Be sustainably stylish

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Let’s be honest for a moment. How many items in your closet did you buy because they were in style (at that moment) and cheap? How many of those clothing items did you wear more than a handful of times before you got tired of them or they fell apart?

We all do it. We’re not here to judge those really sweet low rise jeans with the wide legs and the rhinestones you bought at the mall in 2003. We’re simply here to tell you that there’s an environmental price to pay for all those cheap trends!

And better yet, there’s something you can do about it!

The term “fast fashion” refers to trendy clothing that’s cheaply made (often in bad conditions), cheaply sold, and quickly discarded. It’s a big industry with a big environmental footprint.

Fast fashion facts:

• ONE GARBAGE TRUCK of clothes is burned or sent to landfills EVERY SECOND! (Ellen MacArthur Foundation)
• Clothing production more than DOUBLED between 2000 and 2014 with consumers buying 60% MORE clothes annually. (McKinsey & Company)
• Making ONE PAIR of jeans has the same carbon footprint as driving 80 MILES in a car. (Levi Strauss)

It’s time to put an end to fast fashion. Check out the info below to see how you reduce your fashion footprint!

So we’ve established that clothes have an impact on the environment, but we also know that they’re a necessary part of life. So what’s a person to do?! Well, it’s pretty simple really: Buy less. Buy smart.

There are many ways to update your closet without buying something brand new. Try shopping at second hand stores, hosting a clothing swap with friends, or using clothing rental services like Rent the Runway or Le Tote. 

When you do need to buy something new, consider supporting one of many sustainable clothing brands that are committed to environmental and social good. 

Make the clothing you buy last longer! Check out THESE TIPS from Good on You about making your clothing endure the tests of time.

Washing your clothes less often is one great way to help ensure they last a long time while protecting the planet! Not only do washing machines use up large amounts of water and energy, but they also release microfibers from our clothing into the ocean. So try to get as many wears out of your clothing as possible before throwing them in the wash.

When you do wash your clothes, use cold water. 90% of the energy used by washing machines goes toward heating the water. Air dry if you can!

Learn more about this problem and inform your family and friends!

Check out this powerful documentary, THE TRUE COST (available on Netflix). The film explores the environmental and human toll of fast fashion, urging consumers to consider the roughly 40 million garment workers around the globe who face exploitation, brutal working conditions, and human rights violations.

And read up on the issue! Take a look at this LIST OF BOOKS ON THE SUBJECT!