There is a new standard when it comes to fashion quality, and it’s not about the brand or the style. Where a garment is made and the condition in which it was made is the new metric for success for a brand, as consumers have a keen interest in ethical fashion. If you are just beginning your foray into eco-friendly fashion and not sure where to start or what to look for, here is a guide to ethical fashion.

Underwear

Eco-friendly fashion isn’t only about clothes and outwear, but it also starts with underwear. In recent years there has been a huge movement toward bamboo underwear and organic cotton for their soft feel and environmental qualities. Equip your underwear draw with bamboo g-strings, briefs and bras and find out why they are popular for more than just their ethical values. Bamboo lingerie can also be moisture-wicking and a better alternative to standard cotton and polyester, which is why period underwear is being made with this fabric. Explore organic cotton and bamboo underwear today and treat your skin to quality, natural underwear.

Slow fashion

You have likely heard of fast fashion and the impact it can have on our environment, but have you heard of slow fashion? Slow fashion is a movement that encourages consumers to hold on to their clothes for longer than a season, and these garments are typically made with quality materials and have minimal chemicals and harmful dyes. If you want to become an ethical and eco-conscious shopper, start looking for clothes that can be worn through seasons and are timeless enough to be enjoyed for years to come. Big retailers profit from fast fashion, and these clothes are not built to last and will break down and need to be replaced – creating more waste and pollution without longevity. Get in the habit of asking yourself – “will I wear this in a year or two to come?”

Brand values

Getting to know the values of a brand is often a good way to understand if they align with your own values. If a brand is investing in sustainable fashion and modern systems, then they are likely committed to reducing its impact. If a brand is jumping on the environmental bandwagon, but you cannot see evidence of this on their website or in the fashion tag labels – then they may not be doing anything to reduce their impact.

Sustainable influencers will often support and amplify ethical brands, so this can be an easy way of finding like-minded brands, but always do your research to confirm their business values. As consumers, we have a choice in supporting brands we love, and by showing support for ethical brands, we send a larger message to fashion manufacturers that eco-friendly fashion is the way forward.

Repair and reuse

It would be fair to say that our instinct is typically to throw away an article of clothing if they are no longer the right fit, have minimal damage or is just not our style anymore. An ethical consumer will repair and reuse clothing so that these pieces can be worn again or repurposed into something new. You might find that those pairs of jeans could be cut into short instead of thrown away, and that cord jumper might be made into a tote bag. Get creative and you might even surprise yourself to learn what is salvageable and just how clever you can be with a needle, glue gun and some great style ideas.

Look out for red flags

Fortunately, the general population is starting to understand what poor quality clothing looks like and what constitutes ethical and environmental fashion. That said, here are some red flags to look out for.

When you receive an online order, and the clothes are wrapped in lots of plastic packaging and packaging that is not recycled, recyclable or compostable – this is a red flag. Additionally, if you open the package and you can smell dye and chemicals, then this is the sign of a mass-produced piece of clothing that has likely used harmful materials and dyes. If you struggle to find garments from a brand that are bamboo, cotton, organic cotton and linen, then they likely are not choosing to design clothes with natural fabric, using polyester and nylon, which are plastic-based and take a long time to breakdown if they end up in a landfill.

Becoming an environmentally conscious consumer is about taking steps in the right direction and making better decisions with each passing transaction. When we know more, we do more, so continue your education in this space and strive to reduce your impact by making informed decisions.