Fashion trends are changing at the speed of light, and brands are producing new styles weekly, if not daily. Behind this temptation of buying trending, budget-friendly, easily accessible clothing styles lies a troubling reality, which some of us might not be aware of, the dark side of fast fashion.
Do we even know how these clothes are made? There is barely any transparency. Workers who work in these industries are affected by unsafe working conditions, child labor, health issues, and much more. This rise of fast fashion has a detrimental impact on the environment and human rights. Due to the practices followed by these fast fashion industries, there is overconsumption of resources like water, energy, and raw materials.
Over 100 billion garments are produced in a year. What happens to these garments? According to reports, 90% of these fabrics end up in a landfill or are not disposed of properly. The “throwaway culture” of fast fashion leads to textile waste, contributing to the global waste crisis.
Now that we know fast fashion is bad, let’s see how we can move away from fast fashion and be mindful while shopping.
Put a pause on buying new clothes and access your wardrobe:
The first is to analyze your shopping habit, this can be achieved by putting a pause on shopping. This is the most valuable step towards sustainable fashion, as we break free from the cycle of new trends and reduce demand for more shopping. During this time, access your wardrobe. Organize your closet, examine the clothes that you have, and trust me you will find hidden gems. Organizing your closet by color can be very helpful for mindful shopping. It allows you to easily see what you own and helps you remember what you need when you go shopping. Putting a pause on your shopping for a while empowers you to resist impulsive purchases, make informed decisions, and appreciate the clothing that you already own. This will also give you time to research and discover ethical brands.
Second-hand shopping
Choosing to purchase second-hand or preowned clothing is a highly sustainable and eco-friendly option. It offers a second life to clothes that might have otherwise been thrown away. Make second-hand shopping your priority. Whenever you need to buy clothes try looking for pre-owned clothes first before going to shopping malls. There are several ways to achieve this, such as shopping at thrift stores or utilizing online marketplaces like
While sustainability is a positive aspect, another benefit is that buying second-hand can be more cost-effective and offer unique and stylish options. There is also a chance of finding top-branded items at reasonable prices. However, it can sometimes be overwhelming to shop in thrift stores, especially if you are not sure what you are looking for. Therefore, always keep in mind what you need and avoid purchasing items that you will only wear a few times. It is crucial to be mindful of your shopping habits, even when buying second-hand. Merely purchasing unwanted used clothing does not necessarily make one an environmentally conscious shopper. You still need to focus on what you really need rather than what you want.
Ethical Shopping:
Ethical Brands typically prioritize sustainability, fair labor practices, social responsibility, and animal welfare, among other important factors. Products are made from sustainable, eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton, hemp or other biodegradable fabrics. There are so many brands out there that make clothes or fashion accessories from plastic waste, textile waste or by using thrift store fabrics. Here are some of brands in Canada:
Borrowing clothes:
Borrowing or renting clothes allows multiple people to use the same garment, this supports a circular fashion economy. Borrowing clothes from loved ones is a great way to enjoy variety without cluttering your space or overconsuming. Borrow trendy outfits from friends or cousins if you like to stay up to date. Look for DIY ideas on the internet and you can always wear those borrowed outfits in different ways.
Recycling or Mending clothes:
Whenever you are no longer going to wear your clothing, you can do these things depending on the condition of your clothing. If the condition is good but are just no longer wearing it because either it doesn’t fit you or it’s way too old, not your style anymore, instead of donating them to the store try to give them to your loved ones who you know will wear them. This is because not all the clothes donated in the donation centers end up getting a home, some of them still end up in a landfill. You can also attend clothing swap events in your city, to exchange clothes with others.
If you know how to sew and repair your clothes, there are so many ideas on internet to create a new look for your outfit.
Instead of discarding damaged or worn-out garments, think of ways you can use that fabric. Some good examples are using them for your beginner learning sewing project or using them as a cleaning cloth. For sewing projects when you are trying a few cuts instead of buying new fabric try to learn on your old worn-out t-shirts or shirts first. When you are no longer going to wear your cloth, you can always cut them into pieces and use them as your cleaning cloth for your house. If you have any other cool ideas comment below so all of us can learn. Although fabrics might end up in the garbage in the end, this will prevent us from buying more fabrics for small purposes.
These were some of the conscious steps toward positive change. A change that will positively impact workers’ rights and the environment. Putting a pause on your shopping gives you time to plan and think about your shopping habits, buying second-hand clothing gives clothes a second life, and borrowing clothes promotes circular fashion.
