(outfit details; jacket, Jaelle Designs. jeans, Everlane. tank, thrifted. shoes, I have had these for years- they are from Dolce Vita. necklace, Mejuri.)
After all those bleak facts that I gave last week, about how harmful fast fashion is to our environment, our society, and the global society at large, I got a lot of questions about how you can start making shifts. Shifts towards living a more ethical and sustainable life. How to be more conscious consumer, especially when it comes to clothing.
First you need a mindset switch.
I've realized (after talking to friends + followers on IG) that the biggest hurdle to living an ethical/sustainable life is MONEY. But that $20 pair of jeans isn't worth someone's life. And you certainly do not need 8 pairs of those $20 jeans. Another hurdle I've noticed is that people want more and more and they want to be trendy. Which is all fine. But you need less shit. And you need to buy less shit. Clothing should be looked at as an investment.
You can STILL be trendy, and you can still live a financially conscious life while shopping ethically and sustainably.
How to shop ethically and sustainably;
- First, wear what you already own. Rethink things. Wear your clothing in different ways. wear that sun dress under a cozy sweater or tucked into high waisted denim. Wear that tee under a slip dress. Cuff those jeans and wear em with that turtleneck knotted at your waist. Nothing is cooler than wearing clothes in unconventional ways.
- Host a clothing swap with friends! You get rid of the pieces that you don't wear anymore, and get new items... for free!
- Shop secondhand! This is the absolute most sustainable / ethical way to shop. This extends the life of a garment. You can find new and like-new items at thrift shops. This is also a great way to shop your favorite trendy brands. Thrift stores and vintage stores are both places you can find super unique items. If you live somewhere rural (or somewhere that doesn't have great thrift store options) check on line! Sites like poshmark, depop, and thredup are all great spots for finding second hand. I've found poshmark to be more trendy label based items. And depop to be a little cooler (+ cheaper) and it has more vintage and more items from indie labels. I haven't used thredup but I've heard great things!
-Shop brands that have integrity. Do your research. That's the fun part, the ethical/sustainable fashion world is it's own literal universe and there is so much to explore.
A few brands I love;
- Everlane. Everlane is an affordable line that is sustainable and ethical. They are extremely transparent about their costs and their factories. Everything feels current and fresh, but isn't too trendy. They are definitely pieces you can wear year after year. I adore everything I have purchased from Everlane.
- Reformation. Reformation is such an innovator in the sustainable and ethical world. They are extremely transparent about their environmental impact. They put out statements with areas they can improve on. They are also a great place for stats on fast fashion! Their clothing can run on the more pricey side (think Free People pricing), but it is worth the investment. Especially if you are looking for something fresh and fun!
- Vetta. Vetta is one of my absolute favorites. They are another super transparent company. Their pieces are incredible quality and are all so freakin versatile. They are big in the capsule wardrobe space. Their pieces can we worn multiple different ways for a whole bunch of looks. Each capsule is five items, and they can be mixed and matched for a months worth of outfits.
- Girlfriend Collective. Girlfriend is my favorite for activewear! All of their items are made with recycled water bottles. Everything is so comfortable and perfect for working out. The colors of all of the pieces are also super rad.
- Mejuri. Mejuri is my favorite ethical jewelry company. Fair pricing, ethically sourced materials, ethical manufacturing, and high quality. This is the type of jewelry you can pass down. PS if you shop using my link you get 10% off!
And of course, my very favorite clothing line? My own! Jaelle Designs! All Jaelle pieces are made with preloved or vintage clothing. And then reworked into something fresh and hand embroidered. Every piece is one of a kind. The jacket I am wearing here is a Jaelle piece. A vintage corduroy women's dress that I turned into a jacket, and embroidered my own interpretation of Gustav Klimt's the Kiss on the back of.
I am planning on sharing more and more about my favorite ethical/sustainable clothing lines, and diving deeper into depth on all of my favorites. So be sure to follow on Bloglovin' and Instagram to not miss a post!
Also, looking for the cold hard fast fashion facts? Head to my last post HERE to educate yourself!
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