A Sustainable Fashion Guide for Beginners

You might have heard this before; "the world needs to change to be saved". Well, it's true. Humans need to change their habits to help protect their home, and one way to do it is by choosing sustainable fashion.

Sadly, one of the most pollution industries in the world is fashion. Every step of the process has a big impact on the planet. The huge demand for new clothes in a short amount of time makes it that harmful.

We know that sustainability can be overwhelming at first but don't worry, you'll learn how to adapt it to your life in no time. That's why we're here, we'll help you build your eco-friendly and conscious wardrobe.

When learning something new I always try to go for the definition first, it helps me have a smaller but clearer picture of the topic. 

Since sustainability is a concept that integrates various aspects, we'll divide it to understand it better.

First, what exactly is Sustainable Fashion?

It's fashion that cares about the people, the economy, and the environment. It's the most conscious way of producing clothes. With this we mean that it should avoid harming natural resources or animals, exploiting their workers, and leaving a profit. 

In 1987, the UN defined sustainability as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". 

I think this definition is very accurate. We'll always need clothing; but not because it's something indispensable means that we should have it no matter at what cost. If we take and take without thinking about it, we end up harming everything and everyone. We need to keep meeting our needs but still leave a beautiful world for the future generations that will also have needs.

Now, what is Ethical Fashion? 

This one focuses on the social aspect, it's fashion that cares about its workers. Simple as that. Of course, as it is ethical, they shouldn't leave behind the environment, but it isn't a priority. 

When you buy ethical fashion, you are making sure someone receives a fair salary and that they're working in healthy conditions. Some associations dedicate to ensure this, they give certifications to brands and companies that meet their standards of fair labor.

What about Slow Fashion?

It's the opposite of fast fashion. This means fewer collections per year and a more conscious way to produce them. It is supposed to pay fairly to their workers, but as well, the materials they use aren't always sustainable or eco-friendly.

It is true, that because they produce fewer clothes their impact on the planet is way less than fast fashion and there is no way to compare it. But, let's keep in mind a polyester garment can be made in a slow fashion brand.

Now that we know these basic definitions you have a better understanding of what you're facing, right?

Let's start working on how you could have a sustainable wardrobe:

There are a few things that you always need to keep in mind before making any decision.

1.What's your garment made of? 

You can search this on the brand's website, look for the composition of materials. Or if you're shopping in person, take a look inside the garments and read the care label. 

Natural Fibers are always better because they are biodegradable. Meaning that if you compost them, they will disintegrate and will not harm the soil. 

Synthetic fibers like polyester take years to disintegrate, and even then, there are tiny particles that may never go away. 

Some examples of natural fibers are cotton, bamboo, hemp, wool, linen, silk (as the name says, it should come from nature). Unfortunately, these could also be harmful to the environment. The perfect solution would be to look for Organic products, which means that the fibers were obtained without using pesticides or any toxic substances.

Another option that is still considered sustainable are Recycled fibers. These fabrics are made with fibers that were something else before. For example, recycled polyester or cotton comes from old garments and turned into new ones; or recycled nylon that comes from abandoned nets in the ocean, they recover them and turn it into clothing. 

This type of fiber is one of our favorites because it's more affordable, and they're using what already exists in the world. Turning “waste” into new items. 

Also, avoid buying garments that have been made with mixed fibers, these are harder to recycle. Look for a composition of 100% cotton or 100% organic cotton.