Being more Sustainable when entering the Fashion World
Start with what you own
A big topic that should be considered when getting into the fashion world is the sustainability of production, creation, and consumption. In hindsight, the most sustainable clothing is the clothes you have right now. It’s true what they say: The less the better. Having less clothes ultimately creates more value to them, and to the earth. It is important to go into the world with the mindset of sustaining our clothes as much as possible.
This is why it is also important to buy and consume less clothes in general. It saves money, time, and helps you value your closet a little bit more. So start with a small task: do a spring cleaning of your closet:
- Find clothes you haven’t worn in more than a year.
- Resell them online, upcycle to something new, or donate them
- Make room for a new space!
Fabrics and Materials
Do you ever wonder what your clothes are actually made of? When buying clothing, you can look into sustainable materials such as:
- Cotton, linen, hemp
- Recycled fibers
- Innovative fibers
These materials can actually be recycled and reused. Many creators on the Internet also have small businesses related to sustainable fashion and becoming more eco-friendly when consuming clothes. For example, BioSpoke is a Detroit-based company focusing on creating garments only out of natural fibers. Shopping at secondhand fiber stores, such as Arts and Scraps in Detroit, thrift stores, or even creating scrap fabric is important in recycling in the fashion world.
Shop Secondhand
One of the most important things you can do is shop secondhand, which means vintage stores, resale, and used clothing. Resale is one of the most effective sustainable choices because it allows an older garment a new chance of life, without the consumption of a brand new item. It is a practice that reduces waste and lowers your carbon footprint when manufacturing new products.
Some places you can look is at your local thrift store, curated vintage, and designer resale platforms, and even wholesale websites. There are many popular designer brands, such as Doc Martens, Nordstrom, and COACH who offer used items on their website for a cheaper price. Even attending a garage sale, or borrowing your friend’s cool jacket can help save your carbon footprint one at a time.
Utilizing the Internet is also an important skill. You can use websites such as Depop. eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, and more to your advantage. Selling your clothing, and buying secondhand clothing, is an easy way to be kind to your closet and the earth. There are also so many events posted onto Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok that display large vintage events, where people sell and promote their clothing businesses as well. Not only can you collect clothing from different eras, but you can also be apart of a community.
Community in the fashion world is what is needed right now. This is what helped me become interested in fashion in the first place. Having a love and passion for vintage clothing, especially the 90s or 80s, helps me and others empathisize with the value of how clothes create and tell a story.
With all of this, it is also important to recognize that progress is more important than perfection.
Start creating your own clothes!
I dare you to challenge yourself in a different way: create or upcycle your own pieces of clothing. It doesn’t have to be crazy: it can be as little as patching a jacket, or as significant as sewing a dress. Creating your own designs and putting a personal touch to your outfits can help you become more sustainable as well. Look for events in your city that offer classes, which more importantly, lead to community. For example, Slow Stitch Detroit is an art studio near me that offers free community events and learning related to sustainable fashion. Creating your own style and clothing is not only an art, but it helps remind you that small actions lead to movement in the secondhand sustainable industry within the fashion world.