Sadly we live in an age where once you've snapped your outfit for instagram, it's highly unlikely you'll be caught dead in it for a second time. We are all guilty of this and so quick to forget the damaging effects it can have, fashion quite sadly does actually contribute to global warming in a very HUGE way. I don't know exact figures but it doesn't take a genius to realise this is the case. Think about all of the resources needed to produce the high quantities of garments which hit our high street stores every week worldwide, again I don't know figures but from working in retail I can only estimate millions! Between raw materials for textiles, fuel to transport garms and animals being killed for their fur or skin for leather we really have actually got a massive problem yet even when we are aware of the problem we subconsciously still contribute to it in a major way by doing small things like not wearing an outfit twice!
Whilst the problem might sound so huge and out of our hands, there is actually SO many little things that we can do to contribute to a more sustainable fashion industry which not only benefits our planet but in many ways also benefits us! It's a win win really!
Buy From Vintage/Charity Shops
(Skirt is from Fresh temple bar)
"One man's trash is another man's treasure"
Vintage and charity stores give old garments a new life and are much more sustainability friendly than high street stores. Whilst sometimes vintage can be a little bit more expensive, in my personal opinion every extra penny is worth it because often vintage garms are a one off and for me living in Dublin and it being such a small city, having a one of a kind garment is so important for me because I like to stand out and with high street stores such as Zara, Penneys, Topshop etc. being so accessible it is almost impossible to have something one of your pals or relatives don't have before you!
Another thing I adore about buying from vintage and charity shops is imagining what kind of life the garm had before it got to me, like who owned this and how much fun did they have wearing this? For some people this is a turn off as they don't like the idea of second hand clothes but for me it's exciting, you're literally giving an item of clothing a new lease of life!
Vintage pieces are also timeless, you can have them for years and they will always look great!
Restyling - Make your old clothes new again
Personally I am really bad for not wanting to wear an outfit twice. But being a student it is impossible to have a constantly updated wardrobe, but it is so easy to restyle items and make them brand new. You can pair different items with totally different things than the first time around and it can often look like a whole different thing. Another restyling habit of mine is just simply to cut, chop and sew some of my old things and make them different! The cropped top I am wearing in the picture above was actually once full length top! The black and white top is a swimsuit which i have restyled so many times!
Another one of my fave examples was this bodysuit I wore body and soul, I just added some pink fluff and diamonds and it was like brand new!
Depop
Depop is such an amazing app for buying and selling clothes! Since downloading depop and becoming an active user I very rarely throw away any of the clothes I no longer wear. I always post them on my depop. It is super easy to use and the selling fee is quite low, I have never had a bad experience with it!
Similarly to vintage shopping you literally get to give your clothes a brand new go at life lol!
Another benefit, is you can often find some brands or labels cheaper than the full retail price while still in great condition! Anything I've ever purchased has been exactly as described! Most sellers will have an open and honest conversation with you before you buy their item!
Donations
When my clothes don't sell on depop or I feel they would never sell anyway, especially things like old t-shirts which almost become like rags, I will bring some of the better quality items to a charity shops or else to the conscious bin we have in work (H&M). Many retail stores now have something similar also, I know TKmaxx and zara have definitely introduced them. The clothes either go to charities or the fabrics are reused. In H&M you receive a €5 off voucher, so it is a win win situation really!
Consciousness
(Faux fur coat & Pleather Pants)
I feel like this is quite a broad tip but an important one. Be conscious and just try to do a bit of research, it really is not that time consuming, find out which textiles and fashions are bad for sustainability and try to avoid them when you can. Avoid things like real fur or genuine leather by simply checking a label and pay less for a faux fur or leather which looks just as good!
I am well aware that fast fashion and high street stores are the cheapest way to update and refresh your wardrobe and in such a massively capitalist society it's almost impossible to completely avoid fast fashion especially with the rise of the OOTD culture and the need to have the latest trends and clothes for the cheapest price! HOWEVER it is so so easy to just cut down on the amount of fast fashion you buy by using the tips I've mentioned above which all make a small change and when you do buy fast fashion don't make the problem worse by throwing clothes away, give them a new home!
With such a massive issue if everyone just makes constant small changes it will improve over time, it is never going to be solved overnight but we need to start somewhere!
Grainne
XO
