Sustainability is a practice that primarily focuses on meeting the present needs without compromising the ability of generations of the future to meet their needs. The fashion industry is currently working towards sustainability after an outcry from activists, consumers, and others. As the fashion industry is making moves towards sustainability, we the consumers also need to partake in the process. Below are a few ways through which you can become fashionably sustainable.
QUALITY OVER QUANTITY
Investing in high-quality pieces is one of the primary ways in which you can become fashionably sustainable. Doing so will save you a lot of money in the long run because you do not have to keep replacing the products. By investing in handmade pieces made of high quality, you can guarantee basically they’ll last.
Artisian Italian retailers, like Mirta, have heavily invested in sustainability thanks to making handmade handbags only by demand and not using more materials than they need to. This is an example of how the future of fashion production should be, extra stock not only is very costly to brands, but also to the environment.
RESEARCH WHERE TO BUY YOUR PIECES
Another way in which you can become fashionably sustainable is by carefully selecting the brands and companies from which you buy. A lot of brands unfortunately use sweatshops in foreign countries to produce their clothes (H&M, Primark, etc). This means these retailers don’t pay their workers properly, leave them overworked, make then stay in factories to work even with the coronavirus ravaging within the building, and not to mention use child labor. Various companies now are trying to eliminate these types of factories from their production chain and alternate for factories with proper conditions. Take a look or don’t be afraid to ask retailers where their pieces come from.
REPAIR THINGS INSTEAD OF TOSSING THEM AWAY
There is no shame in repairing a piece that has been damaged as long as the damage is not very severe. For instance, a bag with a broken zipper can easily be repaired by replacing the zip. Instead of tossing the entire bag away, you can get a replacement zip and have it repaired. Another instance is if you rip your pair of jeans. In such a case, you can either use a new piece of material and form a fashionable pattern or use the rip to make the jeans rugged. By doing so, you will be practicing sustainability while at the same time avoiding spending extra money on a new piece!
SHOP VINTAGE
Vintage shops have a significant importance in the fashion industry, not only for sustainability purposes but also for style. These shops procure pieces that were trendy in the past and those that were manufactured a long time ago and sell them. They, therefore, help foster sustainability in the fashion industry. The fact that “old is new” is a popular trend in the industry also makes this a good move.
The fashion industry has been named the second most polluting industry in the world. Thus, it is crucial for all stakeholders in the industry, including consumers, to take accountability and practice sustainability.
