The Guide To Eco-Friendly Fashion – How To Save The Planet With Your Fashion Choices!

Being a member of the environmentally conscious crowd, we know that there are many ways to help save our planet. This can include recycling, cutting down on waste, using less paper, saving water…there is heaps on the to-do list of an environmental advocate! However, many people forget that their clothing can also hurt the planet. In fact, the fashion industry is only second, right after the oil industry, when it comes to destroying and polluting the Earth. The top 3 negative impacts the fashion industry has on the environment are: water pollution, microfibers pollution and waste problem.

Unfortunately, in many countries, the toxic wastewater produced by the textile factories is dumped directly into the rivers. The wastewater contains harmful chemicals such as lead, mercury and arsenic. In Bangladesh; 22,000 liters of toxic waste from textile production is dumped into the rivers every day. The toxins then poison the aquatic life as well as millions of people living near the rivers. Additionally, this water contamination can reach the sea and then contribute to poisoning the rest of our planet before we know it!

Microfibers, also known as synthetic fibres or microplastic, come from synthetic textiles (polyester, nylon…). Most modern clothing is made of synthetic textiles and they shed a huge amount of microfibre (about 300 million per year during wash and 900 million per year during use). When we wash our clothes, the microfibres are released into the water, slowly making their way into the rivers and oceans. When we wear our clothes, the microfibres are released into the air, lingering and floating around. These pollutants are hidden in plain sight!

Waste problem has become a major issue for our society as we tend to buy far more clothes then what we really need. Huge amounts of clothes are thrown out every year and the plastic fibres that are used in over 70% of our clothing will then take up to 200 years to decompose. It all goes straight to landfill, adding to the current plastic crisis.

Changing fashion consumption habits is vital to the improvement of the environment. We have created an eco-friendly fashion guide for you which not only makes a stand against over consumption, but also ensures you keep looking stylish!

1. Shop for eco-friendly clothing

Eco-friendly clothing causes less damage to the environment.

• Made of organic or semi-synthetic fibres instead of wholly synthetic
• Organically dyed with water-based or plant-based dyes
• Made of fabrics that require a small amount of water to produce; e.g. bamboo
• Made of recycled materials

Nowadays, we can see so many sustainable fashion brands being born – there is such an array of styles and they tend to be of higher quality.The key is to research and invest your money in clothes that are worth it.

If you want to find cute eco-friendly clothing, we suggest browsing the Eco Clothing section on our website. We offer a wide range of clothing made from organic cotton, bamboo, modal and recycled fabric.

2. Recycle, pass down or donate your unwanted clothes

If your clothes are still wearable, you can pass them down to your friends or family, or donate them to a charity. I 100% encourage shopping at your local salvos store – I find so many gems there at such a cheap and affordable price! If the clothes are no longer wearable, you can recycle them. For example, use an old T-shirt as a rag around the house. If you are nifty with the sewing machine, you could even make your own new clothes out of old material.

3. Take care of the clothes you own

If you want your clothes to last longer, take good care of them. Be careful when washing, drying and ironing – keeping the fabric fresh means you can use them for longer. Don’t just throw away those shirts that are crumbled and cramped at the back of the shelf – spend time to properly fold them away. It’s the small things that count!

4. Don’t go crazy for fast fashion

For fast fashion brands like H&M, Zara, new clothing lines launch every month or even every week. People love chasing the trends, and at cheaper prices – its’ so hard to restrain from that! But shopping needs to be in moderation and always remember that trends are trends and they often don’t last long. Don’t buy eight fluro leggings just because of that one Kardashian photo!

5. Don’t buy more than you can wear

Excessive consumerism is the root of the problem. Think about how many clothes in your closet that has only be worn once. It is so wasteful to have so many clothes in your closet that are barely touched. Make sure that you buy what you know you will wear, otherwise thowing them out to make space for new clothes is quite a tragedy in itself.

6. Go for clothes with higher quality

Quality over quantity. We here that everywhere and it is most definitely true. If you are able to afford more expensive clothes, please consider investing your money in pieces of higher quality – we assure you that not only will you look more stylish, but they will last so much more longer.

7. Ask yourself the real question: Do I need this?

Before buying a new piece of clothing, ask yourself if you really need it. Think about if you have a similar piece already in your closet. Consider whether it follows a trend that is bound to be forgotten in a months’ time. Determine if it will truly make you feel and look better. Wise decisions will benefit the environment.

8. Buy clothes that work for multiple occasions

Go for items that can be worn all-year-round and for multiple occasions. Build a sustainable wardrobe to reduce fashion waste and carbon footprint. Be creative on how to style pieces – one of my favourite is wearing a summer dress over long sleeves and tights during winter. It’s all about planning and making the most out of the clothes you have.

Make some changes in your shopping habit. Buying eco-friendly clothing and making wiser fashion choices will help support change in the fast fashion industry. Let’s save the Earth with these changes!