How to minimize your fast fashion footprint
What's the story
Fast fashion is a term that describes the quick production and sale of inexpensive and trendy clothing, often leading to rapid changes in styles and frequent purchases. With the fashion industry inclining more towards it, it has become imperative to adopt sustainable practices as consumers to reduce thoughtless purchases and contribute less to fashion waste. Here's how you can curb your fast fashion footprint.
Buy less
Adopt a buy-less-buy-better approach
Instead of buying cheap, trendy clothes, aim to buy less frequently and choose high-quality items. Fast fashion brands make you believe that you need to keep up with the latest styles to be fashionable, but these clothes often don't last long owing to the cheap materials used in making them. Consider investing in one well-made, sustainably sourced cotton t-shirt instead of three flimsy ones.
Fashion transparency
Make a conscious effort to shop sustainably and ethically
To make sure your clothing choices are eco-friendly and ethical, pay attention to where you shop. Brands that focus on sustainability, review every step of their supply chain from using recycled materials to treating their workers fairly. Before buying, check the brand's mission and values to see if they prioritize social and environmental policies, or check their ranking on the Fashion Transparency Index.
Resist
Resist quick-fix purchases
Review each item in your wardrobe and ask, "How many times have I worn this?" If the answer is in single digits, be honest and ask yourself why. Is it the color, shape, length, or uncomfortable fabric? Is it tied to emotions like insecurity, sadness, hunger, or boredom? Based on your answers, identify your common shopping triggers to resist making quick and unnecessary purchases.
Reduce demand
Don't shy away from purchasing secondhand clothes
If you don't want to stop shopping altogether, there's a kinder approach you can try. Before buying new clothes, see if you can find them secondhand first. Check out charities, vintage shops, or thrift stores, or borrow clothes from friends. Choosing secondhand options more often reduces the demand for new manufacturing and minimizes the amount of clothes ending up in landfills.
Donate
Donate your clothes, don't throw them away
If your favorite pair of jeans doesn't fit you anymore or there are extra clothes you no longer want to wear, consider donating them instead of throwing them away. Look for donation centers, shelters, or resale boutiques where you can donate your clothes. This way, you can reduce your fashion footprint. Just make sure they are clean and in good condition before donating.