If you’re looking to make more eco-friendly or socially conscious choices with your wallet this year, you’ve come to the right place! In this post I’ll be talking about 5 different options that prioritize the earth and or worker’s rights.
Did you know?
Globally, the fast fashion industry is the 3rd largest manufacturing industry in the world (preceded by automotive and technology). Most of us don’t realize or stop to think about what goes into making a garment though.
The reality is that modern clothes making processes are devastating for both the environment and the people involved. Here are some facts I learned from Earth.Org (https://earth.org/fast-fashion-facts/):
- Fast fashion companies generate more pollution than international aviation and shipping combined, and if fast fashion were a country, its emissions would rank almost as high as the entirety of Europe. This isn’t surprising when given that it takes 2,000 gallons of water just to make one pair of jeans.
- Sadly, most clothing that is produced ends up wasted. In America, the average person throws away 81 lbs of clothing yearly, and this adds up to 85% of the clothing produced ending up in landfills or being burned – one garbage truck of clothes every second (source By the Numbers: The Economic, Social and Environmental Impacts of “Fast Fashion” | World Resources Institute)
And while cheap clothes might seem appealing, there is often a dark story behind the price tag. A lot of clothing is produced in very poor working conditions with low pay and sometimes child labor. Many textiles that we buy in America are produced in sweatshops in countries like Bangladesh or Vietnam, where workers are exploited. “The True Price of Fashion” by Oxfam notes that 9 out of 10 workers in Bangladesh cannot afford to feed their families (see https://whatshemakes.oxfam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Made-in-Poverty-the-True-Price-of-Fashion.-Oxfam-Australia.pdf). And while most Bangladeshi sweatshop workers don’t have running water inside of their homes, the amount of water it takes to make one shirt would be enough for one person to drink for over 2 years (see The Apparel Industry’s Environmental Impact in 6 Graphics | World Resources Institute).
World Resources Institute also notes that child labor, as well as forced labor, was found to be used in several countries including Bangladesh to make our clothes. And in 2013, an 8-story commercial building containing five clothing factories collapsed, killing 1100 workers and injuring thousands more. This preventable disaster shines light on how poor conditions are in the fashion industry, as the building was visibly hazardous yet workers were still made to continue. If you want to read more, I recommend reading on WHY DO WE NEED A FASHION REVOLUTION? : Fashion Revolution – an organization created in response to the Rana Plaza disaster and that is committed to changing the reality in the fashion industry.
Although this may all seem discouraging, there are some actionable solutions to all of this. Here are 5 of my favorites.
1. Shop used in-stores
There are many stores nowadays that offer used clothing, which supports a circular economy rather than a wasteful one. You may know of local thrift stores in your area, and there are also nationwide chains like Goodwill and Plato’s Closet. It can be fun to go on a thrifting adventure to seek out your favorite brands, new-to-you and at a great cost.
2. Shop used online
If you don’t like having to search and find for the styles or sizes you want, several online shopping alternatives exist. Some of my favorites are Poshmark, Vinted, and ThredUp, where you can filter by size, style, color, price and other options. Use referral code DANISKYWALKER02 on Poshmark to get $10 to use on towards your first purchase. Full disclosure, I also receive $10 if you shop using this link, but I would recommend Poshmark anyway. Vinted tends to be cheaper, especially including shipping costs, but Poshmark has more items overall and harder to find or “higher end” items, from what I’ve noticed.
Poshmark: Buy and sell fashion, home decor, beauty & more
Vinted | Sell and buy clothes, shoes and accessories
ThredUp | An Online Consignment & Thrift Store
I recommend ThredUp because they make it easy to sell your gently used clothes you no longer want. Instead of feeling guilty about trading closets, make it fun! All you have to do is order a box and they will send you a kit for the items you are willing to pass along.
3. Shop at TeePublic
Especially when shopping for gifts for others, what if “used” isn’t the name of the game? The pop culture apparel site TeePublic offers shirts, hoodies, stickers, phone cases and more, in almost any design imaginable. Apparel is printed using vegan, biodegradable ink and misprinted items are recycled or donated. In addition, TeePublic merchandise is made by WRAP-certified suppliers, meaning they are held to a standard of ethical and fair labor conditions. I recommend using the supplier Bella/Canvas, as they are notably anti sweatshop and fair trade.
T-Shirts Starting at $16 Featuring Your Favorite TV Shows, Movies, Comics, and More | TeePublic
Whether you like puns, fandoms, animals, or literature, it’s ALL on Teepublic. And it’s hard to find a better personalized gift than when you can actually upload designs yourself and then order them 🙂
4. Shop Pact
There are many other “slow fashion” brands out there but I have chosen to highlight just one that I feel is the most affordable. One of the biggest barriers to buying ethical is that it’s too pricey, but Pact does a great job of keeping thing simple, stylish, and inexpensive, even compared to typical mall prices. See their Clearance and Doorbusters for special sales. Pact clothing is made with organic cotton, carbon neutral, and fair trade – which means workers rights and pay are certified, and they even have items that may be harder to find with other methods of sustainable shopping, such as maternity and underwear.
Check out PACT – Earth’s Favorite™ Clothing Company
5. Consider other forms of gifts
With fast fashion being one of the more problematic industries, perhaps we could all give a little more of other things, like experiences, DIY gifts, books, or specifically looking for other eco friendly and sustainable items for the ones we love this year. I’ll be writing more on ways to shop mindfully this holiday with regards to other categories.
Tag me with your Haulternative! I’m on Instagram @amilliondreamswithdani
Thanks for reading!