So, you want to be a more conscious consumer & shopper, but where do you start? Learning all you can about fast fashion and ethical brands is great – but it can also be time-consuming, especially when you just want to buy a pair of jeans or a great swimsuit without devoting hours to the search. Luckily, breaking down the main issues and finding key things to look for can help. This way, we can feel a little more enlightened about all things “eco-fashion”, do good for the planet, and still enjoy shopping for great sustainable fashion. To learn more about why eco-friendly clothes are so important, and the best ways to shop sustainably while still have fun with it all, we invite you to delve into this important topic. Armed with this high-level information, you may feel compelled to dig deeper into the issues that matter most to you – and to that, we say, go for it!
Why is sustainability important?
Sustainability in fashion is critical for many reasons. Did you know that the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual carbon emissions globally? That is more than all maritime shipping and international carbon emission combined! On top of that, the fashion industry is said to produce 20% of the world’s waste. According to scientists, the next 10 years could be the most critical for reversing the course of these concerning realities. This is serious stuff.
Today, many leaders in the industry are calling out important ways to improve fashion’s footprint, including areas of focus such as; utilizing regenerative agriculture, decreasing c02 emissions, ending the use of toxic materials such as microplastics, harnessing alternative energy, recycling waste products, and turning them into usable fibers and products, increasing the prevalence of fair trade practices and ending human exploitation, as well as reworking business models into circular economy systems. Sustainability is important in order to support the planet and to also support those who create what we wear with fair wages and safe working conditions.
The main takeaway? Sustainability benefits everyone. We can all affect change and make a real difference by investing in companies and brands that are forging a sustainable path forward. Feel good and do good with fashion? Sounds like a win-win scenario.
What is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion applies to the fashion system in its totality, ranging from ecological, financial, cultural, and social issues. It is a framework that addresses the need for integrity throughout the many facets of textile and product production and explores and finds ways to improve upon aspects of the material, production, design, and more.
When figuring out how to shop sustainable fashion, here are a few areas that are most commonly focused on:
Responsibly-Sourced Materials
Low Carbon Footprint
Responsible & Alternative Energy Consumption
Fair Trade Policies
Regenerative Agriculture
Transparency in Supply Chain
Quality & Product
Indigenous and Localized Community Impacts
Slow Fashion vs. Fast Fashion
Alternative ways to dress sustainably on a budget
It’s not difficult to learn how to clothes shop sustainably. Once you learn a few hacks and mix and match strategies, you’ll find it can be quite fun. Aside from buying new clothes & accessories, here are some other ways to score great finds, sustainably.
CLOTHING SWAPS
Spearhead regular meetups with your friends and acquaintances to bring clothes you no longer love and swap for new-to-you items.
REIMAGINE EXISTING CLOTHING
If you’re feeling creative, discover new ways to wear old items you’ve outgrown or become tired with. Pants can become shorts, old cotton tees can be reimagined into a cool headscarf, and that boyfriend shirt could be cropped and cinched at the waist for a fresh look.
SECOND-HAND SHOPPING
If you’re looking for sustainable fashion cheap, this is the place to go. Not only is it an ultra-affordable option, but you’ll also find unique and one of a kind pieces that will elevate your wardrobe in cool and unexpected ways.
CLOTHING RENTAL
Services such as Rent the Runway and Nuuly have become the new go-to sources for great fashion that you don’t need to own to wear. These are especially great when you need that killer black dress or meeting attire that you know you’ll only wear once.
About Vivida Lifestyle
Vivida seeks to build the best and most sustainable activewear and accessories for watersports, yoga, and life. Vivida supports a global community of like-minded individuals that inspire and empower one another to live balanced, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyles doing what they love. Focused on supporting the earth and serving as an example for the industry, Vivida has signed on with the United Nations in helping to create a Global Climate Action Plan for the Fashion Industry. They also work with some of the most sustainable, innovative, and transparent manufacturing methods, materials, and facilities available today.
Written by Jackie Tyburski
Source Vivida