If I had £1 for every time someone told me sustainable fashion is beige or unattainable on a budget - I wouldn't have to run a business. I'd be sitting on the beach reading a book.
Sustainability doesn’t mean giving up personal style, and it doesn't have to be expensive either. It’s about making intentional choices that reflect your values and aesthetic. In this guide, we’ll explore how to curate a wardrobe that is both eco-friendly and uniquely you, cos you deserve it!
Define your personal style
Before even thinking about how sustainably you're shopping, you need to understand your own style, babe. We've all been there - you see something on Instagram and would love to fit into that aesthetic, you spend your pennies on it and then it sits in your wardrobe gathering dust.
I hate to break it to you, but impulse buying can never be sustainable.
I love having a look at Pinterest for outfit inspo, and it means you can create boards to really define each style. I follow a lot of ace accounts on Instagram who offer colour analysis of the best colours for your skin tone and hair colour too, which I think would be a great starting point to deciding on your perfect colour palette. I'm sure there's some free tools for this too - if you know of any let me know and I'll add it in here.
Another important piece here is remember what your lifestyle is actually like. I can wear cowboy boots every day (they're almost a part of my personality now) because I live in the city. If I had a super active lifestyle hiking in the countryside every morning - I might rethink my footwear.
I probably wouldn't though, cowboy boots are life.
Invest in Quality, Not Quantity
When I say invest - it doesn't have to be spenny. I've been shopping in charity shops my entire life - and let me tell you I've found some INCREDIBLE quality pieces for far cheaper than I would find on a fast fashion website.
Obviously, the lower your budget the more time you need to invest in finding quality pieces. But that's the thrill of thrifting isn't it?! Have a look at my other blog if you're in or around Manchester - I give my secrets away for all of the charity shops accessible by public transport. You can thank me later.
Fast fashion encourages constant consumption, but sustainable style is about longevity. Look for natural fabrics like cottons, wools and silks. I have vintage clothing which has been in existence for 50+ years that looks as good today as it did back then.
Look at the inside stitches - well finished seams will make your clothing last soooooo much longer. That's why I'm such an advocate of the French seam and use that technique on all of my clothing. (I'll do a blog post explaining about French seasm at some point, promise.)
If you don't have the time or patience to head to the charity shops (you okay, hun?!) look at investing in fewer well made pieces from small eco friendly brands.
There's gotta be a sales pitch in here somewhere, but hear me out. Instead of buying five flimsy, plastic items of clothing from fast fashion brands, it's better to combine those pennies and buy something that will last you for years and bring you joy every time you wear it.
Don't have any money at all? I've been there, and I get there quite often. Why don't you try organising a clothing swap with your friends or colleagues? You all get something new, have a glass of wine (entirely optional but recommended) and spend no money. Winner!
Support Small & Ethical Brands
When your shopping small, make sure you check the credentials. The amount of greenwashing out there is insane these days. Look at labels on clothing to see where they are made, what they are made from and make sure there are no cries for help written by garment workers in the labels (this genuinely happens - terrifying!)
Instagram is such a great place to find small and ethical brands (like, ahem, The Fruit Moth) who genuinely care about the garments they make and the world we live in. Make sure their production practices are transparent, and you'll know what you're investing in is as sustainable as it gets.
For bigger brands in the ethical space, have a look for certifications like Fair Trade, GOTS (organic textiles) or see whether the company has B Corp status when you're shopping.
Care for Your Clothes Properly
Looking after your clothing is one of the most important parts of shopping sustainably. I recommend spot washing as much as possible to reduce the amount of times you use the washing machine. Not only is this better for the leccy bill but it's also better for the environment - the less we wash our clothes the less microplastics we release.
When your clothes do need a "proper" wash - wash on 30 when you can.
Air dry your clothing instead of using the dryer for similar reasons! I know England can be pretty miserable in the Winter months, but all of our clothing is air dried in a room with a window open when the weather doesn't allow it to be outside. I'm in Manchester, so this is at least 90% of the year. Trust me, it's fine!
Learn basic mending skills like fixing small tears and missing buttons - it can save you a fortune and there are so many YouTube videos to shop you the basics. Realllllly think before you throw something away - chances are it can definitely be saved! I highly recommend getting a debobbler to freshen up knitwear, and a handheld steamer is a great piece of kit to keep clothing looking and smelling fresh.
Ready to start shopping sustainably? If you want to start with a purchase from The Fruit Moth, here's a discount to say thanks for reading. Just enter code SUSTYSHOPPER for 10% off your next purchase.
Love,
Nicole
XxX