TIPS ON SUSTAINABLE SHOPPING
Our top tips on dressing yourself in an environmentally-friendly way.
- Buy less! Try to wear what you already own.
This is the most sustainable thing you can do when it comes to dressing yourself. A vast amount of resources go into producing one article of clothing. For instance, 3,781 Liters of water is used to produce one pair of jeans. To truly save on water, fuel, materials, and everything else that goes into production, wearing or circulating what we already have is the most effective way.
- Buy second-hand.
If you need some new threads, try shopping second-hand before you head to the mall. There are so many places to turn to for second-hand clothes, such as your local thrift stores like Vinnies or Salvation Army; Facebook Marketplace; and Apps like Depop or Poshmark.
- If you need something for only one occasion, consider renting!
Not only is it environmentally-friendly to circulate items already owned, but there are many other benefits to renting an outfit over owning it. For one, you can look fabulous for a fraction of the cost, and without purchasing from fast-fashion brands. On One Thread Road, you can go back to outfits or lenders you’ve already seen, just like going through your own wardrobe. You don’t have to wait for the perfect item to pop up second-hand. And of course, there’s saving on wardrobe space and the effort it takes to re-sell or get rid of the item once you’re finished wearing it.
- Buy from ethical, sustainable brands that consciously source their material and pay fair wages to employees.
If you are going to purchase clothing brand new, do some research on the brands if you’re not sure about the sustainability factor. Things to examine are where the clothing is manufactured; what kinds of materials they use and whether they’re sustainably sourced or not; and if they make any statements about their brand ethics on their website.
Some examples of sustainable brands include: ELK, Indigo Luna, Vege Threads, and Maggie Marilyn. For a list of more, visit https:// www.panaprium.com/blogs/i/ethical-clothing-australia
- Buy clothing that is made 100% from one or two organic materials.
If your garment is made from 100% organic materials and dyes, you can actually cut it up yourself and add it to your compost! Examples include 100% cotton, linen, hemp, wool, silk, or bamboo.
If there are more than a few materials in a garment, which include synthetic ones, there’s a good chance it will end up in a landfill at the end of its life. Though it’s common belief that waste eventually decomposes and doesn’t cause any harm, it does produce methane gas while it breaks down, which is a hazardous air pollutant. Synthetic materials also break down into micro-plastics, which end up in the soil and eventually our waterways.
The more materials that are in a garment, the harder it is to recycle. A small percentage may get recycled and shredded for rags or stuffing material.