The term fast fashion is making an appearance in more and more news articles, bringing attention to a trend that is just starting to take off: green fashion. And no, not the color.
Green fashion refers to ethically created, sustainably produced clothing that not only protects the planet but the rights of workers as well. It ignores trends and focuses on creating timeless, stylish, pieces that won’t go through your closet and into the trash in one season.
Are you looking to make more earth-conscious fashion decisions, but don’t know where to start? We’ve put together a guide that will help you identify ethical brands and what they do to make the world a better and more sustainable place.
What to Avoid
If you’re about to buy a piece that looks exactly like a design you saw cross the runway a mere few weeks before and it costs less than a meal for two at a reasonable restaurant, be wary. Not only are these signs of mass produced, cheaply made products, they’re also more likely to be tossed by you, the consumer, sooner than if they were designer pieces. This constant cycling hurts both your wallet and the environment.
Eco-friendly
Not all fabrics are created and produced equally. The shirt on your back started out as a seed, and that seed needed water, energy, and labour to turn it into the material that keeps you looking stylish every day. The following are a few brands paying extra attention to what materials they source, and what they can do to minimize textile waste:
Fair Trade Friends
Unfortunately, the fashion industry tows behind it a history of labour abuse. But, thanks to fair trade, attitudes are shifting. Fair trade gives more money to the people who actually produce the clothing, empowers workers, promotes equal rights, and keeps the environment in mind. Check out these fair trade brands:
Animal Rights
Cruelty-free makeup has been popular for some time now. But what about cruelty-free fashion? Often referred to as “vegan fashion,” this shift in attitude takes into account the rights of animals and the exploitation that is involved in giving consumers furs and leathers. Thinking purely stylistically, leather is sexy. It’s smooth like butter and makes any outfit look luxe and expensive. But for the sake of the animals, try the brand Freedom of Animals instead. Their products are perfect replicas of the real thing! These brands also produce cruelty-free clothing:
Empowering Workers “Artisan Made”
“Artisan made” clothing sounds kitschy, until you realize the implications. Sweatshops, child labour, and worker mistreatment still runs rampant in countries where most clothing is made. Instead of unknowingly supporting the oppression of poor workers in even poorer places of the globe, look at these brands. Each one supports the predominantly female seamstresses of the world in its own unique way:
It’s hard to make ethical choices when you don’t even know what your options are. Hopefully, this post will inspire you to think about the importance of making informed decisions in every aspect of life; even fashion.
Inspirational Image Courtesy of Pinterest via H&M
Sara Antonuccio, Grants Pass, @sara_rayne
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