We’ve all heard of it, read about it and keep coming across brands and styles that are connected with it – but are we really ready to build a sustainable wardrobe? I’ve been inclined to switch to a more sustainable fashion lifestyle for a while now, and it’s been quite a journey (and still a long way to go).
I took one step at a time. Rather than following the large clan of eco-friendly crusaders online, I started by addressing my most major concerns and finding solutions for them. Read on to understand how I curated my own lifestyle based on very simple changes that are easy and doable.
Concern 1: Budget
Solution: Invest in clothes, rather than buy more
Most sustainable brands out there are slightly (or a lot) more expensive than fast fashion. So I gave myself a target. I bought one fabulous, expensive and classic piece of clothing every 3-4 months – rather than going on a shopping spree every couple of weeks. I’d recommend investing a classic piece: a shirt or a solid dress, that you can wear in many ways. My coolest find was a Black Embellished Dress by Angry Owl that I’ve worn in parties, theatre and even for an ethnic family event.
Concern 2: Look & Feel
Solution: Style it right
A lot of people I know aren’t very comfortable wearing the same clothes over and again, especially for the same audiences. So how to stick to the same sustainable classics without people knowing you’ve already worn this before? Accessorize it! It’s unnerving how many ways you can wear the same black dress and look completely different every time. I love accessory brands like Sole Fry or Satat.
Concern 3: Recycle or Reuse
Solution: Give away old clothes & care for the ones you keep
Instead of giving away your old clothes to ‘raddi walas’ or throwing them away, you might consider donating them. There are brands you can send these to that would shred your clothes to pulp and create new fabrics for bags, clothes, shoes and more! Also, its pretty easy to care for your clothes so you can keep using them for much, much longer. For instance, I love buying light hued solids that won’t fade like dark colors or prints, like the White button down dress by Gur.
Concern 4: The Label Dilemma
Solution: Research!
Yes, there are quite a few brands that are truly working the cause – but which ones to choose? A friend once told me that the easiest way to judge a brand is to read their labels. You can’t lie on labels. So read carefully, and if it’s a new brand you’ve come across, read their story and claims on their website before you buy. I have a few brands that I’m partial to like A Humming Way, Okhai, Maati etc.
Concern 5: Is sustainability equal to being ethical?
Solution: Know what’s in the clothes, where they got it from and who makes them.
There’s a fine line between sustainable and ethical fashion. They’re both co-related, but often not mutually inclusive. While brands claim that their fabrics and methods are sustainable (eco-friendly, cruelty-free, water-saving, low waste etc.), they still use chemical dyes that may cause harm, extended working hours for workers without any real benefits and worse. Again, research helps here. I specifically ask questions like, ‘does this brand source ethically?’ on Google, and you’ll always find someone who’s asked these questions and managed to answer them, before you.
These are just 5 simple changes you can make to start your sustainable wardrobe. We’ll keep you updated on more.