What Should You Do To Have A Sustainable Style?

If you’re reading this, you probably want to renew yourself. However, you’re not heading to the usual fast fashion stores for a quick and cheap fashion fix. Instead, you want to create a more lasting style by shopping from eco-friendly brands that don’t rely on destructive production practices. When wanting to shop from ethical brands, you may feel that you don’t have the power to shop ethically when you see that your basket holds more than you’re used to spending or more than you can afford at the moment.

Nevertheless, having a timeless and sustainable wardrobe is possible. Before we continue, it’s important to note that ethically made clothes, with fair wages (no one was exploited to make your shirt) and responsible production (the purchase process won’t contribute to environmental pollution), generally come with a higher price tag than fast fashion.

Fast fashion is sold at such a low price point because of the exploitation of garment workers and environmental abuse in its production. When you understand what goes into making your clothes, you may realize that no t-shirt can be cheap if everyone involved in its production is treated fairly. So, what can you do for a sustainable wardrobe with your budget?

1. Set a Budget:
When it comes to fashion, many of us spend first and count expenses later. Disproportionately low prices encourage us to buy more than we need. Get a calculator and estimate your annual clothing expenses. You might be surprised at how high this number is. If you feel good about how much of your income goes to clothes each year, you can consider this figure as your ethical wardrobe budget. Otherwise, you’ll need to make adjustments accordingly.

2. Make a Shopping List:
To stay within your budget, only buy the clothes you need. Since “need” varies for everyone, just as you look into the fridge to see what’s missing, take a look into your wardrobe. Is winter coming, and you only have one or two pairs of long pants? Is your wardrobe mostly blue and gray, so do you need to add something orange to it on your next shopping trip?

Make a shopping list or take notes. The more specific your “needs” are, the less likely you are to buy things outside of your shopping list.

However, unlike grocery shopping, don’t try to go out and buy everything at once. Buying a piece of clothing is a bigger financial commitment than buying pasta sauce, so you can wait to find the products you’re looking for. This way, you’ll have more time to think before making a purchase, more chances to shop, and an increased likelihood of capturing timeless designs.

Reviewing your wardrobe more often can help you better understand what you actually have. You might find a really great piece you forgot about, or you might find a way to wear something you didn’t know how to wear before. Creating a shopping list will also be easier when you truly know your wardrobe!

3. Buy Less:
Since ethical clothes tend to be more expensive, it may seem daunting. However, not being as wasteful with as many pieces as you’re used to can only be in your favor.

Consider the pieces you already have that are similar. Sometimes, because we buy things we love, we can buy multiple versions of the same thing. In other words, you could spend 10 times the amount needed to get a piece. If you already have it, don’t buy it again.

On average, a piece of clothing is worn only 7 times before it’s thrown away! That’s terrible. Having fewer pieces might seem restrictive at first, but it’s probably the only thing limiting you from accumulating a lot of waste in the landfill right now.

YOU CAN HAVE A SUSTAINABLE STYLE!
If all they do is choose ethical brands, most people don’t have the money to replace fast fashion with ethical fashion. However, if people also prefer more sustainable shopping habits, they can afford to shop ethically.

Changing your shopping habits might seem like a limitation, but it won’t just make it easy for you to buy sustainable fashion by changing how you spend your money; it will also help you better maintain your wardrobe naturally. And, of course, shopping from sustainable brands will support the missions and commitments of each brand to produce clothes ethically and sustainably.

What do you think?
Are you ready to explore being yourself and building an ethical wardrobe?