Why I stopped buying fast fashion
Esther Cole,
28th Nov 2020
Tags:
Life
Blog
Environment
Fashion
Justice
You’ve probably heard that our constant demand for new and cheap clothing is having a massive impact on our environment and contributes to a more unequal society.
I recently read a report from Oxfam International, which said it takes a CEO from one of the world’s top five fashion brands only four days to earn the same amount of money that a Bangladeshi garment worker will earn over her whole lifetime.
Also, did you know that fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions?
It’s easy to look at issues like this and feel discouraged. But I’m a big believer that when each of us decide to make changes for the better, no matter how small they may be at first, we will start to see a turnaround.
Here are a few changes you could make.
Make do and mend
Now I don’t know about you, but I love a little bit of retail therapy. I really enjoy expressing myself through my clothes.
But I recently found that when a pair of my favourite comfy trousers developed a tear, I reached for the sewing kit rather than my phone to order a new pair.
I’ve also heard of loads of amazing local initiatives and workshops where you can take your old clothes and learn creative ways to give them a new lease of life.
Shop smart
I’ve discovered that you don’t have to look too far to find loads of conscious brands out there. ASOS has an edit full of sustainable brands and H&M has their own conscious label.
If you like colourful dungarees as much as I do, then you should check out Lucy and Yak.
We Are We Wear also offer a great eco range while also championing body diversity.
Check out your local charity shop
I love finding a bargain in a charity shop. Though you may have to do a bit of searching, you could very well find something you absolutely love.
When you shop from here, you’re not only making a great sustainable decision, you’re also giving your money to amazing causes.
I’ve found there’s a lot to be said about being content with less. We’re always told that in order to be happy we need the newest and most trendy thing.
While treating yourself is a fun thing to do, why don’t you take a moment to stop and think about how you can make your next shopping trip a kinder and more sustainable one.
