One year ago I decided to stop buying fast fashion. I’ve supported slow fashion for over four years but every once in awhile I would buy something without having any knowledge of the production process. I didn’t know where the product was made, how the workers were treated, or even whether or not the fabric was hurtful to the environment. Even though I knew how to do my research and get the facts, ignorance is bliss, right?
I officially stopped and whenever I needed a new piece of clothing, I would research the “best ethical underwear brands,” and “sustainably made shoes,” etc.
Even a year later, I am constantly discovering more and more brands that have sustainable and ethical production practices and I sincerely look forward to being able to share a large list with all of you. But until then, here are five easy and simple ways to shop consciously:
Buy Local
These earrings are from my favorite designer, Ayumi Angel, who also happens to live and work in Portland. For those of you who haven’t read this post, she is a local jewelry designer and she hand makes all of her pieces right here in Portland, OR using sustainably sourced materials.
Buying local products and supporting artists in your hometown is one of the best ways to shop sustainably and ethically and you are supporting small businesses!
Thrift Shopping
We all know this already, but giving an old garment a new life is also a sustainable alternative to buying new, cheap clothing. Most clothing ends up in landfills, but by shopping at thrift stores, you are able to keep them out of the garbage a little bit longer and appreciate the quality of pieces that last from owner to owner.
I found this denim jacket in a tiny pop up thrift store about 6 years ago and it’s my favorite piece of clothing. It was originally a men’s large Ralph Lauren jacket and the oversized, boxy fit is rad! Plus it has lasted from the 1980’s to this day and is still holding up great!
Read labels and find sustainable textiles
Every single time I look at clothing, I read the tags. If it has polyester then I’m out! I hate polyester unless its recycled polyester. I also avoid nylon and other synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers are not biodegradable so once they eventually end up in a landfill it will take up to 200 years for them to break down. So yeah, those yoga pants will be around for a hot second…
That’s why I love brands like Prairie Underground that use organic cotton and hemp. Organic cotton means there were no pesticides used and that means that the cotton fields do not negatively impact runoff by contaminating the water. Hemp is a wonderful textile because it doesn’t need any chemicals. The plant grows so closely together that weeds can’t even penetrate between the roots. It’s also one of the strongest fibers out there! I love this organic A-Star dress from Prairie and it is one of my biggest go to’s! See more of it here.
The internet is your oyster!
The internet provides so many resources for buying products from skilled artists all over the word, especially websites like Etsy! And if they aren’t on Etsy, Instagram is a great marketing tool. That’s how I discovered Ellen & James!
All of their basket bags are handmade in Bali, using locally sourced materials. This a great example of how something trendy can still be ethical and sustainably.
Look for transparency
And last but certainly not least, if a brand isn’t transparent about it’s production practices, then it’s the first red flag. With slow fashion becoming more and more popular, being transparent about production practices is part of marketing for ethical and sustainable brands but it’s important to make sure they have as many details as possible.
These shoes are from Nisolo and they have quickly become my absolute favorite shoe brand! This was my first pair and I’ve bought two more since then…
Whether it’s their main factory in Peru, their partner factory in Mexico, or their independent artisans in Kenya, all of the employees for Nisolo receive beyond fair trade wages, healthcare, and healthy working conditions. And you gotta love locally sourced leather! To read more about their social impact, check it out here.
Not pictured: I also love my underwear from Everlane! In fact, I love all of my clothing from Everlane. Something incredibly awesome about them is that each item has a direct link to the factory where it was produced. No matter where the factory is, Everlane keeps tabs on them to make sure that they’re meeting fair trade and safety standards.
I hope this post has inspired you and made it a bit easier to help you choose more ethical and sustainable options when shopping!
Thanks for reading!
Sponsored by Ayumi Angel
Photography by Jordan Jones
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