Not too long ago, I asked you guys where your top favorite places were to shop!
The results were really interesting!
The top two, I could've guessed,Forever 21 and H&M, and then the second two were Urban Outfitters and Thrifting/second hand stores. The fact that a lot of you said second hand stores and thrifting honestly made me really happy!
I don't know if you are doing it because its cheaper, or if you know the benefits but, here's some food for thought...
Globally, 80% of discarded clothes go into landfills or incineration. Only 20% of discarded clothes are actually reused or recycled. So, they just sit there for 200 years or more, giving off methane, which is terrible for our planet.
I am no scientist, so I won't try to explain this too much, but if you want to know more about the effect our shopping has on the planet, here's a link where you can learn a bit more about what happens to our clothes when we decide we no longer want them.
What I can do, is help you learn how to shop sustainably,while saving money and looking like the little fashionistas I know you all are!
First of all, I have to say I am not perfect and I am learning to practice what I preach. This is a big deal for me l, and one of the hardest things I have to deal with, because I obviously love fashion and trying new clothes is a huge part of my job! One of my goals, for this year, is to get my clothes from more sustainable brands. So,If you're looking for more sustainable brands ,stay tuned. Also, I'll be repurposing my clothes by selling them on Poshmark or Depop. Here is the link to my Poshmark!
When it comes to shopping sustainable fashion...
I know most of you are probably thinking, "I'll read this but, I doubt I will actually start shopping at these other places." So first,something you should know about shopping at places like Forever 21 and H & M, is yes, its extremely cheap. But, the quality isn't great, so that means you're going to end up spend more money on clothes because you have to keep replacing them. Whereas, when you spend money on quality clothes that are made well, you won't have to keep buying more and you will save a lot of money!
Fast fashion has become such a big problem these days and social media definitely hasn't helped. Reinventing our closets every season is just not realistic! I promise there are ways to stay on top of the trends without giving into fast fashion.
Here's how to get started; I'm not saying you have to be perfect because nobody is and it's hard to completely stop shopping at the cheaper stores but, here's what I would recommend to really start making a difference.
Start buying you're staple pieces from sustainable brands...(Your jeans, T-shirts, winter coats, and all your basics.) All the sustainable brands are made with great quality, so they will last you for years! I promise you won't have to go shopping for another pair of jeans for a long time! Here's a list of some of my favorite sustainable brands right now!
Now, to keep up with these crazy trends... This is perfect if you have to go to a wedding or gala, or really any fun event! It's time to start renting!! Rent the Runway is one of my all time favorite finds!
You can rent a $300 dress for $60 and when you're done, you simply send it back! There's also a couple of different memberships that are perfect for someone like me, who wants to dress fun 80% of the time. With the membership that I have, you can pick 4 items at a time and swap them out whenever you want! The truth is, all the statement pieces you buy, you're probably only going to wear once or twice, which is why you don't want to spend an outlandish amount of money on them. This is the perfect solution!
And last, but not least, when its finally time to get rid of your clothes sell them on Poshmark or Depop!
If shopping sustainably is something you have interest in, and you know of some other tricks, please let your girl know!! I'm always down to learn. And, I want our Mother Earth to THRIVE, not just survive!
I hope this helps you get on the right path towards shopping sustainably!!
xx
S