A Fashionista’s Guide to Sustainable Fashion!
A Fashionable Shopper Looking For Their Next Great Piece!
Photo by Jessica Myers
Kathleen McElroy
Shopping sustainably is hard. In a time where companies are able to use social media to their advantage and use online platforms to market their products, it seems like the algorithm on Tiktok and Instagram continuously spam my feed with the same trendy boutiques. While the designs and Influencers promoting each boutique vary, the comment sections remain similar: an influx of accounts bashing the companies for wasteful overproduction of clothing and allegations of labor violations. Shopping sustainably seems like a difficult task to accomplish because of the sheer control large corporations have on the fashion industry, however everyone has a place in making their lives a little more sustainable and fashion can be a focus for those interested.
Showing your artistic side by reshaping items you already own is a simple way to look at clothing you already own in a new light, and the cost you save on purchasing a new item can be spent on Caje’s blended matcha (like what I am drinking right now!) The newest fashion trend I am obsessed with is cutting the neckline off crew-necks and shirts, a statement that only requires scissors. To be honest, you don’t even need to be precise, as an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt looks fabulous regardless of how you cut the neckline off. I thrifted a thick black sweater and after cutting off the neckline, I felt like a true fashionista on my way to the ILP bundled up in my warm clothing during the rainy weather. I encourage everyone to try and re-purpose their clothing!
If repurposing your clothing is not speaking to you, you may want to check out online platforms! On platforms like Etsy, you can support local businesses while finding affordable clothing. Users are able to modify the filters to ensure the companies they see are all local community members, ensuring they are able to support small businesses while still purchasing stylish clothing. If you are interested in purchasing second-hand clothing, browsing Poshmark, Depop, and threadUP can be helpful. Since the clothing being sold has some wear to it, the prices are typically cheaper than full-price retail. Some users offer “bundle deals,” ensuring that a discount will be applied to your total amount or covering the cost of shipping, making the experience even more enjoyable! For occasional wear, scrolling on second-hand clothing apps is essential. From formal dresses to my high school graduation dress, I have been able to find sold-out dresses at a discounted price, giving a new life to a dress once worn by another fashionista enjoying a special occasion.
For those looking to find slow fashion and eco friendly brands, Good on You is an online website that helps users see how ethical and sustainable clothing companies are. Users can choose to either search up a brand name they have in mind or use the predetermined categories, like ‘bags’ or ‘dresses and playsuits’ to modify their searches. Good on You is a resource that one can use to ensure the clothing in their closet is created by a company that shares the same values as them before embarking on their next trip to the mall. The predetermined categories can also be used to discover new brands, as information about a brand’s pricing, sustainability rating, and location are presented. Popular eco-friendly brands like Reformation and Patagonia are among the brands featured on the website.
An important aspect of sustainable fashion is keeping in mind the impact you have on your community and the environment, as any positive impact is an impact. You do not need to be the most sustainable person alive to have a contribution, nor do you need to be the most knowledgeable about every aspect of fast fashion and labor laws. As long as you remember that everyone can play a role in helping the environment, you should not feel intimidated by the concept of sustainable fashion. I encourage everyone to try at least one method of becoming a more sustainable shopper, whether by going to the Isla Vista Trading Post and swapping clothing or scrolling through Poshmark while watching Netflix, you are guaranteed to find cute clothing!
