As I’ve mentioned previously in earlier posts, I have recently embarked on a quest to become more sustainable within all aspects of my life. I thought I would share my discoveries and my thoughts on the highly topical, and important subject of fast fashion. Don’t worry though, this blog post isn’t going to be one big guilt trip. I want this post to inspire you, my reader, to become more mindful of the environment and to strive to make a number of small changes, to become more sustainable in your everyday life.
You may be thinking “she doesn’t even practice what she preaches.” Yes I agree with you. I’m not a die-hard environmentalist and I’m not claiming to be. I’m a hypocrite, I still buy into fast fashion trends and I still buy new clothes from time to time, but I’m aware of these facts, and I am working to reduce my environmental impact significantly. I’m not suggesting you boycott your entire existence and make the dramatic decision to lead a fully sustainable life, but I am encouraging you to make a number of environmentally-friendly lifestyle choices which are less harmful to the environment. I’m preaching sustainability because I understand the crucial importance of making a change right now. I would rather be a hypocrite and write this post, than not write it at all and miss out on the opportunity to inspire you to make even the smallest of changes.
It was announced recently the UK would run out of water within twenty-five years. It's plain to see that climate change has played a huge part in this terrifying statistic. Inflating global temperatures and rising sea levels have only been made worse, by our insatiable obsession of owning the latest fashions. The fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water, whilst also generating more greenhouse gas emissions than all international flights and maritime shipping combined...
I firmly believe that education on this subject is key. After speaking with friends and colleagues, I know that many of us still do not realise the monumental impact our fast fashion buying habits has upon the world around us. The terms ‘fast fashion’ and ‘environmentally conscious’ have become common jargon within the fashion and blogger world, but do people outside the realms of the industry understand exactly what these terms actually mean? I think it’s naive of us to presume this, however I do believe we all need to be more proactive in educating ourselves on the impact of our throw-away culture.
Fast Fashion - “Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends”
Eco-Conscious - "Showing concern for the environment"
Collectively, if we stop demanding fast fashion on such a global scale, retailers will stop supplying. Limiting our buying habits is not only an amazing way to save money, it is also hugely beneficial for the environment. Did you know it takes 2,700 litres of water to make one single T-shirt? Instead of buying something new, try styling up an item you already have in your wardrobe. I absolutely love transforming a piece simply by accessorising. For inspiration on how to style, take a look at my Instagram TV to see how I’ve styled a simple slip skirt three ways!
In terms of influencing, I have begun to turn down collaborations with brands, if I know I won't wear a garment again. Sometimes I feel as though I am declining opportunities, however the question I ask myself each time I am given an opportunity to collaborate is; “will I wear this piece more than once?” If the answer is no, I will always politely refuse the collaboration. I understand many rely on influencing as a primary source of income, however I strongly believe that influencers must take responsibility for promoting sustainability in one way or another. I cannot quite believe that over 235 million items are sent to landfills in the UK alone. To tackle this issue, we need to become more creative in the way we shop, we can all positively contribute to this by taking a step away from buying brand new fashion.
As you can see from the images of this shoot, I've kept it super simple. I'm wearing a vintage crochet jumper, which was passed down to me from my Mam! I often rifle through her wardrobe and 'borrow' pieces which I know she'll never wear! Crochet is the perfect transitional piece to wear throughout Spring and Summer. I absolutely love this jumper, I often see very similar pieces in high street stores, but nothing ever lives up to a good piece of vintage! My flared jeans give my outfit a 70's vibe, this vintage blue pair are from Mango. They're made from organic cotton, whilst I understand the production of cotton and organic cotton, has huge environmental impacts, organic cotton is produced in a manner which maintains soil fertility and promotes diverse agriculture. If you must buy new, look at the label! Small changes such as buying a garment which has been reworked, or one which is made from more environmentally-kind materials such as linen or organic cotton, can change the environmental landscape of our high street. If we stop demanding such cheap clothing, retailers will stop supplying.
I was in the Northern Quarter whilst shooting this post and stumbled across the independent store, Beaumont Organic. What a fitting location for this shoot! Beaumont Organic's store is beautiful, it's light and airy and is filled with timeless fashion and unusual sustainable homewares. Their eco-conscious, contemporary designs are refreshing, making their flagship store well worth a visit if you're ever around the NQ.
I've devised a small list of ideas for you to follow to fulfil your fashion fix; but in a more sustainable manner:
- Swap clothing with your family and friends.
- Sell and buy via auction apps such as Depop, Gumtree and Ebay.
- Get thrifty and visit charity shops and vintage shops.
- Upcycling your old clothes and turn them into something new!
- Only buy new when you really love something and you're certain you’re going wear it time and time again.
Whatever you do, do not throw away old clothes, instead donate them - someone, somewhere will be thankful.
Documentaries to watch:
The True Cost
Rana Plaza Collapse Documentary: The Deadly Cost of Fashion
Stacey Dooley: Fashion’s Dirty Secrets
I really hope this post has inspired you to think twice before you buy that new outfit for the weekend, each individuals' small change, can make a huge difference.
S x
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