Why Sustainable Fashion Is the Only Way Forward

Let’s take a mental walk through the mall.

You’re a person in 2022, so you’re probably on a tight budget. You likely go to a store you know you’ll find something affordable at, like H&M or Forever 21.

Maybe you don’t realize they deal in fast fashion, or you do and you simply don’t care.

You find a piece you adore that’s in your price range. Caught up in the moment, you don’t realize the long-term impact this choice has.

Listen, it’s not your fault you go to the stores with the cheaper selection. Seriously, who wouldn’t? The only reason we go into stores we can’t afford is to daydream, spend a rare and blessed gift card, or torture ourselves.

But before you buy that $4 shirt, stop and think about why it’s so cheap.

(Hint — it’s not because the CEO is looking out for you.)

Fast fashion pieces are either made of extremely poor materials, by inhumanely exploited people, or both. Usually both.

The fact of the matter is, major clothing corps outsource their work to countries with fewer labor laws. Garment workers are forced to perform highly skilled work for long hours in unhealthy conditions.

And it’s not just the human rights violations that are the problem. One of the problems with fast fashion is it’s meant to keep up with ever-changing trends. Because they know many customers will only wear it once or twice, it’s not built to last. This leads to 92 million pounds of clothing waste a year.

Cheap, quickly made clothing is choking the world. The fast fashion industry is one of the largest pollutants in the world, more than flight and marine shipping combined. There’s also the water waste that comes from textile dyeing, as well as the microplastics.

I know you don’t want to hear this. It’s the kind of huge issue that feels too big to conceptualize, let alone bear on your own.

Trust me, I know how frustrating it can be to find clothes that both fit you right and feel like you (but a discussion of my years of body dysmorphia and dysphoria is a post for another day.) When you work so hard to find something you actually like, the last thing you want is someone breathing down your neck and asking you how ethically it was made.

But consider this — is it any less heartbreaking to find that perfect piece of clothing just for it to rip after the second or third wear?

We all deserve better.

Photo by Yura Timoshenko on Unsplash

The thing about sustainable fashion is it doesn’t have to be a grueling effort. It’s actually a lot of fun.

Fashion is all about creativity. It’s how you use what you have in the most unique and stylish way possible.

Sustainable fashion involves buying second-hand clothing as well as wholesale pieces that are built to last. But it doesn’t stop there. It’s also about maintaining your wardrobe through mending, or even making your own clothes.

I know keeping up with the trends is really important to a lot of people, and it’s frustrating when you can’t afford the well-made version. But that’s exactly why fast-fashion companies exploit you by selling cheap copies that are going to fall apart in weeks. They still get your money, but you’re left without pants.

I’d encourage those people to follow the trends that work with their style, but to do it sustainably. Sew your own version of that runway piece you love, or hire a small Etsy business to make a custom one for you.

Or throw away trends all together, and pursue just what works for you and what you already have in your closet. You can always change old outfits up with thrifted, gifted, or handmade accessories.

You don’t have to give up your love for fashion to be sustainable. Thrift stores and websites like Depop are your best friends. And if you learn to make your own pieces, who knows what trend you could start?

The ultimate goal of this blog is to be a resource for other independent creatives. Whether you’re struggling with burnout and loneliness, or just looking for free writing advice that cuts to the chase, I’ve got you.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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