How to be Ethically Fashionable
Update: 2022-10-10
Description
The toxic chemicals used to treat clothing remain on the fabric, even after washing. Chemicals such as formaldehyde, stain blockers, flame retardants, and more are endocrine disruptors.
These can penetrate the skin and lead to serious health conditions. Exposure to these chemicals, often used in fast fashion, is shown to cause multiple abnormalities in the reproductive system of women, even in minimal doses.(1)
Clothing is one of the most significant environmental problems, along with housing, transportation, and food. Not only that, but many manufacturers don't pay factory workers a living wage.
What's the answer? Learn to be ethically fashionable for your health, the sake of the environment, and for humanity.
The more you know, the less you need.Yvon Chouinard
What is Ethical Fashion?
Throughout the full life cycle of a garment, from manufacturing to disposal, making choices that are responsible towards the environment, people, and animals. Using textiles created in a responsible and conscious way. Materials, dyes, labor, and even buy back programs are part of sustainable and ethical fashion.
Are ethical, sustainable, and slow fashion all the same? Technically, most of us mean the same thing when we talk about these terms. However, each of us may hold different ethics. In the end, slow fashion is a movement meant to provide better quality products that consumers are able to hold onto longer, thus slowing the need for disposal. Slow fashion may include limited items as well as made to order clothing.
Sustainable fashion is entirely based on a more environmentally and socially conscious production. Overall, the combined goal is similar.
Fast fashion is sold in high volume with a pretty low profit margin, for example a popular example is Shein. Workers being underpaid and overworked along with dumping untreated waste into local waterways.
Many clothing manufacturers such as Shein and others may say they're working on sustainablity, but the proof is not forthcoming. Supply chain transparency, fabrics, and waste management are three big areas to look at when deciding if a company is ethical or sustainable.
Options for Being Ethically Fashionable
The fashion industry has a detrimental impact on the environment - in fact, according to EcoWatch, Fast Fashion is the Second Dirtiest Industry in the World. It is up to you, the consumer, to vote with your dollars.
To make it easier, suggestions are listed below to help you get started becoming ethically fashionable.
All of these recommendations may not suit your lifestyle. One or two of them will be enough to help you stay stylish and make ethical clothing purchases.
Purchase second-hand clothing
Undoubtedly, the most economical way to be ethically fashionable it to purchase clothing second hand. Second hand purchases reduce carbon emissions, save lots of resources, water, and energy.
When you buy clothing from a second-hand shop, you are making a sustainable purchase. Every time you buy used clothing you are keeping one more item out of the landfill. Your purchase also keeps local thrifts shop in business and your dollar going back into your local community. Win-win.
You can make your ethical purchases even more effective when you shop for sustainable clothing brands at a second-hand shop! Being budget-friendly and ethical are two of the main reasons why I buy more and more of our clothing from second-hand shops.
Speaking of buying locally
Local clothing shops and boutiques are another good way to make an ethical choice in clothing. When you shop at a local boutique, you can ask where they clothing came from, see the quality and support your local business owners.
If you still prefer to purchase your clothing brand-new, consider taking your items to a second-hand or consignment shop so that they will be reused and kept out of the landfill.
You can be ethically fashionable by donating your gently used quality clothing to a homeless shelter, battered women's shelter, or local church that has a freebie-closet.
Ethical Fashion Costs More
Unfortunately, ethical fashion is more expensive than fast fashion. Why?
First, the garment workers creating those clothing receive a living wage. This means they aren't working unreasonably long hours and they're paid enough to afford the basic necessities of life.
The second reason ethical fashion costs more is that it is higher quality. Consider this concept. You pay $100 for a pair of jeans that you wear once per week for a couple of years. The cost per wear ends up being less than $1. (That's why Kristian has the option of making payments on jeans.)
Slow fashion garments are built to stand the test of time. That's another reason they're more sustainable and ethical.
If you dislike the idea of buying second hand clothing, but find ethical fashion is stretching your budget, consider a minimalist approach. Two pair of sustainable brand jeans is better than a dozen pair of fast fashion jeans. They'll likely fit better and definitely last longer.
What To Look For in Ethical Fashion?
So how do you go about finding fashion brands with sustainable practices, ethical working conditions, and a small carbon footprint?
Research your favorite brands looking for their sustainability initiatives. If they don't meet the mark. Learn which certifications to look for so you can support the companies that line up with your goals.
Sustainable designers use renewable resources, eco-friendly materials or deadstock fabric to reduce waste. They incorporate earth-friendly production processes that reduce carbon emissions. Fair labor practices are employed and high quality materials are used to produce small batches.
Certifications such as:
OEKO-TEXGOTS CertifiedFair Trade Certified meets rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards.Bluesign Certified which supports suppliers and manufacturers in their sustainable, resource-saving production of clothing and textiles through on-site assessments
Many brands using sustainable materials also have a buy back or recycling program. Some even have a section on their website to sell "previously loved" items.
Identifying Sustainable Fashion Brands For New Clothing
Kristian outlines some good points in this podcast episode. Design, labor, and materials that are kind to the earth from seed to garment. (Find transcripts at the bottom of this post.)
Hire a tailor
As discussed in this podcast episode, tailored clothing tends to be better quality.
I know this is one that many will opt out of. Still, it is a viable option. Especially if you are like my friends and I who appreciate fine-looking unique clothing styles! Do a web search for tailors near you or an alterations shop. You may be surprised at how affordable this can be.
My daughters have their military uniforms altered, my husband has his clothing altered sometimes. I've purchased high quality sustainable jeans that were a bit too long and had them hemmed. So, it just makes sense to check out this option.
Of course, with Slowjeans.co you can get your exact measurements taken excluding then necessity for having them tailored.
Meet Kristian Hansen Founder of Slo Clothing
Kristian Hansen, AKA 'The Jeans Guy', is an award winning serial Entrepreneur, explorer, content creator, and mission-driven founder currently on a journey to solve the climate crisis through eco-conscious capitalism, the power of consumerism, and data. His company, slø, is part of the slow fashion revolution giving function, fit, and quality back to the masses starting with jeans. Kristian and slø are redefining what it means to build companies through community and creating clothes that make everyone feel confident and make their lives easier.
After Kristian's viral TikTok, over the pocket discrepancy of male and female jeans he posed the question “what do your dream jeans look like?” to the TikTok masses. Over 600,000 people, returned over 800,000 suggestions sparking the unprecedented community-driven, community-owned project: slø. Visit the website at slojeans.co
What to look for in fabrics
Ethical clothing is made from materials that are grown or manufactured in an environmentally friendly way. Many people automatically assume organic cotton is the best choice.
Organic cotton is a sustainable alternative to regular cotton as farmers do not use pesticides to grow the cotton so workers aren't exposed to chemicals. Organic cotton, still requires a lot of water to grow and is a rather expensive industry.
If you are going to spend the money on organic cotton fabrics, look for the GOTS-certification so that you will know it is worth what you are paying.
To make one pair of cotton jeans requires 2,108 gallons of water, 659 gallons to make a cotton t-shirt. According to hidden water in everyday objects.
Recycled cotton is a sustainable choice as it has the potential to help reduce water and energy consumption and keep clothes out of the landfill. You will also find recycled denim in packing materials sometimes when you buy from eco-friendly companies. Make sure to recycle your denim after you wear it out! Some manufacturers make it into nontoxic insulation. Last time I checked, the company had collected 2.5 million items of denim which diverted more than 1230 tons from the landfills.
The Amazing Hemp Plant
Hemp is considered the most versatile plant on earth as it can feed, clothe, clean and medicate, humans! Not to mention, hemp is a durable fabric that only gets better with time. With each wash and wear, the material becomes softer. When you are ready to discard hemp clothing, it is biodegradable.
Organic linen is a natural and sustainable fabric which is also biodegradable. Eco-friendly linen is naturally moth resistant and robust, so it lasts longer than other materials.
These can penetrate the skin and lead to serious health conditions. Exposure to these chemicals, often used in fast fashion, is shown to cause multiple abnormalities in the reproductive system of women, even in minimal doses.(1)
Clothing is one of the most significant environmental problems, along with housing, transportation, and food. Not only that, but many manufacturers don't pay factory workers a living wage.
What's the answer? Learn to be ethically fashionable for your health, the sake of the environment, and for humanity.
The more you know, the less you need.Yvon Chouinard
What is Ethical Fashion?
Throughout the full life cycle of a garment, from manufacturing to disposal, making choices that are responsible towards the environment, people, and animals. Using textiles created in a responsible and conscious way. Materials, dyes, labor, and even buy back programs are part of sustainable and ethical fashion.
Are ethical, sustainable, and slow fashion all the same? Technically, most of us mean the same thing when we talk about these terms. However, each of us may hold different ethics. In the end, slow fashion is a movement meant to provide better quality products that consumers are able to hold onto longer, thus slowing the need for disposal. Slow fashion may include limited items as well as made to order clothing.
Sustainable fashion is entirely based on a more environmentally and socially conscious production. Overall, the combined goal is similar.
Fast fashion is sold in high volume with a pretty low profit margin, for example a popular example is Shein. Workers being underpaid and overworked along with dumping untreated waste into local waterways.
Many clothing manufacturers such as Shein and others may say they're working on sustainablity, but the proof is not forthcoming. Supply chain transparency, fabrics, and waste management are three big areas to look at when deciding if a company is ethical or sustainable.
Options for Being Ethically Fashionable
The fashion industry has a detrimental impact on the environment - in fact, according to EcoWatch, Fast Fashion is the Second Dirtiest Industry in the World. It is up to you, the consumer, to vote with your dollars.
To make it easier, suggestions are listed below to help you get started becoming ethically fashionable.
All of these recommendations may not suit your lifestyle. One or two of them will be enough to help you stay stylish and make ethical clothing purchases.
Purchase second-hand clothing
Undoubtedly, the most economical way to be ethically fashionable it to purchase clothing second hand. Second hand purchases reduce carbon emissions, save lots of resources, water, and energy.
When you buy clothing from a second-hand shop, you are making a sustainable purchase. Every time you buy used clothing you are keeping one more item out of the landfill. Your purchase also keeps local thrifts shop in business and your dollar going back into your local community. Win-win.
You can make your ethical purchases even more effective when you shop for sustainable clothing brands at a second-hand shop! Being budget-friendly and ethical are two of the main reasons why I buy more and more of our clothing from second-hand shops.
Speaking of buying locally
Local clothing shops and boutiques are another good way to make an ethical choice in clothing. When you shop at a local boutique, you can ask where they clothing came from, see the quality and support your local business owners.
If you still prefer to purchase your clothing brand-new, consider taking your items to a second-hand or consignment shop so that they will be reused and kept out of the landfill.
You can be ethically fashionable by donating your gently used quality clothing to a homeless shelter, battered women's shelter, or local church that has a freebie-closet.
Ethical Fashion Costs More
Unfortunately, ethical fashion is more expensive than fast fashion. Why?
First, the garment workers creating those clothing receive a living wage. This means they aren't working unreasonably long hours and they're paid enough to afford the basic necessities of life.
The second reason ethical fashion costs more is that it is higher quality. Consider this concept. You pay $100 for a pair of jeans that you wear once per week for a couple of years. The cost per wear ends up being less than $1. (That's why Kristian has the option of making payments on jeans.)
Slow fashion garments are built to stand the test of time. That's another reason they're more sustainable and ethical.
If you dislike the idea of buying second hand clothing, but find ethical fashion is stretching your budget, consider a minimalist approach. Two pair of sustainable brand jeans is better than a dozen pair of fast fashion jeans. They'll likely fit better and definitely last longer.
What To Look For in Ethical Fashion?
So how do you go about finding fashion brands with sustainable practices, ethical working conditions, and a small carbon footprint?
Research your favorite brands looking for their sustainability initiatives. If they don't meet the mark. Learn which certifications to look for so you can support the companies that line up with your goals.
Sustainable designers use renewable resources, eco-friendly materials or deadstock fabric to reduce waste. They incorporate earth-friendly production processes that reduce carbon emissions. Fair labor practices are employed and high quality materials are used to produce small batches.
Certifications such as:
OEKO-TEXGOTS CertifiedFair Trade Certified meets rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards.Bluesign Certified which supports suppliers and manufacturers in their sustainable, resource-saving production of clothing and textiles through on-site assessments
Many brands using sustainable materials also have a buy back or recycling program. Some even have a section on their website to sell "previously loved" items.
Identifying Sustainable Fashion Brands For New Clothing
Kristian outlines some good points in this podcast episode. Design, labor, and materials that are kind to the earth from seed to garment. (Find transcripts at the bottom of this post.)
Hire a tailor
As discussed in this podcast episode, tailored clothing tends to be better quality.
I know this is one that many will opt out of. Still, it is a viable option. Especially if you are like my friends and I who appreciate fine-looking unique clothing styles! Do a web search for tailors near you or an alterations shop. You may be surprised at how affordable this can be.
My daughters have their military uniforms altered, my husband has his clothing altered sometimes. I've purchased high quality sustainable jeans that were a bit too long and had them hemmed. So, it just makes sense to check out this option.
Of course, with Slowjeans.co you can get your exact measurements taken excluding then necessity for having them tailored.
Meet Kristian Hansen Founder of Slo Clothing
Kristian Hansen, AKA 'The Jeans Guy', is an award winning serial Entrepreneur, explorer, content creator, and mission-driven founder currently on a journey to solve the climate crisis through eco-conscious capitalism, the power of consumerism, and data. His company, slø, is part of the slow fashion revolution giving function, fit, and quality back to the masses starting with jeans. Kristian and slø are redefining what it means to build companies through community and creating clothes that make everyone feel confident and make their lives easier.
After Kristian's viral TikTok, over the pocket discrepancy of male and female jeans he posed the question “what do your dream jeans look like?” to the TikTok masses. Over 600,000 people, returned over 800,000 suggestions sparking the unprecedented community-driven, community-owned project: slø. Visit the website at slojeans.co
What to look for in fabrics
Ethical clothing is made from materials that are grown or manufactured in an environmentally friendly way. Many people automatically assume organic cotton is the best choice.
Organic cotton is a sustainable alternative to regular cotton as farmers do not use pesticides to grow the cotton so workers aren't exposed to chemicals. Organic cotton, still requires a lot of water to grow and is a rather expensive industry.
If you are going to spend the money on organic cotton fabrics, look for the GOTS-certification so that you will know it is worth what you are paying.
To make one pair of cotton jeans requires 2,108 gallons of water, 659 gallons to make a cotton t-shirt. According to hidden water in everyday objects.
Recycled cotton is a sustainable choice as it has the potential to help reduce water and energy consumption and keep clothes out of the landfill. You will also find recycled denim in packing materials sometimes when you buy from eco-friendly companies. Make sure to recycle your denim after you wear it out! Some manufacturers make it into nontoxic insulation. Last time I checked, the company had collected 2.5 million items of denim which diverted more than 1230 tons from the landfills.
The Amazing Hemp Plant
Hemp is considered the most versatile plant on earth as it can feed, clothe, clean and medicate, humans! Not to mention, hemp is a durable fabric that only gets better with time. With each wash and wear, the material becomes softer. When you are ready to discard hemp clothing, it is biodegradable.
Organic linen is a natural and sustainable fabric which is also biodegradable. Eco-friendly linen is naturally moth resistant and robust, so it lasts longer than other materials.
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