Most of us are looking for ways to live more sustainable and less wasteful lives. We’re thinking of how we can be more environmentally friendly and do our bit for the planet. One big problem when it comes to wastage is fast fashion. Fast fashion is typically cheap items that are made and sold cheaply, using poor-quality materials that won’t last. We buy a lot because it’s cheap but end up throwing most of it away after a few wears because the quality is poor, or it has served its purpose. If you want to move away from fast fashion, and make the switch to more sustainable options, here are some tips to help you. 

Invest in Quality

Investing in quality items that you love, means that your clothes are well-made, they look fantastic and suit you, that you love to wear them, and that they aren’t just a fad that you’ll be bored of in a few months. You’ll want to look at the garment construction to make sure it upholds a high standard.  Fabrics should be sustainably produced and/or upcycled from existing materials.  Investing in higher quality timeless garments is usually more expensive than fast fashion.  You will reduce your waste by wearing clothing that lasts longer, typically over many years, which allows you to consume less, overall. Brands like Ganni are using sustainably sourced materials as well as upcycled fabrics to create beautifully crafted dresses that will be stylish for a long time. 

Learn About Fabrics

If you want to make more sustainable choices, you need to know what you are doing. Learn more about different materials, so that you know what the best options are. Things like organic cotton, wool and recycled materials are much better than fabrics such as polyester.  Natural Fibers can be biodegradable, while synthetic fabrics, like polyester or nylon are virtually made from plastic which takes much longer to break down, while adding chemicals and gasses into our ecosystem. 

Do Your Research – and Reach Out

Sustainability isn’t just about fabric choices. Manufacturing processes, transport, treatment of workers and brand values play a big part too. Before buying, research brands, and if you have questions, don’t be scared to reach out and ask.  It may take a little digging in the website to figure out who to contact but your time and effort is worth it.  You can also search the company on google to find out about articles that have been written pertaining to their business practices. Buying from companies that align with your values may help you feel better about the purchases you do make.  Likewise, finding out that a company has poor treatment of customers may lead you to purchase elsewhere.  This is one way you can “vote” with your dollars. 

Buy Second-Hand

One of the most responsible ways to shop is to buy things that have already been loved and save them from the rubbish dump. Buying pre-loved clothes and shoes means that you can reduce clothing waste and get some fantastic bargains. Some big brands even offer buy back programs where you can re-sell your clothing back to the manufacturer.

Avoid Trends

Being a slave to fashion trends means buying a whole new wardrobe every season, even if it means getting rid of things that you love. Instead, buy clothes that you love, that fit you well, and that makes you feel confident. 

Wash Less Often

Washing clothes after every wear is a big contributor to their environmental impact.  Along with the volume of water it takes to produce the fibers, it also consumes water to wash your garments.  Additionally, when you wash your synthetic fiber garments you are releasing tiny micro-plastics into the water stream. Each wash also damages the fibers that make up the clothing and means that your clothes break down a little bit every time they are cleaned. Try to wash less frequently, sponging off small spills and dirty patches when you can. 

Certain garments like underwear and activewear need to be washed after every use, for sanitary reasons but reconsider some of your other garments. Jeans, sweaters and outerwear do not need to be washed with every wearing.

Repair Before You Replace & Alter Older Garments

Learning to sew and making repairs to rips, missing buttons, and tears, instead of throwing clothes away as soon as there’s anything wrong with them means that you buy less and your clothes last longer. 

If you want to liven up some existing wardrobe staples, make some alterations yourself at home, adding embellishments, changing the length, and even dying the fabric to give them new life.  Indigo dye baths often cover up stains and give garments a fresh and cool look. 

One thing to keep in mind is that while sustainable fashion can mean spending more in the short term, the garments will last for longer, and in the long run. You might find that you spend less on clothing than you used to. Saving your bank balance, as well as the planet.