If you identify yourself as Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City or as Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl chances the word ‘sustainable fashion’ is not your best bet. Ever considered being Stella McCartney in that case?
Edited by Vama Kothari
Being amidst Fashion Revolution Week 2021, we find ourselves in a position to look inwards and introspect about being responsible. May it be being responsible as a social activist or as an active shopper–we all must start somewhere. This can be startling in the beginning because of
the different ways you can go green. In that case what would be the fashion equivalent of metal straws and jute bags?
Step 1: Replace Saying “I Cannot Buy Clothes From Fast Fashion Stores Anymore” Too, “I Cannot buy Clothes As Frequently As I Used To Buy Them”
It is not about where you shop, it is about how you shop. A moment of relief to our shopaholics from Zara! This does not have to mean canceling Zara or H&M as a store but reduce your trips. This is the first and significant step! Have a can-do attitude.
Step 2: Stop Giving Ethical/Sustainable Fashion The Connotation Of ‘Elitist’ –
It beats the very purpose of being ‘for all’ and stops it from being seeped into society faster. Eco-friendly fashion does not have to be expensive. What’s expensive is the branding/ experiential factor that a brand is trying to provide alongside their moral threads. Recognize the true cost of being moral – just a bit more than that $10 black graphic T-shirt you purchased from a fast-fashion store.
Step 3: Avoid Emotional Online Shopping
When you need it then you should shop for it. It is hard to implement, especially if you’ve spent the last few years buying cute tops and jackets before every important date or Friday night. But each time you think before adding to your cart, buy things in a conscientious space of mind. You’re either making a hole in the environment or your wallet.
Step 4: Try Thrifting From Authentic Sources
One thrift garment & store-bought. Work on the subconscious psychological barrier you have against second-handed clothes. The choice of reclaiming this garment as meaningful is on you. If you decide to look at it in the right light, every sartorial choice of yours could be a bold statement.
Step 5: The Glamorized Concept Of ‘Retail Therapy’ Is Fugazi
Whilst shopaholics like to believe that shopping gives happiness, a population that shops to cope with their problems is largely unhappy. The joy found in consuming is momentary and millions of consumers preaching “retail therapy” speak volumes about the kind of coping mechanisms we’ve grown into. Science and data prove that this has nothing to do with bettering your state of mind or clearing up that brain fog that you’ve been experiencing. So to speak, this is not a clinically tested method and does not help.
Step 6: Understand Terms Like ‘Organic Cotton’, ‘Recycled Fabric’, ‘Upcycled Fabric’ And ‘Ethical Sourcing
Edited by Vama Kothari
It’s an ‘either’ and ‘or’ situation. Any 4 options you choose to buy will have a serious positive impact on the environment. ‘Organic cotton’ is systematically produced using 100% natural seeds and no use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals. ‘Recycled Fabric’ are scraps from textiles waste that are pulled into fibers or shredded, which results in yarn and then fabric. ‘Upcycled Fabric’ is a type of fabric that does not require energy to be re-spun and is made to wear by making tiny tweaks in the fabric. ‘Ethical Sourcing’ is one of the most impactful forms of shopping sustainable in the fashion industry. This is a responsible approach to supply chain management and capitalism. This approach will make sure women in Bangladesh are well fed, paid rightful wages, will make sure they operate from buildings that are made with strong bricks not to repeat a tragic collapse like that of Rana Plaza.
Lastly, ladies if not for awareness, it’ll be a great statement to make.
