If your wardrobe contains items of clothing you bought on the high street for relatively low cost, you are a participant in the fast-fashion industry. But don鈥檛 feel too guilty. Everybody needs clothes and dressing sustainably can be complicated. With a little know-how, however, there are things we can all do to look good without the environmental price tag.
The first step is to think long term, says Kirsi Niinim盲ki at Aalto University in Espoo, Finland: 鈥淪hort use-time of garments is really harmful for the environment.鈥�
She suggests you start by liking what you have. Go through your wardrobe and dig out any long forgotten garments that you can start to use again.
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If you want a change of look, or need a particular item, consider using flea markets, buying second-hand or holding clothes swapping events with friends. Apps and websites that allow you to lease clothes from others, and get more use out of your own pre-loved items by renting them out, are increasingly common. Some fashion labels are also working with the makers of the apps, so you can rent clothes directly from them, with the quality control that comes with it.
Shopping for new clothes requires a shift of mindset away from the budget-friendly lure of fast fashion. 鈥淚f buying something new, see garments as an investment,鈥� says Niinim盲ki. 鈥淭hink about the quality and if the style is something we can use for a longer time.鈥� Many companies offer a repair service. 鈥淎s consumers, I think that we can educate ourselves a bit more about garments and the fibres that they are made of,鈥� she says.
Once an item is in your wardrobe, how you look after it can make a difference. 鈥淭here鈥檚 the old adage, buy better, buy less,鈥� says Jaki Love, director of innovation and sustainability at UKFT (the UK Fashion and Textile Association). 鈥淏ut the majority of negative impacts from fashion actually occur post-sale, and so consumers have it within their gift to reduce this impact through how they launder.鈥�
So, wash clothing sparingly, avoid tumble-drying and iron only when necessary, to reduce the amounts of water, energy and detergent involved.
鈥淎nd when it comes to disposal, if a garment is in a condition that somebody else can wear it, return it to the market. If it鈥檚 really like a waste, find a place that accepts the textile waste.鈥�
It is also important to question any claims you read on labels or in shops, which can be misleading. A by the Changing Markets Foundation in the Netherlands found that certification programmes designed to clean up the fashion industry can backfire, leading to greater consumption, pollution and use of fossil fuels.
There are some handy resources to help you cut through the hype. The ranks 250 of the world鈥檚 largest fashion brands and retailers according to what information they disclose about their environmental and social policies. You can also check a clothing brand鈥檚 green, social and animal welfare credentials at the . Ultimately, when you buy something new you need to ask yourself three questions, says Mart Drake-Knight, founder of sustainable clothing brand Teemill in the UK. 鈥淲ho made it? What is it made from? And where will it end up when I am done with it?鈥�
