buy another one!’. WTF? And the cycle continues…
Statistics from the UN Environment Programme state:
“Fast Fashion is the biggest consumer of water and is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime combined”
So, with these statistics in mind, we need to slow fashion down. It’s assumed that we should shun all inexpensive high street fashion stores and spend more money on our clothes. This does not have to be the case. We can still be fashionable with quality clothing without having to spend a fortune. This how…
- Before buying anything ask yourself these questions?
- Do I need it?
- Does it go with 3 things already in my wardrobe?
- Can I wear it for 3 different occasions?
- Do I love it or love what it can do for my wardrobe?
If the answer is no, then put it back.
- If you are buying online, put it in your basket and leave it there (overnight if possible). Sometimes the thrill of ‘adding to bag’ is enough. If you find yourself thinking about it, you should probably buy it (if you’ve answered yes to all the questions!), if you’ve forgotten about it, remove it.
- Not all clothes from so-called cheap shops are rubbish. I’ve bought inexpensive clothes that I’ve had for years! The trick is to check the stretch in the fabric – does it leave an indentation when you pull it, is the hem straight, does the print line up, is the stitching sturdy and straight, is it unintentionally see-thru etc. You just need to take your time when you’re shopping – invest your time, not necessarily your money. If you are online check the reviews. Btw, it’s worth doing these checks regardless of the price tag!
- Know your personal style. When you know what you like and what suits you, you will be less inclined to follow trends just because you like them. You’ll pick trends that work for you and have the confidence to recognise that some trends are better on other people. And that’s ok.
- Try second hand clothing, or as it’s know now – pre-loved. Forget stuffy, smelly charity shops, they are a thing of the past. Often charity shops are beautifully curated and a real treasure trove. Remember, people don’t wear their clothes for long enough for them to wear out, so you can get some bargains.
This doesn’t have to be physical shops, online options like Vinted or eBay are great, or Clothes Swaps or kilo sales.
- Shop your own wardrobe! We wear 20% of our wardrobe, so think of all the potential outfits! If you are unsure of how to put outfits together, invest in a Style Coach (like me!) who will save you a fortune. Wardobe Edit.
It all adds up to being a little less frivolous and a little more mindful when you’re shopping. The result will be a wardrobe full of clothes that you are excited to wear, you won’t have wasted your money, and you will have done your bit to save the planet. What a win!
Always happy to chat more…
Michelle x
