Shopping mindfully really does matter
Fast fashion – it’s the damaging cycle of mass-producing the latest clothing trends for unbelievably cheap prices via unethical, unsustainable methods. It’s addictive, it’s everywhere and it’s time we re-examined our part in this toxic system. We’re not trying to be preachy here, just informative – this stuff is enthralling, important and we simply don’t talk about it enough. Enough waffle – let’s dig in.
ENVIRONMENTAL & SOCIAL FACTORS.
There are SO MANY stats we could throw out here. And we will.
Did you know in Australia we dispose of 6000 kilos of fashion and textile waste EVERY TEN MINUTES?! Or that one t-shirt is created using 2700 litres of water (or three years of drinking water for ONE person)? ALSO the fashion industry is the second biggest contributor to pollution globally, second only to aviation. You’re getting it – fashion generally is not good for the environment.
The second element we need to be considering is who actually made your clothing? Was it made in a sweatshop somewhere across the globe without adequate working conditions or pay for its workers? We don’t think about these things when we’re blinded by the neon lure of affordable fashion giants – instead we see inexpensive, trendy stores who make fashion accessible. Though making fashion affordable is seemingly noble, in reality it is a deeply flawed and problematic system and we need to pause, and consider if the way we are shopping pairs with our own ethics and standards.
FINANCIAL FACTORS.
Not only is moving away from the addictive process of fast fashion a good thing for the environment and a more sustainable choice, but you’ll also benefit from spending smarter. Sure adding another $15 tee to your cart may seem harmless, but when you’re doing that on a regular basis it quickly adds up! Buying quality instead of quantity is a great way to think about it – invest in items that are well made and increase the lifespan of your clothes by steering clear of trends that will be outdated in a couple of weeks.
BEWARE THE COPY CATS!
Another thing to remember is that while lots of big brands are great and do the right thing, many of them make a profit from ripping off the intellectual property of smaller brands, who are financially unable to go up against the big guys in a meaningful way. If you see a brand doing this, choose not to shop there anymore and consider a more ethical choice – remember, your money is your power and you have control over where you spend it!
WAYS WE CAN SHOP SMARTER & MORE SUSTAINABLY.
Expressing yourself through style is one of the great joys in life – there’s no denying the pleasure of feeling amazing in a fresh outfit. We aren’t here to say never shop again, but instead to encourage a re-thinking of our usual tap-happy processes. If you’re feeling inspired, start slowly by employing some of the easy changes we’ve listed below – we think you’ll feel better for it (and look amazing obviously).
Support local – small businesses have been doing it tougher than most of late so if you can, support local brands who boast sustainable, ethical practices to keep them open and thriving, instead of supporting big international retailers with questionable processes in place.
Conduct a little research on your favourite brands to double check their practices match your values and ethics – there is a good online resource called the Ethical Fashion Guide which grades popular fashion brands based on their practices, so you can look up your fave brand and see if that is still where you want to be spending your hard earned bucks. Also, be conscious of brands that ‘greenwash’ – many brands are guilty of utilising tricky forms of marketing by using words like ‘eco’ or ‘natural’ etc. to make you think they are ethical or sustainable when they are not. Stay vigilant!
Buy less – ultimately, this is the best way to buck the system. Invest in pieces that will last longer than a season and that you’ll receive a greater cost per wear on. The average Australian buys 27kg of new clothing and textiles per year, which are worn an average of seven times and then sent to landfill – this is a crazy stat and we can bring it down by simply buying less.
Consider adopting a capsule wardrobe – capsule wardrobes are a terribly sensible way to go about your clothing. In essence, capsule wardrobes contain a smaller number of items that can be paired with multiple other items in your cupboard, instead of having an abundance of pieces that just don’t work together. How many times have you looked at your brimming wardrobe only to say on a Saturday night that you have NOTHING to wear?! Heaps of times if you’re anything like us. So tone it down, get back to basics, and embrace a wardrobe of fewer, high quality items that pair brilliantly together.
Look to op shops. Buying second hand clothing is not only sustainable but it can be a really good way to stand out by having items in your wardrobe that no one else has. There’s nothing sweeter than receiving a compliment on a pair of slacks, only to reply that you picked them up for $3! Sure it takes time but it’s worth it when you find a gem.
Clothes swaps. Get your pals together and bring along a couple of pieces from your wardrobe that you’ve had enough of and swap them for something else.
The markets!!!! Think of the markets! The Camberwell market in Melbourne is a great place to pick up second-hand beauties but there are markets all over the world with an incredible array of eclectic clothing just waiting for a new home.
Wait 30 days before making a purchase of something you really want. Putting time between you and the purchase you can’t wait to buy is a brilliant test to see how much you really want it. This practice takes the emotion out of shopping, and will provide a little clarity around whether this purchase was really about the product itself, or about you craving the rush of buying something new.
OUR FAVOURITE RESOURCES
The more research you do on this topic the more interesting it becomes. If you’re feeling inspired and want to learn more about where clothing comes from, which brands are rad and which ones we should avoid, check out some of the following resources and articles:
ABC: It’s time to step off the fashion trend mill
How fast fashion affects mental health