Moving towards a more ethical wardrobe can often seem daunting. Where do you start? What should you buy? How do you know if it is ethical or not? Well, those are all great questions, but to get you started, we’ve put together 5 steps to a more ethical wardrobe:
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Take better care of what you already own.
The most important thing anyone can do, in any area of their life, to be more eco-friendly and ethical, is to simply reduce what they purchase. The best way to do this is to take good care of your existing clothes, and repair them when they need it. Find a good cobbler and tailor in your area, and a wash routine that works with your situation.
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Buy less, and only what you absolutely love.
Again, buying less is the most ethical way. If we stick to buying what we love, we will have an ethical wardrobe full of loved, well taken care of things that we look forward to wearing and caring for.
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Buy better quality, more durable items.
This helps with steps one and two. If you buy higher quality items, you should by nature love them more, and they should last longer. If you must buy something new, make sure it is high enough quality to stand the test of time. Cheap, fast fashion ends up in a landfill very quickly, and it isn’t produced in an ethical way.
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Buy Vintage.
This goes along with reducing what is produced and thrown away. By buying vintage, you are prolonging its life, keeping it out of a landfill and reducing the new items that are produced in a non-ethical way.
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Look for ethically made brands and items.
Look for brands that meet your aesthetic and ethical values. Need help finding a favorite? Take a look at our list of ethical clothing and accessory lines, or pop in to our shop. Not sure what ethical fashion is? Here is our take.
Have questions on building a more ethical wardrobe? Want some styling assistance? Let us know, and we can work with you to find brands and stores that fit your taste.
Number 2 was an aha for me- especially being a new mom that works from home- I pretty much live in athletic gear and only occasionally actually get dressed- so rather than buying a lot of stuff I only like a bit, I would much rather have a few key items that I LOVE. Thanks for helping draw attention to this!
Hi Nicolle,
So true. And, as a new mom myself, limiting what I have in my closet actually makes my life *easier*, which we all need! I only have a few things that I love, that match with the other things I love, so instead of digging through a bunch of things, I find outfits quicker! Thanks for the comment! And keep warrioring on, momma.
#4 ALL THE WAY. I love vintage clothing!! Not because you can usually find it for a good price but because the quality is usually 90% better than what you can find today!
I know. And no one else will have it! Better quality, better price, and more unique. Totally a win! Thanks Stacey!
I like shopping vintage. Not only the style but the fact that I am buying something with a history just makes me love it even more. Never been one to follow the fashion crowd. I wear what I love and still have the same winter coat from 8th grade. (And I’m pushing 40). Lol
That is awesome, and about as ethical as it gets Erin! My wedding ring is an estate piece, and I also love the history. I love thinking about who had it before me. It makes the item that much more interesting.
This post was exactly what I needed. I have a bit of a shopping problem and I’m always trying to making my clothes last longer and also not buy something I don’t need just because I like it. This post will definitely help me to get my butt in gear – thank you! 🙂
Brianna, it is hard to not buy as much. But when you start buying things you absolutely LOVE, it becomes a little easier. You don’t feel like you need as much. And, every little step counts!