Fast Fashion Alternatives and Eco-friendly Fashion Businesses
- sustained.style
- Apr 30, 2020
- 5 min read
Buy second-hand, from thrift, vintage and consignment stores – both brick-and-mortar and online
Purchase preloved pieces from online marketplaces, or your local markets
Organise clothing swaps with friends, or attend exchange markets
Opt for clothing rental – particularly for event and formalwear
Search for brands which upcycle garments, or utilise deadstock or offcuts
Contribute to clothing recycling programs or thrift stores
Be wary of greenwashing
Try to minimise packaging waste, or choose companies which use biodegradable packaging
There are several sustainable options for environmentally conscious fashion lovers, with the predominant solution being to buy second-hand, which eliminates the need for clothing manufacturing, consequently reducing the consumption of resources and pollution generation, as well as preventing undesired garments from ending up in landfill.
The most affordable option to purchase second-hand clothing is thrift stores (or Op-shops), with prices generally sitting between $1-10. As thrift stores rely on public donations for products, they tend to carry a wide variety of styles – and even some on-trend items – however, the sizing ranges often lack diversity, with a noticeable absence of options for petite and plus-size clothing. Another downside to thrifting is the inconsistency in quality, with preloved clothing sometimes missing embellishments, or having rips, stains or pilling, and an enormous portion of donated goods unable to be sold due to their poor condition. For these reasons, it can be consuming to find pieces which suit your size, aesthetic, and quality requirements, although, for many who enjoy thrifting, the search is part of the fun!
Racks of assorted clothing and shelves of home goods at a thrift store.
If that’s not for you, and you’re looking for a more streamlined process, there are online thrift/consignment stores, such as ThredUP, Poshmark and Depop, which enable you to refine your search to parameters including price, size, colour, style and brand. The products collated on these sites have even more variety than local thrift stores – coming from a more diverse national market – and tend to include more current styles, designer brands, and a generally higher quality standard. These benefits do come at a cost though, with prices ranging from $5-200+ – plus shipping – and some sites only shipping to specific countries. As well, sustainability-wise, the addition of international transportation incurs the generation of emissions, negatively impacting the planet.
Brick and mortar vintage and consignment stores are another option which are primarily suited to those who enjoy a defined vintage aesthetic, or are seeking unique statement pieces. These stores place historical and designer value on pieces, carrying more expensive, well-preserved, and carefully selected items than thrift shops. A common downside to this is the lack of size inclusivity, with vintage pieces catering towards smaller, era-specific sizing guides. As well, vintage and consignment stores are less prevalent in non-urban areas, and may not be a feasibly sustainable option for those who live rurally due to transport-related pollution.
The Aquarium Vintage & Costume store, featuring owner Leah and a friend.
There are also outlets for purchasing pre-loved clothing directly from individuals, such as Facebook Marketplace and eBay. In these online marketplaces, pricing is determined by the seller, and is dependent on the item’s condition and original price, although costs are generally higher than that of thrift stores. Online shopping presents an efficient method, providing options to refine the search to your desired specifications, enabling an efficient experience. An issue which can be encountered in the relatively unregulated spaces of online marketplaces is inauthenticity, with some sellers not disclosing the genuine condition of items, and unfairly profiting from their dishonesty. This process also requires transport and shipping, increasing costs and pollution, however, the majority of online marketplaces allow you to select local search parameters, mitigating such factors.
Another option for those searching for second-hand garments are clothing swaps and exchange markets. These can be community events or small gatherings arranged by friends, in which items of clothing are traded for pieces of similar value, or market credit, which can then be used to purchase pre-loved pieces. Clothing exchanges are a great way to reinvigorate your wardrobe without spending money or contributing to garment waste, provided that you are able to find items in the correct size and desired style – factors which can be limited by diversity in your friend group or the local demographic hosting markets. Clothing exchange markets are also predominantly held in urban areas, and may, therefore, be less suitable for those in rural locations.
Women browsing racks of assorted clothes at a clothing swap market.
Clothing rental has also been becoming an increasingly common practice, particularly for event and formalwear. High quality and designer garments can be rented for well below their retail price, allowing you to reinvigorate your wardrobe, embracing the constant change that comes with trends whilst conserving resources, as the garment will eventually be returned and worn by a multitude of other people. Renting clothing does require shipping though – both to arrive and return – reducing its eco-friendliness.
If preloved clothing isn’t up your alley, or you’re struggling to find the pieces you desire, there are also several businesses which tie sustainability into their ethos and practises, using innovative methods to create eco-friendly fashion.
The use of deadstock – surplus fabric from garment runs, and rolls which have failed to sell – is employed by brands such as Reformation and Christy Dawn, and minimises fabric waste, while also reducing the necessity for further manufacturing. Another benefit of this practice is that it creates a sense of individuality for the garments due to their exclusivity.
Left to right: A model wears Reformation garments constructed from printed deadstock fabric, rolls of deadstock fabric are piled on shelves, and a machinist at Christy Dawn sews garments from light pink, floral deadstock fabric.
The company Zero Waste Daniel uses offcuts – sourced as waste from other garment productions – to create patchworked fashion basics, as well as intricate custom pieces, constructing one-off garments from scraps which would otherwise go to landfill. This ingenious technique works to reduce both waste and the necessity of new fabric manufacture, eliminating two damaging facets of fashion.
Four models pose in unique Zero Waste Daniel outfits.
Many companies have also implemented clothing recycling programs, including Levi’s and Madewell – both of which have incentivised their initiatives with discounts off future purchases. The garments donated through these recycling schemes can be utilised to create new products with a reduced environmental footprint, benefiting the planet.
Some fast fashion brands use a tactic called ‘greenwashing’, deceptively marketing to portray an environmentally conscious image in order to appeal to individuals who value sustainability. H&M, which has experienced a multitude of greenwashing controversies, recently released their ‘Conscious Collection’, touted for using recycled polyester, Tencel, and organic cotton, while reports from 2018 allege that the company incinerated 12 tonnes of unsold, reusable clothing, presenting two very contradictory sides of H&M.
While the trend of greenwashing is a ploy, it still demonstrates steps taken in the right direction – publicising sustainability and, perhaps, if the collection is well received, we will hopefully see continual progress towards eco-friendly fashion.
Finally, it’s necessary to consider the packaging of items, which also contributes to the environmental footprint of your purchases – particularly those made online. Several brands, such as Reformation and Maggie Marilyn have transitioned to using biodegradable, plant-derived bags to replace plastics, which will never decompose entirely.
Reformation's biodegradable packaging.
There is always a way to incorporate sustainability into your wardrobe, and it's worth trying a few different options to see what’s right for you. Just remember that even the smallest steps to support the environment are positive progress, so proceed with optimism, curiosity and a passion for fashion.
For more tips and information to help with sustainable shopping choices, check out these links:
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