Spring is upon us and what a better way to show love to our mother earth than going sustainable. Sustainability means the ability to be upheld, sustained and confirmed, and it’s not just a trend that will go out of style for the next season. Being sustainable has become very important in recent years because of global warming. The fashion industry is one of the top industries to cause pollution, amounting to 20% of global industrial water pollution. Did you know that it takes 20,000 liters of water to produce one single t-shirt and a pair of jeans? Imagine wearing that pair of jeans once then discarding them because you ended up not liking the way it made you look or feel. There is nothing wrong with buying a pair of new jeans but always consider our environment before you buy.
Being pro sustainable doesn’t just mean buying less, planting trees and recycling. Buying higher-quality staple pieces is also doing your part in being sustainable friendly. Always ask yourself a few questions before making a clothing purchase. Will I be using this for seasons and seasons to come? Will I get my money worth by using it as much as possible? How relatable is this piece of clothing in my closet? Will you use it to create different outfits? It is always best to purchase something you will want to use over and over again.
Recycling doesn’t only apply to plastic and paper. In this case, second-hand shopping, or recycling, is the way a person can start helping the world immediately. More commonly known as thrift shopping, it has become very popular in the United States as much as in the United Kingdom. According to statistics, consumers throw away, not recycle or donate, around 70 pounds per person every single year of clothing, shoes, and accessories. All of that ends up in our landfills. The solution would be to donate and recycle. There are many thrift stores where you can sell and trade clothing. No need to get bored with a shirt and throw it away, just go and sell or trade at those places.
Buying ethically made clothes is another way that could help the planet. It is understandable not everyone has the money to buy the more expensive pieces of clothing that are safe for the planet, but there are things you can do to prevent the damage of the clothes you already purchased by simply taking care of the pieces of clothes you already own. Even if it is made of the cheapest material, try to limit wash cycles. This not only saves water but it limits the number of chemicals that end up in our water supply. Every time a synthetic fabric, such as polyester or nylon, is washed, a small percentage of microfibers go into our water supply which leads to oceans and thus effecting underwater life. Washing jeans every time you use them is quite harmful to our environment. It takes about 6 months for a brand new pair of jeans to mold to your body so it is okay to use them and put them away for months (once again, saving water and saving the amazing pair of jeans that look amazing on you).
Thank you for reading the post. I will leave a few links of stores where they accept clothes to trade and they are also a great thrift store to shop at. Have an amazing day!!!! Walk in love babes!
Lucy Sanchez (@fashionably_thrifty)
Fashion Blogger
SHE Magazine USA
