Sustainable Fashion on a Budget
ohhhhh ethical & sustainable fashion, where do I even begin? I haven’t been talking about sustainable fashion here recently, and I wanted to explain why:
1. Fashion isn’t a huge passion of mine, so why am I talking about it if my outfits aren’t on point?
2. Ethical clothing is expensive... it feels like I’m guilting people into buying clothes they might not be able to afford
I’ve been thinking long and hard about how to approach sustainable fashion on the internet and I’m finally figuring out how I want to talk about it.
1. I can talk about fashion without being a fashion guru. Maybe I’m not trying to have the best street style out there, but all of our clothes have an impact on people and the planet and whether we’re stylish or not-it’s important to understand that.
2. I will always give resources on where you can support sustainable businesses, but know the heart of what I do is to give options, not to “buy our way to sustainability.”
3. I know ethical fashion at this moment is far from accessible because of the price you have to pay to cover livable working standards and clothing that’s made from natural materials. If I mention a company that isn’t in your price range, don’t think I’d ever guilt people to buy something they can’t afford. There are manyyyyyy ways to have a more sustainable wardrobe that don’t include buying ethical clothing. I’m going to share those ways more often that way sustainable fashion doesn’t feel like an elite status to buy into- and that’s what I’m talking about today.
Buy Less.
So simple, right? Western societies are built on overconsumption and it’s drilling our planet into the ground. So obviously one of the best ways to lessen our impact is to buy less.
Choose Quality Over Quantity
How you can learn to buy less and love what you have is to buy something that will last you for years. I would argue your “quality” should include how much you love the clothing item. When you wear an item, does it make you feel good? Is it something you can wear often? How long will this last quality wise? These are questions to ask yourself when letting another garment into your life.
Normalize Rewearing Outfits to Events
Companies decided that it’s a societal “no” to rewear outfits to weddings, showers, New Year’s parties, Christmas dinner, Thanksgiving, GNO’s, vacations, etc. People did not decide this norm, marketing did. We are the people and the culture and we can decide that rewearing outfits to events is just fine. Wear that jumpsuit again and again and again.
Borrow From Your Friends
Buying new doesn’t always have to be the first option. For professional pictures, weddings, work events, parties and all other events, if you want to wear something different than what is in your closet, borrow from your friends. You’ll feel great wearing clothes that feel new to you and you’ll save money and reduce your impact on the planet at the same time. This is one of my favorite ways to have a more sustainable wardrobe.
If You Have That Friend with the Same Shoe Size, Start Swapping Shoes
This is something a friend of mine and I have done since we were 15, and we had no idea that it was “sustainable” or “minimal,” we just like each others’ shoes. It’s a simple way to have something that’s ‘new’ to you, but lessens the impact on production, garment workers, and your wallet.
Think of other ways to get rid of your clothes before donating
80% of the clothes we donate in the US go to the landfill. Think of donating as your last option and try giving your unwanted clothes to your friends or your mom or your sister. Sell your clothes on your Insta story, start a Depop, sell on Facebook Marketplace, etc. There are many ways to find a new home for the clothes that you no longer want in your life. If the clothes you are donating are beyond repair, look at this Take Back Bag program where For Days will recycle your clothing for you.