December 2019

Clothes can make us feel comfortable, protected, but they can also serve as means of expressing our personality, style, and mood. For some, fashion is an important part of identity. Going shopping and finding that perfect new item of clothing can be a lot of fun.
In this entry, we cover everything you need to know about shopping fashion considerately.

PRE-CONSIDERATIONS

Shopping less is the ultimate response to the root issue of overproduction. This is why shopping fashion considerately starts before your actually do the shopping:

Ask yourself whether you really need this garment, if it’s similar to one you already have, or if you can get good wear out of it.
Challenge yourself to be minimalistic, reducing your wardrobe to items you actually wear. Look into the concept of a capsule wardrobe.
Quick facts on why we need to buy fewer clothes:
- We produce around 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually, which is increasing.
- Around 30% of clothing in the average European wardrobe isn’t worn in over a year.
Make a habit of bringing your own Shopping Bag → to avoid needing to purchase a single-use bag or repurchasing another recycleable/cotton bag that you might already own.

Shopping pre-owned fashion

Shopping pre-owned fashion is a good way to keep existing clothing in circulation instead of sustaining a demand for newly produced items. This offsets our carbon footprint - plus, it also tends to be a lot cheaper!

Second-hand shops can be found everywhere and many of them are run by charities. Browse the internet to find one near you. Most will accept donations of old clothes too.
Second-hand clothes can also be bought abundantly online, with sites like Depop, Asos Marketplace and Vestiaire Collective selling internationally.
Flea markets and swapping events will always host vendors with a choice of pre-loved garments.

SHOPPING NEW FASHION CONSIDERATELY

In instances where alternatives like second-hand aren’t viable and we have to buy new clothing, there are still things to consider that can make these purchases more sustainable:

Buy higher quality clothes in a low amount, rather than low quality clothes in a high amount.
- Though these garments tend to be pricier, you get your money’s worth from them through how much longer they last.
- Try to opt for sustainable textile fibres and fashion that is certified sustainable.
Stick to your own style; don’t let fashion shops sweep you into the trends they constantly set so they can sell more.
- Buying a piece that you normally wouldn’t wear can often lead to it staying unworn once the shopping buzz is gone.
- Though more expensive, tailor-made clothes can fully suit your own style, instead of many cheaper garments that you aren’t totally happy with.
Opt for sustainable fashion brands. Sustainable fashion brands take into account environmental and socio-economic aspects across their entire production chain.
Remeber, that some conventional brands have introduced sustainable ranges and practises.

RENTING FASHION

Renting clothes is a way to change up your wardrobe as often as you usually would, without needing to frequently buy new clothes.

Although renting everyday fashion is still an emerging service, companies like the Hurr Collective, Rent the Runway and Myonbelle have started to provide this service.
Renting clothes for special occasions has wider coverage since it makes more sense to rent rather than buy a garment that usually only gets worn the one time. Consider this for your next party, wedding or travel excursion.
Companies like Circos let you rent maternity and kids clothing, which naturally needs to be renewed as children grow.