Change your shopping habits
Before buying a new piece of clothes, think how many times you will wear it, and on which occasions. If you don’t come up with at least 15 times, think well before purchasing it.
| Empty your closet Go through your wardrobe, shelves, boxes…wherever clothes are kept and stored. Are you using them all on a regular basis? How many pieces have been lying there for ages maybe? How many pieces don’t fit anymore? Lease, donate, give away, sell! Be your own tailor Several damage in clothes can be easily repaired by you – and if not – by some expert with low cost most of the time. You can repair, patch, “refurbish” by becoming creative enough and giving new life to some old garment! Swap you clothes Swapping clothes might not be so accepted by different people with different notions on swapping things and especially clothes. But even so, you can try! Organise an event with close friends or relatives and try it out! There are also several apps that can help with this. |
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Second hand and vintage
Buying second-hand clothes might sound to several persons as something negative – implying a low financial status or worse. However, during the economic crisis in particular, second-hand clothes stores boomed, not only as a justification in dire economic times, but also because the economic crisis was only one of our crisis-ridden era, with the climate crisis being more threatening than ever! More than that, when buying second-hand clothes, you can find vintage pieces in still very good quality which are not only timeless and trendy, but also made with more environmentally friendly processes and materials!| Online shopping: Think twice! When you buy online, it is easy to just click and add to your basket pieces in minutes. Think about what you really need by pushing aside the convenience of buying with a click. Keep in mind that in online buying, things that you return back are more than often not sold again but destroyed, burnt, thrown away, as this involves less handling costs. |
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EU is in on the trend
ReSet The Trend is a multilingual campaign by the European Commission aiming to engage Europeans in the battle against fast fashion and raise public awareness about the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. Below follow some inspirational videos to help you deal with your purchasing and using habits in a sustainable way (Source: LINK)
Go to the Flea market
(Source: LINK)
The fashion industry is notorious for being one of the most polluting industries in the world, but initiatives like the flea market organised by the Spanish model and young European climate pact ambassador Clara, are taking steps to change that. This initiative, which took place in December and January 2023, was aimed at raising funds for AJOY, a primary school in Mafinga, Tanzania, and supporting Eutopia Vintage, a small local business in Palencia, Spain, which promotes sustainable fashion.
The fashion industry is notorious for being one of the most polluting industries in the world, but initiatives like the flea market organised by the Spanish model and young European climate pact ambassador Clara, are taking steps to change that. This initiative, which took place in December and January 2023, was aimed at raising funds for AJOY, a primary school in Mafinga, Tanzania, and supporting Eutopia Vintage, a small local business in Palencia, Spain, which promotes sustainable fashion.
Creating a sustainable wardrobe
Check out this guide on how to create a sustainable wardrobe using garments with natural fabrics like:
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Sustainable fashion shopping guide
Where to shop for sustainable clothes?
1. Visit the brand’s ABOUT section: are they being transparent about their process and about where the fabrics come from?
2. Google the brand: were there sourcing / production scandals in which the brand was involved?
3. Look out for certification symbols in online shops and check the symbols on the EcoLabel Index: LINK
4. Research by country, brand or production criteria on Eco Fashion World: LINK
5. Read blogs and websites about sustainable fashion. Here are a few interesting ones:
1. Visit the brand’s ABOUT section: are they being transparent about their process and about where the fabrics come from?
2. Google the brand: were there sourcing / production scandals in which the brand was involved?
3. Look out for certification symbols in online shops and check the symbols on the EcoLabel Index: LINK
- Examples: GOTS and FAIR TRADE.
4. Research by country, brand or production criteria on Eco Fashion World: LINK
- Example: ABURY, a label based in Berlin with production in Morocco: LINK
5. Read blogs and websites about sustainable fashion. Here are a few interesting ones:
- Guide to buying sustainable, fair trade and vegan clothing: LINK
- Affordable fashion online: LINK
- Sourcing directory for fashion: LINK
- Ethical Consumer – the website of the magazine: LINK
Sustainable Fashion apps
SYW (Save your wardrobe) Sustainable Wardrobe
The Save Your Wardrobe app helps you reconnect with what you don’t wear anymore by digitalising all your clothes and accessories. How does that work? You simply take a photo of your clothes and the fashion app automatically removes the background and marks the features – such as brand, category and colour. You can then access your wardrobe from your phone and plan your outfits directly from the app!
Depop
Second-hand is a great way to consume fashion more sustainably. The Depop app offers the convenience of selling your old clothes online – and, of course, getting your hands on some new second-hand treasures. This sustainable fashion app also gives you the opportunity to connect with your friends and build a network of vintage lovers around the world.
Renoon
On Renoon, you can discover products and brands that match your sustainability values. All brands have to go through an assessment before they and their products appear in the app, where it is determined how sustainable and responsible they actually are. Users can also share their experiences in the app and report possible greenwashing suspicions.
Good on You – Ethical Fashion
The Good On You app gives you the power to easily check the impact of your favourite fashion brands on the issues you care about. Use the app to discover better alternatives, and learn more about ethical fashion shopping.
The Save Your Wardrobe app helps you reconnect with what you don’t wear anymore by digitalising all your clothes and accessories. How does that work? You simply take a photo of your clothes and the fashion app automatically removes the background and marks the features – such as brand, category and colour. You can then access your wardrobe from your phone and plan your outfits directly from the app!
Depop
Second-hand is a great way to consume fashion more sustainably. The Depop app offers the convenience of selling your old clothes online – and, of course, getting your hands on some new second-hand treasures. This sustainable fashion app also gives you the opportunity to connect with your friends and build a network of vintage lovers around the world.
Renoon
On Renoon, you can discover products and brands that match your sustainability values. All brands have to go through an assessment before they and their products appear in the app, where it is determined how sustainable and responsible they actually are. Users can also share their experiences in the app and report possible greenwashing suspicions.
Good on You – Ethical Fashion
The Good On You app gives you the power to easily check the impact of your favourite fashion brands on the issues you care about. Use the app to discover better alternatives, and learn more about ethical fashion shopping.
