This weekend marks one year of supporting and blogging about sustainable fashion. Last year, I committed to only purchasing fashion for good after fast fashion blogging for two years. I learned that my favorite brands, Forever 21 and Zara, crank out so many styles to keep up with fashion trends that they end up producing a ton of chemical and material waste along the way. After learning that, I decided to make my style more sustainable. I am 100% positive that anyone can make their closet eco and that fashion and sustainability can exist together.
This past year didn’t come without its challenges. To be a sustainable fashionista I had to discover eco-friendly brands, learn how to successfully internet shop, find new places to thrift and completely change my purchasing habits. Here are some realizations and lessons that I learned over the year:
Realization #1: I think we’re all addicted to shopping, at least I am.
I was spoiled with fast fashion deals, low prices were my standard. and I had developed this “not enough” mentality, and ended up spending more on purchases that we didn’t need, just for a deal. I realized that this was an addiction my first month into sustainable fashion.
Lesson learned: I changed my purchasing habits! Before I purchased anything new, here’s what I did:
- Thought about how many times and ways I could wear it, if over 10, then it was acceptable
- Looked at the materials it was made out of, could it last a long time?
- Held off on purchasing, waited a week, and if I still wanted it, then I would buy it.
Realization #2: You don’t have to spend $$$ to be more sustainable
Josh and I don’t make a ton of money. He gets a graduate student salary, which is just above the US poverty level and I support us the rest of the way with a small mission-based non-profit salary. There are a bunch of affordable companies with sustainable practices, I wrote a blog post on 12 affordable eco-friendly fashion brands if you’re interested!
Lesson learned: You can find or purchase anything second hand. Great places for second hand shopping are the Goodwill and Salvation Army. I also have great luck on designer/trendy/vintage pieces at small consignment stores.
Realization #3: Beware of false advertising or “Greenwashing”
Greenwashing is when a company deceptively promotes that a brand’s products, aims or policies are environmentally friendly. It exists and I think this is something that every eco-fashionista should be aware of.
Lesson learned: Look for transparency. I love when brands like Everlane are transparent pricing model or at least transparent about where their clothes are made and what they’re made out of. Also look to see if brands are B Corp certified. B Corps are for-profit companies certified by the nonprofit B Lab to meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.
Realization #4: Sewing is an amazing skill to learn
A lot of second hand purchases need buttons added, holes patched up, or even altering. For a 6 months I watched a seamstress make the alterations I needed to pieces, but I spent quite a bit of cash. Being a seamstress is a skill and that is why I don’t mind paying the fair wages I do pay when I buy new. I decided that to save money, I would learn to sew myself.
Lesson Learned: Youtube is an amazing resource for learning how to hand sew and machine sew. Would you guys want me to link you to my favorite sewing tutorials?
Realization #5: Don’t beat yourself up
This past weekend, we went to a friend’s wedding 2 hours away only to realize that we forgot my dress at home. I had 30 minutes to find something to wear, so I rushed to a LOFT outlet and purchased a dress.
Lesson learned: Not all of your purchases are going to meet the definition of “sustainable,” but you have the power to make it sustainable by wearing it for years to come.
Let’s make sustainability stylish!
