There are steps you can take to become more ethical in terms of your style and fashion. If people are more mindful of their fashion choices, they can make a significant difference. With this in mind, here are 7 tips to help you make an ethical fashion statement.
By Team Savant
For many years, the fashion industry has come under fire for their lack of ethics when it comes to the manufacturing of their clothes. Whether it’s taking advantage of vulnerable workers for cheap labour or polluting the atmosphere because of poor environmental policies, fashion brands have been guilty of having a lack of ethics in the past.
This has seen people adopt a more moralistic stance when shopping for clothes or beauty products. Many are taking responsibility for their actions and doing what they can to promote a fairer industry. While this can be difficult, it’s important that people realise the value of individual accountability.
Companies and brands have also started to become more responsible, taking action to prevent exploitation. While “fast fashion” is still quite prominent, we are seeing a lot of people move past this approach toward a more sustainable style.
Although many people have good intentions, they simply aren’t aware that certain aspects of the fashion industry are unethical. Wardrobes around the globe are packed full of items that are never worn and many own one cosmetic beauty product for every day of the year. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that people need a push in the right direction. In fact, 88% of consumers want brands to help them to be environmentally friendly and ethical.
1. Re-use and Recycle
Always try to find ways to re-use old clothes. Holes or rips can be stitched, patched, or mended, often giving them a retro or throwback vibe. Buttons, zips, and buckles can be replaced, giving extra longevity to fashion items. Remember that repairs are generally quite straightforward.
Throwing old clothes in the bin inevitably leads to them being incinerated or piled into a landfill. Neither of these practices are beneficial to the environment. If you can’t find a way to re-use your clothes, consider donating them to someone in need.
For make-up products, it’s vital that you start to make a shift toward sustainability. Use products such as reusable cotton pads, and other items that are more sustainable from an environmental and ethical perspective.
2. Get Informed
It’s difficult to be ethical with your fashion if you don’t have any knowledge on the matter. Do some research to find out what it takes to have fashion ethics. Establish your personal protocol and decide on what your future buying policies will be.
Find out what brands operate with an ethical focus and start supporting them. You’ll build a list of your favourite ethical brands quite quickly.
A great way to stay up to date and informed on ethical fashion is to follow bloggers and sites that produce related content. This can be effective in introducing you to new brands, products, and companies.
3. Be More Conscious About Washing and Drying Clothes
Sustainability is a big part of ethical fashion. Your washing and drying habits should be adapted to reduce the amount of energy you use. Be more mindful when it comes to washing and drying. Don’t wash clothes unnecessarily or get into a routine wash cycle. Washing your clothes at 30 degrees instead of 40 can reduce energy use by up to 40%.
Where possible, dry your clothes naturally. Tumble dryers are very hard on electricity. While you shouldn’t hold off on washing or drying, you should be conscious of the impact each load has on the environment. What’s more, it could save you on your annual electricity costs.
4. Stop Buying One-Off Outfits
Image: Edward Howell
Avoid intentionally buying clothes that you’ll only wear once or twice. To maximize profits, fashion companies will always encourage fads, trends, and accessories. Marketing campaigns will convince you that you need the very latest shoes or bags. Although you can give in to this once in a while, it’s important to refocus your perspective.
Change your mindset to avoid buying things you won’t wear multiple times. While it’s tempting to buy a new dress for your friend’s wedding, it’s more important to stick to your moral code.
5. Opt for Fair Trade Materials
A lot of fabrics and materials are not fair trade. Particularly when it comes to cheap clothing, there are added chemicals that are harmful to the environment. The manufacturing process can also be potentially damaging.
As a rule of thumb, stay away from fabrics that use microfibres. These tiny fibres are contributors to pollution because they are quite difficult to clean up.
Make an effort to purchase clothing and materials that are ethically sourced and fair trade. Some great options include organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, linen, and silk.
6. Make Alterations To Your Clothes
Learn how to make small alterations to your clothes, or find a tailor that can make adjustments. That way, you can get more use out of your clothing. Having basic sewing or tailoring skills also allows you to experiment with different looks. You can transform items by relying on your creative flair.
Turn an old pair of jeans into shorts or a skirt for the summer. There are great tutorials available for free online, giving you step-by-step guides on how to alter clothes.
7. Prioritise Clothing Quality
Ethical fashion is all about high quality, functional clothing, that looks great. Having an ethical approach to your personal style means choosing a smaller amount of quality clothes over a high quantity of cheaper items.
Quality clothing is likely to be more expensive to buy initially, but it should last a lot longer. Invest in things that you will wear all the time, rather than expensive items that you’ll rarely use. Many people refrain from splashing out on things they’ll wear every day, and instead pay a premium for special items. Adjust your mindset and invest in your daily fashion.
Avoid following trends, prioritise quality, and buy clothing that you’ll wear time and time again.