Look good,good, feelfeel great:great: MasterMaster eco-friendlyeco-friendly stylestyle withwith thesethese tipstips

Environmental issues have a profound impact on our world, directly affecting how we live our lives. The negative impact that humans have on the environment can be substantially decreased. By changing how we perceive certain things and behave, we can take more action in the right direction. Sustainable fashion and eco-friendly style have emerged as significant movements as younger generations become increasingly aware of environmental issues. The way we create and consume fashion has a considerable impact on the state of the environment.

This approach to fashion prioritises eco-friendly practices, ethical production, and waste reduction, offering a way to dress stylishly while positively impacting the planet. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and incorporating sustainable fashion into your wardrobe.

What is Sustainable Fashion?

Sustainable fashion refers to clothing and accessories produced and consumed in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible way. This includes ethical labour practices, using sustainable materials, and minimising waste throughout the product lifecycle. Sustainable fashion leads to eco-friendly style.

Why You Should Choose Sustainable Fashion

Ethical Production | Environmental Impact | Quality over Quantity
Lany-Jade Mondou

Many sustainable fashion brands ensure that they provide fair wages to all their employees and maintain safe working conditions. Supporting these brands, as opposed to those that do not prioritise or care about these simple human rights, aligns with our ethics. Supporting these sustainable fashion brands means advocating for human rights and ethical labour practices.

The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, being responsible for chemical pollution, textile waste, and significant water consumption.

By choosing sustainable fashion, you personally are helping to reduce this environmental footprint (yes, you).

The focus on sustainable fashion often centres on high-quality materials and timeless designs that last significantly longer. It promotes a more mindful and less wasteful approach to consumption. For example, many people prefer fast fashion due to its cheaper price tag. However, the quality is not as high, leaving the consumer needing to repeatedly go back and buy the same item many more times. So is it cheaper in the end? Lower quality leads to repetitive consumption, leading to more waste.

What to Look Out For 

Ethical Manufacturing | Slow Fashion | Eco-friendly Materials
Alvensia Angela

Support the brands that prioritise fair trade practices and are transparent about their supply chains. This includes safe working conditions, fair wages, and no exploitation. By supporting ethical brands, you are being socially responsible, which is incredibly important as you contribute to better working conditions and fair wages in the fashion industry.

As mentioned, slow fashion emphasises quality over quantity. Invest in timeless pieces that can be worn for years and paired with a variety of outfits and styles. This is as opposed to fast fashion, which supplies trendy items that quickly go out of style. You’re then left buying more clothes to fit the upcoming trends, ditching and wasting your previous clothes. Fast fashion is highly environmentally damaging, with a vicious and repetitive cycle that leads consumers to believe it’s cheaper than higher-quality items. However, in the end, you have wasted clothes that collectively cost more.

When searching for sustainable clothing, it’s essential to seek items made from organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, and recycled materials. These materials are grown and processed with minimal environmental impact, making them an ideal choice when shopping. By reducing waste and using eco-friendly materials, sustainable fashion helps preserve natural resources and reduce pollution.

How to Build an Eco-friendly Style Wardrobe

Current Wardrobe | Sustainable Brands | Second-hand and Care
Lany-Jade Mondou

Before buying new clothes, take stock of what you already own. Identify versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched, and consider donating or recycling items you no longer need. For example, you can never go wrong with a good quality white or blac,k versatile and timeless T-shirt. Keep that in mind, as having some good basics that can be worn with many things is a great place to start.

Research and support brands that are committed to sustainability. Focus on buying fewer, higher-quality items. Look for well-made pieces that will last longer and can be styled in various ways.

Thrift stores, charity shops, consignment shops, and online marketplaces, such as Vinted and Depop, offer great options for buying and selling pre-loved clothing, reducing the demand for new production.

Properly caring for your clothes can extend their lifespan. We can sometimes be in a rush, but following the washing instructions, repairing items when needed, and considering professional alterations for a better fit can be very effective and beneficial for the environment.

If you have any clothes or shoes that need repairing, instead of just buying new ones, take them to get repaired. Some great places can restore your item to look as good as new, saving you money in the long run and making it a more sustainable option.

Eco-friendly Style Trends

Capsule Wardrobe | Rent-Swaps | Upcycling and DIY
Olga Kuleva

A capsule wardrobe consists of a limited number of versatile pieces. You can mix and match to create a variety of outfits. This minimalist approach promotes mindful consumption.

Clothing rental services and swap events are becoming increasingly popular. These options allow you to enjoy a variety of eco-friendly styles without the environmental impact of constant new purchases. It’s something fun and exciting to look out for!

Upcycling involves transforming old or unused clothing into new, fashionable items. This creative process can be a fun and eco-friendly way to refresh your wardrobe, making it a great option for those who love being creative. 

Sustainable Fashion

Overall, embracing sustainable fashion is more than just a trend. It’s a commitment to making a positive impact on the planet and society. You can look good and feel good by choosing an eco-friendly style, supporting ethical brands, and adopting mindful consumption habits. Social responsibility is integral, and it’s already time to make a positive difference, so now there is no excuse. Be the change you want to see in this world and start your sustainable wardrobe, joining the movement towards a more sustainable future.