5 tips for making more ethical fashion choices

2 min read

With brands releasing new trends all year round and fashionable clothes being available at affordable prices, it’s no wonder that so much clothing gets wasted. Only 12% of clothing material is recycled back into new clothes, with the majority ending up in landfill sites. With that in mind, it’s important to understand how you can make more ethical fashion choices. Read on for our top tips!

Tip 1: Clothes aren’t disposable

Whether it’s a jacket, a pair of shoes, a crop top, or anything else, don’t see your clothing as being disposable. Don’t give in to the pressure of social media wherein you can’t bear to be seen in the same outfit twice. Instead, when you’re out shopping, ask yourself if you could wear that item 30 times or more. If the answer is yes, then go ahead and buy it. If it’s not, you should think again before spending money on something you already know you won’t keep for long.

Tip 2: Upcycling

Rather than getting rid of old or unwanted clothing, give them a revamp. This might involve cutting the sleeves or hood off a top or adding a new layer of color to something. There are loads of options for this, and it’ll enable you to create your own bespoke wardrobe without the need to spend a load of money or cause further damage to the environment.

Tip 3: Buy second-hand

Buying something new doesn’t mean it has to be fresh off the shelves from a department store. Clothes can still be new to you if you didn’t have them before. So, pick up clothes second-hand from a thrift store or through online thrift shopping. This will give the clothes a new lease of life, and you a new outfit without any waste.

Tip 4: Educate yourself

Look at the labels on clothes when you’re in the store. They’ll tell you if they are from a sustainable source, particularly if they are certified by Fairtrade or B-Corp. Both of these organizations consider environmental sensitivity regarding their products and social sustainability in terms of looking after the people who make the items.

Tip 5: Dispose responsibly

If you do have to get rid of some of your clothes, don’t just throw them in the trash. Although much of what is donated to charities or thrift stores may end up being wasted, sharing your old clothes is still the way forward. Maybe you could organize a clothing swap with your friends or colleagues. Or make some cash back by selling your old items through online thrift platforms. This would mean that you know someone is actually buying the item and reusing it, rather than it just sitting in a thrift store.

Written by Lisa Silva.