Forever Fashion

Move over fast fashion! Sara Whatley finds a few ways to make your wardrobe more beautiful, functional and most importantly, greener than ever

Where do you get your fashion kicks these days? There will always be a place for shopping – a holiday to kit out, a special event, or finding that elusive pair of perfect jeans, but it’s how we go about it that counts. 

Recently I met a style and colour consultant, and she told me that it’s all about finding the styles, cuts and colours that suit your body shape and personality.

This allows you free reign to shop vintage, pre-loved, homemade or off the shelf, finding the clothes you know you will wear again and again. 

Consciously choosing ethical materials, such as organic cotton, linin, hemp, bamboo, or wool is also a great way to ensure your clothes have less of an impact on the environment. 

BUY SECOND HAND 

Buying second hand does not have the same stigma it used to. Today, what with top quality charity shops and the advent of pre-loved and vintage fashion apps and websites it has never been easier to buy second hand. From everyday clothes to special occasion garments,you can purchase smart. 

UPCYCLE CLOTHES

Does an old wardrobe favourite need an injection of new life? Time to get upcycling! Giving your clothes a nip and tuck here and there or embellishing something that needs a facelift is a brilliant skill to adopt on so many levels. You will enjoy that ‘new clothes’ buzz with an upcycled number and get the feel-good factor of being a green and responsible fashionista too. 

DONATE AND RECYCLE 

When it’s time for a piece of clothing to leave your wardrobe, ask yourself, ‘where is the best place for this to go?’ If the item in question is still good quality but for whatever reason no longer serves you, then consider  donating it to charity  or re-selling online. If the item is beyond repair, check out your local recycling options so it doesn’t end up in landfill. 

THE TRUTH ABOUT FAST FASHION

You don’t have to do much research to reveal the truth about fast fashion, so called as it can be turned around from design to shop floorin as little as 10 days. The mass production of designs that flow through shops and websites is having a profound impact on our environment. And the worst bit is that globally 85% of all textiles go to landfill each year. 

By simply making a few environmentally friendly fashion choices you can help to make the fashion industry, and your wardrobe, a more sustainable one.