Fast fashion is one of the most damaging industries for the environment. According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), it is the second largest consumer of water and contributes to around 10% of global carbon emissions. Despite these alarming facts, the fashion industry is still expected to reach $58.85 billion by 2030, a 10% increase from 2023.
The environmental harm caused by fast fashion is undeniable, and more people need to be aware of it. One powerful way to make a difference is by rethinking how we approach our wardrobes. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, a sustainable wardrobe can be stylish, unique, and of much better quality than what you might currently own. This is because a sustainable wardrobe invites us to collect timeless and sustainable pieces made with love, care, and minimal environmental harm rather than purchasing cheaply made items that will quickly lose their value as new trends come about.
I understand that this might be a new concept to some readers. This is why, in this guide, I’ll outline some tips for building an eco-friendly wardrobe that will help you feel more satisfied in the long run and better reflect your style. By the end of this article, you’ll know all about the best materials that promote sustainability, the advantages of thrifting and up-cycling, and some of my favourite eco-friendly brands. Let’s get started!
Understanding Sustainable Fashion
What is Sustainable Fashion?
More people have been addressing fast fashion’s harmful effects in recent years by promoting slow or sustainable fashion. Brands that support sustainable fashion aim to do away with excessive production of clothes while focusing on creating items that are kinder to the environment. These brands often produce timeless pieces, so customers can invest in good quality clothes that last for many years rather than buying something new each time a trend pops up. Naturally, buying fewer clothes can have an incredibly positive effect on the environment.
When discussing fast fashion, I’m referring to brands like Zara, Forever 21, H&M, and Shein. It’s called ‘Fast’ because these clothes are designed and distributed at lightning speed, aiming to keep up with society’s ever-changing trends. This allows brands to offer a broader range of clothing options for their customers to choose from, often at a lower price, and this is precisely the reason why fast fashion is so appealing. However, this convenience comes with severe environmental consequences, mainly because of the harmful materials used in production, as I’ll look at later on.
Brands that promote sustainable fashion attempt to make clothes that don’t cause further damage to the earth, and they do this by using materials that are more gentle on the environment and often have a better life cycle than their fast fashion counterparts. Indeed, for many years, clothes were made with plant fibers such as cotton and flax, which are easily biodegradable; however, over the past half-century, synthetic fibers have replaced natural ones, most of which contain microplastics that have caused irreversible damage to the planet. Sustainable brands combat this by using natural or recycled materials, and because their products are of higher quality, they last much longer, reducing waste.
Beyond environmental issues, many fast fashion companies have been linked to exploitative practices and unsafe working conditions. For example, in 2013, the Rana Plaza factory in Bangladesh—home to many major brand factories—collapsed, killing over 1,000 workers. This tragedy highlighted the unsafe conditions that many fast-fashion workers must face daily. In contrast, sustainable brands prioritize fair treatment of their staff, offering better wages and safer working conditions.
The Benefits of Sustainable Fashion
With the rise of climate change, deforestation, and plastic pollution, one of the main benefits of sustainable fashion is that it prioritizes the environment. As mentioned, sustainable brands use natural materials or recycled fibers, which helps reduce the harmful effects on natural resources while managing the waste that fast fashion makes daily. Indeed, these items are often pricier than their fast-fashion counterparts. Still, by choosing quality over quantity, in the long run, you’ll probably be spending less money on clothes as they don’t need to be constantly replaced. Plus, the clothes you own will feel more meaningful and special.
We need to be more aware of our carbon footprint; we only have one earth, and the damage we are currently contributing to will soon be irreversible. Materials commonly used in fast fashion, like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, to mention a few, are made from fossil fuels, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and harming the environment. In contrast, sustainable brands prioritize natural, eco-friendly materials that require less energy to produce and are far gentler on the planet.
Apart from the impact on the environment, we must also think about our social responsibility. Sustainable fashion ensures that the team it works with has fair wages, safe working conditions, and overall ethical labour practices, combating the exploitation that can often happen in the fast fashion industry. This way, when buying a piece from a more ethical brand, you can buy it completely guilt-free and know that the people who helped make it are working in safe working conditions.
Buying sustainably can even transform your personal style in other unexpectedly positive ways. Nowadays, people are constantly chasing the hottest trends; however, after a month, trends change, and that must-have skirt you bought might be forgotten or discarded within weeks. When buying highly durable quality pieces, they will be with you for a long time, and since the items are so well made and special, you don’t need to worry about replacing your wardrobe too often.
Key Components of an Eco-Friendly Wardrobe
Let’s look at the most important factors in creating an eco-friendly wardrobe. After reading this section, you’ll know which materials to look out for if you’re looking to shop sustainably, why you should invest in timeless pieces, and the advantages of second-hand fashion.
Choose Sustainable Materials
Luckily, with a little bit of research, there are easy ways to make sure that the clothes you are buying are sustainable, and one of the best ways to do this is to check what fabrics any pieces you might be interested in are made up of. As mentioned, the materials used in fast-fashion clothes can have horrible environmental impacts, contributing to excessive water consumption, microplastic pollution, deforestation, and overflowing landfills. The type of materials used can even influence the whole production process of the piece, which, in turn, contributes to how much energy was consumed during the making of it and how its waste is managed.
To help you make more conscious choices, I’ve outlined some eco-friendly fabrics to look for when shopping for clothes. These materials reduce harm to the planet and often result in higher-quality, longer-lasting pieces.
- Organic Cotton: Organic cotton is one of the most sustainable natural fabrics. It is grown without pesticides and processed with little to no chemicals. The production process also uses significantly less water and energy than conventional cotton, making it a much more eco-friendly option.
- Recycled Cotton: This cotton is made using post-industrial and post-consumer waste. This reduces the demand for cotton farming and means there isn’t as much waste in landfills.
- Tencel: Tencel, a fabric made from wood pulp (typically eucalyptus), is another fantastic sustainable option. Again, it requires much less energy and water than cotton to grow, and it’s also biodegradable. It’s silky texture makes it a top choice for clothing that’s comfortable, luxurious, and sustainable.
- Hemp: Hemp is a sustainable fabric with many benefits. For example, it’s naturally resistant to microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, provides UV protection, and requires minimal water and pesticides to grow. Because of these advantages, hemp is more expensive than other materials but also incredibly long-lasting.
- Linen: Like hemp, Linen requires little water, pesticides, or fertilizers to grow. It’s also very breathable, antibacterial, and odor-resistant, making it great for people with sensitive skin. However, since linen isn’t as high-yielding as other materials on this list, it’s a lot more expensive to purchase.
Invest in Timeless, Versatile Pieces
Fast fashion pieces are based on rapidly changing trends. Indeed, this is especially true in our social media-dominated world, where influences and celebrities are seen wearing specific clothes that instantly create demand. While jumping on every new trend might be tempting, shifting your mindset toward investing in timeless pieces can make a significant difference for your wardrobe and the planet.
With this in mind, I suggest changing your mindset from buying pieces that are currently fashionable to investing in timeless pieces. But what makes something timeless? Timelessness refers to items built to last, both in terms of quality and versatility. These pieces can be styled in various ways and are designed to endure season after season. Also, when buying something that’s better quality, you’ll naturally be more careful with how you store and handle it, which will help it durability.
As mentioned above, another thing to remember here is to purchase neutral and simple items, as these can be styled in various ways. One can think of Coco Chanel’s ‘Little Black Dress’, a black evening dress intended to be durable and versatile, worn either on a night out, for brunch, or while running errands, depending on how you style it. Often, timeless pieces embrace neutral colors and simpler patterns, so keeping this in mind when shopping can help immensely.
To buy quality pieces, look for clothes made with cashmere, silk, or any other materials listed above. Of course, these are much more pricey than typical materials, but you only need to buy one of these products every few years. Alternatively, you can try to source these clothing items at second-hand shops for a fraction of the price, as I’ll look at more closely in the next section. These materials are more durable and a joy to wear, offering comfort and a boost of confidence that is more difficult to get when wearing your standard fast fashion brands.
Another tip I’d like to mention is to buy pieces that fit well. Often, we end up purchasing items online without seeing if they fit our figure. If there is an option, it’s a good idea to try certain items on before buying them to make sure they fit well and feel comfortable for you. After all, you’ll want to keep these pieces for a long time, so getting the right fit is essential!
Second-hand and Upcycled Fashion
Secondhand clothes refer to buying clothes from thrift shops and online resale platforms, often at a considerably lower price than what they were initially marked. They can even refer to just about any clothes that were previously owned by someone and are being passed on or resold. Shopping secondhand is an excellent way to embrace sustainability, as it involves reusing existing items instead of contributing to the environmental impact of new production.
When buying second-hand clothes, you’ll rarely have to pay for the original total price of that garment. This means if, for example, a shirt from a luxury brand that you like costs $100, you can easily get it for $50 at the thrift store. Of course, there are different types of thrift shops around, some focusing on more luxury clothing and others where you’ll find more fast fashion clothes from previous collections. If you’re interested in shopping sustainably but don’t want to pay much for it, shopping for second-hand fast fashion pieces is an excellent hack to consider. Other than that, when buying from these shops, you’ll often buy a unique piece that’s not in production anymore; indeed, the chance of thrift shops having the same item twice is quite improbable! This is an excellent way to craft a unique wardrobe.
Another great way to revamp your wardrobe without putting more pressure on the environment or creating more waste is to ‘upcycle’. Upcycling is a great way to take something old and give it new life so that you can wear it differently. By definition, “upcycle” means to recycle or reuse something to increase the original object’s value. In other words, upcycling is taking something old and creating something new. Currently, many upcycling shops take old clothes and make them into something new, giving you a completely new piece that you cannot find anywhere else.
If you’re a little more crafty, you can also upcycle clothes yourself by following some helpful YouTube tutorials or joining a class. For example, you can get an old dress in your wardrobe and change it to a skirt or use that material to make a bag. You can also keep it simple by taking a boring jacket that you’re tired of wearing and sewing patches into it or dying it a new color, for example.
Responsible Shopping Practices
Research and Choose Brands Wisely
As you embark on this journey to collect and craft a more sustainable wardrobe, it’s a good idea to remember the term ‘greenwashing.’ Unfortunately, many brands claim they are sustainable and respect the environment, but upon closer look, you might realize that these values aren’t being followed. To avoid supporting such practices, look for certifications like Fair Trade, B Corp, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), or OEKO-TEX® when shopping. Brands with these certifications prioritize environmental responsibility and social equity, creating clothes with the environment in mind.
Here are some other tips on how to identify sustainable brands:
- Transparency: A brand committed to protecting the environment will usually readily share information about where it sources its materials, how it is produced, and the team behind it. If you can’t find any information about how a brand is sourcing and manufacturing its products, it’s probably safe to assume that its practices aren’t sustainable.
- Ethical Labour Practices: These brands ensure their employees’ working conditions are safe while earning fair wages. To prove their commitment, they often list relevant certifications on their sites, such as the ones mentioned above.
- Eco-Friendly Materials: As mentioned in this article, one way to ensure a brand is sustainable is to check which materials it uses for its clothes. Sustainable brands will use environmentally friendly materials like those listed in the above section. Some examples include organic cotton or recycled plastics, but there are many others to consider.
Here are some examples of reputable sustainable brands to keep an eye out for:
- Pact: Known for its soft and comforting clothing, Pact creates sustainable clothes for both adults and kids.
- Quince: Quince offers luxury products at more great prices. Some eco-friendly items you can find here include Mongolian cashmere, Italian leather, and Turkish cotton.
- Reformation: With the motto “Killer clothing without killing the environment”, Reformation delivers chic, trendy styles made with the earth’s safety in mind.
- Everlane: Another leader in transparency, Everlane is another top choice if you’re looking to get eco-friendly and ethically sourced denim, footwear, and leather.
- Stella McCartney: A trailblazer in sustainable fashion, Stella McCartney designs chic, timeless pieces.
Mindful Consumption
Nowadays, many of us purchase items without considering how they were made or what will happen to them once we no longer need them. Mindful consumption means taking more time to think about what you are buying, inviting you to be more careful with the pieces you bring into your life. By considering whether a particular item you’re interested in is necessary to have in your wardrobe, you can avoid purchasing items impulsively, which, in turn, helps reduce waste.
What steps can you think of to help you buy items more consciously? One of the most effective ways to do this is to create a shopping list before heading to a store or online. Head over to your wardrobe and outline exactly what you need. Do you need a pair of shoes that you can wear both for casual outfits and for the office?
What bag can you purchase that goes with all of your outfits? By listing these essentials, you can shop with intention, choosing items that genuinely benefit your wardrobe rather than adding unnecessary clutter. Without a list, it’s very easy to head to the store and quickly buy items that might be on sale, for example, or items that catch your eye but you don’t want.
Quality Over Quantity
Keeping the motto ‘quality over quantity’ in mind when shopping will surely help you invest in higher-quality pieces. Shopping sustainably can indeed take more time and research than we might be normally used to, but I think it’s beautiful to enjoy the process of finding your next favourite garment. After all, there’s nothing like the satisfaction of discovering one item you know you’ll cherish for years!
It’s important to recognize that these items can be more expensive upfront. However, they are more cost-effective in the long run since they’ll last far longer than fast-fashion alternatives. Also, timeless pieces that promote quality can be worn in many different variations, opening your wardrobe to new styles you might have never considered before.
Clothes from fast-fashion brands are all about the final product, and no sense of care goes into the making of the item. We should think of every piece of clothing as art, not just something we need to keep up with the latest fashion trends. When investing in a timeless piece, you support craftsmanship, and, in turn, you’ll have a more special connection with it. Trust me, if you find a second-hand Mongolian cashmere sweater after months of looking that’s just your fit and the colour, you’ll be wearing it a lot more proudly than the random sweater you bought at your local fast fashion brand without much thought!
Conclusion
Building an eco-friendly wardrobe not only helps reduce your carbon footprint and the damage being done to our earth, but it can also help you dress more intentionally and, in the long run, craft a more unique and timeless style. By choosing sustainable materials, investing in timeless pieces, and exploring second-hand and upcycled fashion, you can create a wardrobe that reflects your values while contributing to a healthier planet.
Speaking of trends, sustainable fashion isn’t just another fad, so I invite you to take your time with this idea and practice. You don’t need to suddenly throw away every outfit in your wardrobe bought from fast fashion companies and replace it all with luxury clothing from high-end brands; this completely defeats the point of slow and sustainable fashion! From here on, I invite you to buy less and only things you really need. Once you start doing this, I can guarantee you’ll be much more excited about your wardrobe, and this is because it will be made up of pieces that truly mean something to you.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and tips on how you’ve embraced sustainability in your own style. Do you have particular brands you love shopping from when looking for sustainable and stylish pieces? Do you have any tips to help others be more mindful in their shopping practices? Please feel free to share in the comments to help each other shop more sustainably!