As we bring in the new year, many of us make the conventional resolutions of exercising or reading more. But what about improving our shopping habits?
As one overlooked aspect of this self-reflection, it’s important to understand where and how we buy clothing. Fast fashion often leads to overconsumption, which in economic terms can lead to the depletion of natural resources, negatively affecting the environment. In an age where the rise of fast-fashion companies, such as Chinese e-commerce platforms like Shein, are contributing to this issue, it’s important to be eco-conscious as consumers. So, here are a few ways to practice sustainable fashion this year.
The first habit for practice is shopping second hand which there are numerous ways to achieve. For example, shopping second-hand through locally owned thrift stores is a great way to support charities within your community. One of these local examples is the Community Thrift Shop on Main Street in Huntington, whose net profits all go towards the Hospice House.
On the other hand, online secondhand shopping is perfect for those who are looking for more variety and specificity. One example is ThredUp, which is a company that allows you to buy and sell high-quality second-hand clothing. They offer a wide range of popular and luxury brands at a fraction of the retail price. They also offer cleanout kits where you can ship clothing for donation and, depending on the retail price, can then receive a certain percentage of the profit. This is perfect for those new year’s closet cleanouts!
Secondly, another goal to make is to know the sustainability of the brand you’re shopping from. This may sound time-consuming, but websites like Good On You make it easy. As one of the world’s leading sources for fashion brand ratings, Good On You makes it simple to check a company’s rating in categories such as price point, sustainability, and ethical practices. They also have lists of sustainable brand options and alternatives, which can be filtered through depending on what you’re looking for.
It’s very important to know what your money is contributing to when purchasing clothing, particularly when supporting, often unknowingly, very unethical clothing brands.
The best way to practice sustainability is to make it work for you. So, even if these changes are made on a small scale, it still makes a difference. And with the variety of ways stated, hopefully, one becomes a new shopping habit for the new year!
