As someone who loves fashion, I completely understand the allure of a new sweater, coat, or handbag. But once I bring that oh-so-soft black cashmere sweater (to join the six other black sweaters already in my closet) it dawns on me that… maybe I don’t really need another black sweater? Like many of you, I feel that I need to seek out more sustainable style options.
Fashion Trend Cycles Speed Up While Quality Declines
Americans are buying more clothing than ever before. The trend cycle is faster and “must-have pieces” are passé before they’ve been worn half a dozen times. Plus, there has been a serious decline in the actual quality of pieces (even from some of my favorite, go-to designers).
In fact, the avalanche of low quality clothing in the US has reached an all-time high. In “What Really Happens to Your Used Clothing,” author Alyssa Hardy explains, “The declining quality of clothing is working in tandem with insatiable consumption habits to exacerbate the global fashion waste crisis. While we are buying more fast fashion than ever — a report released by the United States Slow Fashion Caucus found that in the last eight years, the rate of textile waste grew 50%.”
When Renting Makes Sense
There are plenty of times when new clothing, shoes, or bags are not a want but a true need. You have a fancy cocktail party or gala coming up, for example, and nothing in your closet will do. In cases like this, renting may make sense.
The concept isn’t new. Men have been renting designer tuxedos forever. And, rentals of one-time use clothing — such as evening gowns, cocktail dresses, and prom dresses – has been around for many years.
But the “new renting” is not the exclusive province of sparkly evening wear. It’s now possible to rent everything from designer jewelry, to coats, to upscale weekend wear. Here are a few of my favorite rental sites:
Rent the Runway also offers many rental options, but one of the best is the Unlimited Subscription which includes three designer pieces on rotation.
Armoire offers over 75K styles, with the ability to purchases pieces if sending them back hurts just a little too much.
Tuliere is a peer-to-peer luxury closet sharing app which provides borrowers with the ability to enjoy fashion trends as they occur – no long-term commitment required.
Buying Secondhand Can be a Sustainable Option
Live in south Florida but need a puffer coat for a ski trip? Have wedding coming up and need an evening bag, but you’re more a backpack kind of gal? Scheduled an in-person business meeting but have been working from home for years in joggers and tees? In some cases, purchasing secondhand may be the best choice for sustainable style options.
Wondering where to shop?
In addition to locally run community thrift stores, the Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries have massive networks of retail thrift stores across the US.
And in some cities Goodwill also offers “clearance centers” also known as “the bins.” Basically, everything that doesn’t sell in the regular retail space is sent to these centers. Fill your cart and at checkout they weigh the merchandise and charge by the pound. The experience is not for the faint of heart, but the bargains can’t be beat and you are literally saving these items from landfills.
Unlike retail stores, thrift stores don’t have the benefit of having pieces in multiple sizes. So, luck is always a factor. But thrift shopping is something of a treasure hunt, too. And finding that one-of-a-kind stunner can be so exciting (For me it was an Italian “magazine handbag” from the 1970s, similar to the one Carrie Bradshaw carries in Sex and the City, Season 3, Episode 8. I get compliments and questions galore every time I carry it!).
Sustainable Style Options: Vintage Treasures Elevate Your Look
Savvy shoppers also regularly visit sites such as Poshmark or The Real Real. These sites are a win-win. Sellers can recoup some of the cost of pricey pieces, while shoppers can snag authenticated goods from coveted designers from LV, to Hermès, to Louboutin at bargain prices. More reasonably priced items from mid-market labels such as Michael Kors, Coach, and Ralph Lauren are also available, usually at a fraction of their retail cost.
Buying vintage has some incredible benefits. Unlike off-the-rack fashion, you are virtually guaranteed that no one else at an event will be wearing the exact same, overdone “must have” piece.
And in general, vintage clothes are much better made than newer versions including stronger seams, better stitching, nicer buttons, and unique details. Vintage items are built to last and are frequently made of high-quality natural fibers instead of manmade polyester blends.
Donating Clothes Responsibly: Some Surprising Truths
According to Green America, “Even though many Americans donate clothes, textiles still make up a shocking amount of the US waste stream. The EPA reports that Americans generate 16 million tons of textile waste a year, equaling just over six percent of total municipal waste (for context, plastics make up 13 percent of our waste stream). On average, 700,000 tons of used clothing gets exported overseas and 2.5 million tons of clothing are recycled. But over three million tons are incinerated, and a staggering 10 million tons get sent to landfills.”
In fact, up to 90 percent of clothing donations end up with textile recyclers, according to report from the Saturday Evening Post. And that used clothing is now piling up in foreign countries with unwanted, unsalable clothes choking communities and clogging waterways around the world. “People are finally seeing that this is a big, exploitative industry,” explained designer Bobby Kolade in Vogue.
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
Reduce clothing consumption. Think twice about hitting the “add to cart” button when online shopping. How many ways can you wear this piece? Are you purchasing because it suits your personal style, or simply because it’s “in.” Will it work with other items in your closet, or will this require additional purchases (new shoes, the right width belt, etc.)
Reuse items in interesting new ways. Repurpose older pieces. Embellish. Sew. Turn your older garments into a true expression of your individuality. Or, swap with friends. A clothing swap is a fun way to expand your wardrobe and offload some color blunders or aspirational pieces that still may even still have price tags attached (no judgment here, we all have them).
Recycle. Only donate items that are in excellent shape and ready for someone else to wear (if you haven’t fixed that hole under the arm of a blouse, or loose stitching in the hem of a skirt, chances are, no one else will either). Items that are beyond wearing can still have “second lives.” A cotton blouse in a pretty print can be cut up and refashioned into festive fabric bunting. Cable knit sweater sleeves are easily turned into stuffed pumpkins. And, piping can add pizazz when trimming a lamp shade. Pinterest offers thousands of ideas for every skill level.
The rapid acceleration of fashion trend cycles combined with declining clothing quality have fueled unsustainable consumption habits, leading to an overwhelming increase in textile waste. Fortunately, sustainable style options such as renting, buying secondhand, and investing in vintage pieces offer chic and eco-friendly alternatives to fast fashion.
By embracing mindful shopping, repurposing clothing in interesting and personal ways, and donating textiles responsibly, fashion lovers can create a unique, stylish wardrobe… all while reducing their environmental impact.
If you enjoyed this “Sustainable Style Options: Ethical Fashion for the Trendsetter” post, don’t forget to visit the Women’s Fashion tab for more fashion trends, designer interviews and style inspiration.
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