With the widespread popularity of fast-fashion, some consumers are turning against the tide and advocating towards slow-fashion practices. To learn more about slow-fashion, you can read my article about what this concept means by clicking this link. Since this lifestyle stands for using sustainable habits as designers and consumers, it’s time to define simple practices that consumers can adopt in their shopping habits.

Alyssa Lau Explaining Second Hand Shopping

In an interview with All The Pretty Birds to the canadian Content Creator, Blogger and Ecostylist Alyssa Lau, Lau listed some ways to buy sustainably. Firstly, you can buy from brands who abide by Fair Trade laws and explicitly state their process. Some shops and brands that comply with these sustainable processes and guidelines are:

Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

By buying ethical businesses, we can push the fashion industry towards a more transparent path. Supporting local designers and small brands is another way of helping the industry shift gears. Other ways to get your clothing through sustainable practices that are more budget friendly are by:

  • Buying through thrift shops such as Electroshock and Tropi Trades
  • Swapping items with your friends
  • Repurposing and “upcycling” garments
  • Buying secondhand items through platforms such as Poshmark or Depop.

According to Alyssa in the interview, “buying one item used over new reduces its carbon footprint by 82%, while also saving it from landfills or flooding the local markets in developing nations”.  There is a long way to go in order to break free from the fast-fashion trend, but by adopting some of these practices, you can help create a change for the better in the industry.