Disclaimer: I was sent the dress featured in this post by Wearth London but the pictures and the content are all my own.
Lockdown has been rubbish in a lot of ways, but there is no denying that there are some aspects of the kind of slow living we’ve been forced into which actually still appeal now that lockdown is easing, and life is gradually returning to ‘normal’.
One thing that has definitely changed over the past six months is how I view clothes shopping.
With shops closed it has given me time to reflect on how much time and money I spent buying new clothes.
Now of course as a family we do need clothes, and I still want to look nice and wear things that make me feel good, but the true impact of fast fashion is something that has never really bothered me much before now.
I’ve been looking into how I can become more eco-conscious when it comes to fashion, and here are some suggestions for how to achieve it:
Changing your mindset and buying less
After years of only stepping foot inside a shop when I was forced to, I had started to enjoy going clothes shopping and buying new outfits for different occasions and sometimes just because.
I was able to afford it; I enjoyed filling my wardrobe with nice dresses, it made me happy and I convinced myself that the act of going to a shopping centre for a few hours was cardio too.
Since lockdown, I’ve bought a total of two dresses (below) and a pair of shoes, all way back in March (sparkly DMs as it happens, extremely practical particularly during a pandemic, and as yet entirely unworn).
I’ve worked with a few clothing companies so I have had the opportunity to get some new much-needed bits for summer, but as for buying new clothes regularly I have realised that this is not something I want to return to from both a financial and an eco perspective. Even though they have been open for several months now, I haven’t set foot inside a clothes shop except to buy the kids’ new school shoes.
This might of course be a temporary switch in my mindset while shops are harder to access, and I’m not saying I’ll never go shopping for pleasure ever again, but there are ways to shop and still be eco-aware which I hope to be able to stick to.
Buying from sustainable fashion brands
Obviously everything on this list aims to increase the sustainability of your wardrobe but if you want to take a shortcut, there are brands such as Wearth London that guarantee that their curated fashion and homewares shop contains items that are sustainable, made from eco-friendly materials and ethically produced.
Many of their sustainable women’s fashion is sourced from small UK based designers and made in the UK.
This Rosa maxi dress comes in three different fabric patterns. It is a wrapover dress with a tie waist and angel sleeves which are super flattering.
It is plastic free and made from sustainable materials by label Hide The Label, a small independent UK fashion label with an emphasis on sustainability and using natural and reclaimed materials. Their clothes are even delivered in recycled and biodegradable packaging.
I absolutely love it; it’s well made, really flattering in the right places (smooths over the lumps and bulges!) and beautiful!
It may be more expensive than a dress you would buy in Zara or H&M, but it would be perfect for a special occasion. Hopefully it will last a lot longer; it is easy to feel the difference in quality and it makes me feel fantastic so I will be wearing it at every opportunity.
If you’re looking for accessories, it’s easy to find sustainable brands online. Nordgreen Watches are all built with sustainability in mind, with the company aiming to become carbon neutral. MessyWeekend Sunglasses who are partnered with ReSea Project and Plastic Change in the fight against the ocean plastic crisis. For every pair of sunglasses or goggles sold, MessyWeekend contribute to facilitate the clean up of the equivalent of 5 plastic bottles from our oceans.
Buying clothing that lasts
We’ve all had clothes that have lasted one or two wears before coming apart. This dress from Dorothy Perkins I had to take back, as it was bobbly and sheer after just one wear.
Cheap, fast fashion from stores such as Primark is generally cheap for a reason and this is because they make use of low quality materials and provide their factory workers with low wages. The clothes sold are designed to mimic catwalk trends and be discarded quickly. You can see their poor eco-rating in The Good On You guide here.
Although clothing that doesn’t last might be fine for children that grow out of it quickly, it makes more sense from a financial and an eco perspective to invest in well-made clothing that will last many years.
There are easy ways to tell if clothes are well made.
Clothing that is lined tends to be higher quality. Put your hand into the garment; can you see through the fabric? If so it is probably too thin. Is the stitching straight? Does it stand up to a light tug? My clothes tend to go through on the armpits if they aren’t well made…
Is the pattern matched? Last year I bought a cheap eBay dress and when it arrived the stripes on the bodice and skirt weren’t aligned; as well as being slightly annoying this kind of oversight shows that it just isn’t a well made garment – which has been borne out by it falling apart quickly!
Take a look at the label. Polyester is made out of oil so if you’re trying to be eco-friendly then go for clothes made from natural fibres. Here is a handy guide to eco-friendly fabrics.
Being more selective
I am sure I’m not the only person who has ordered something online and when it arrives it isn’t exactly what I expected, I didn’t like it as much as the picture or it hasn’t fit properly but rather than sending it back to obtain a refund I’ve kept it anyway!
Or buying a top or a new pair of shoes I like, and then realising I have nothing to wear with it.
Well, no longer.
Before buying new clothes I am going to ask myself:
- Will I wear this more than once? What if I lose or gain a little weight, will I still be able to wear it?
- Is it versatile?
- Is it different and do I prefer it to things I already own? (It’s always worth going through your wardrobe at regular intervals to remind yourself what you have!)
- Will it go with other clothes/shoes/accessories that I already own?
I’ll never be rocking the capsule wardrobe – although a good clear out is good for the soul – but hope that I can buy fewer, good quality items rather than having a wardrobe full of things I won’t wear!
Buying pre-loved
The fast fashion industry is extremely wasteful. Buying second hand clothes from charity shops, vintage stores and through online selling sites like Facebook and Ebay stops clothes from going into landfill.
Charity shops and second hand clothing stores can be hit and miss however it can be great fun as you just don’t know what you might find and the stock changes every day. Sometimes you can go in and hit the mother lode, and find that someone has recently dropped off all their old clothes in exactly your size and style.
Before lockdown, I had really got into visiting local charity shops looking for bargains, and I found quite a few including this leather jacket which has been my go-to all summer.
Of course, buying second hand clothes also saves you money and best of all, you are far less likely to bump into other people wearing the same newly-bought outfit as you!
For more posts on how to become eco-aware, pop over to my friend Emma’s blog.
Great comment and article at a time where fast fashion needs to make some changes (BooHoo most recent). I would be interested in the feedback you get as there is a sense consumer trends are changing but not sure by how much.
I started a new job in April focussed on sustainability so have had a steep learning curve.