Sustainable Fashion Uncovered
3 Ways You Can Help Save The Planet
Unlike flares, boyfriend jeans or 90s revivals, sustainability is a fashion trend that’s here to stay – and it’s one that we can all get behind. Not only do consumers now expect big industry players to prioritise the planet… a whopping 96% of you believe that your actions – donating, recycling or buying ethically, for example – can make a difference.
The fashion industry doesn’t have the best reputation when it comes to waste, water pollution and carbon emissions. But, partly in response to consumer demand, some of the bigger names are taking action. In this post, we explore 3 ways in which you choices can make a different – from choosing brands that are leading the way when it comes to sustainability to eschewing buying new altogether in favour of the booming second hand market.
1 Choose fashion that does good as well as looking good
From big high street names to small independent labels, brands of all sizes are starting to take steps to change – creating business models that help save the planet and protect the people making the clothes.
Even some fast fashion names are beginning to act. For example, Zara are aiming to make 50% of their products part of their Join Life range (which uses processes and raw materials that don’t have such a huge environmental impact) by 2022 – while Adidas has pledged to use just recycled polyester from 2024.
Far removed from fast fashion, outdoor clothing specialists Patagonia are all about products that last. They only use cotton that’s organically grown and are committed to recycled (and recycling) clothing – plus, their pioneering Fair Trade programme protects over 64,000 workers. And for every pair of shoes purchased, footwear brand TOMS send a pair to a child in need as part of their One for One model.
So you’re looking for new items, it’s undeniable that your options are expanding. However, if you’re really committed to changing your approach to clothes for the good of the planet, it’s worth considering moving away from buying new altogether.
2 Embrace second hand style
Riding the wave from Oxfam’s Second Hand September, one thing is clear: second hand is definitely on trend!
From luxury resale marketplaces like The RealReal to teen favourite Depop and a plethora of charity shops, the second hand clothing market is booming – with Instagram influencers and huge household names taking up the cause. Which means that, whatever your style or price point, you’ll find a huge range of beautiful items that meet your requirements.
When you shop second hand, the benefits are wide ranging. From slashing the amount of clothing that ends up in landfill to dramatically reducing the carbon footprint of individual items, shopping for pre-loved rather than new items means that you’re doing your bit to prioritise the planet.
And to cement your commitment to the circular economy (where old clothing stays in use for as long as possible and is then regenerated into new), think about the way you dispose of old items you no longer want.
Far removed from fast fashion, outdoor clothing specialists Patagonia are all about products that last. They only use cotton that’s organically grown and are committed to recycled (and recycling) clothing – plus, their pioneering Fair Trade programme protects over 64,000 workers. And for every pair of shoes purchased, footwear brand TOMS send a pair to a child in need as part of their One for One model.
So you’re looking for new items, it’s undeniable that your options are expanding. However, if you’re really committed to changing your approach to clothes for the good of the planet, it’s worth considering moving away from buying new altogether.
Ready to declutter your wardrobe but leave your heart full?
Pick a charity to find out if we collect in your area.
3 Recycle pre-loved items by donating them to charity
Despite growing awareness of the climate crisis, around £140m worth of clothing is sent to UK landfill every year – increasing greenhouse gas emissions as well as growing landfill waste sites. So if you’re committed to sustainable fashion, you also need to take responsibility for the way you dispose of your clothes.
However, there are a myriad of ways that you can dispose of your pre-loved items ethically – and reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing. Of course, you could consider selling your clothes – but we’d love it if you could donate them to a service like ours!
All you need to do book an online collection and pack up your items. We’ll do the rest. Not only will you be giving your clothes a second home – you’ll be raising funds for an amazing British charity of your choice.
