It can sometimes feel as though there is no right answer when it comes to consuming fashion sustainably and ethically. The Sophie Hayes Foundation encourages everyone to consider where their clothes come from and what materials are being used to manufacture the products in our homes and in our wardrobes.
Here’s a list of tips to try next time you need something new:
Buy secondhand! Our favourites are eBay, Vinted, Depop, and local charity shops.
Clothes Swaps! Go to a local clothes swap – you can usually find clothes swaps online via social media.
Buy from ethical, sustainable companies.
Make it at home yourself! Double your efforts against exploitative fast fashion and order a piece of our stunning Liberty London fabric from our Summer Fabric Sale!
Upcycling! Try and get the most life out of what you already have and upcycle your items! This is a great way to adapt items you already have. For example, if the old pair of trousers no longer fit, add a funky pattern to the leg inseam and create more space.
How do I check if a brand is ethical and sustainable?
Firstly, understand what kind of ‘sustainable’ or ‘ethical’ you’re after (these terms can address labour practices, environmental impact, etc.) and then:
Consider what materials are being used in the products.
Look for transparency statements and information on the brand’s website.
Look for third-party certifications.
Remember to take packaging & delivery into account.
Check if sustainability is a part of their mission statement.
Check if they publish their sustainability activity, have a modern slavery statement, and set and meet sustainability goals.
Why be a conscious consumer?
Being conscious about what products you purchase impacts many things. For example, buying from an organic sustainable fashion brand can reduce the impact of creating clothing on the planet. Making your own clothes reduces the impact of others' labour being spent on making your clothes. In turn, this reduces the need for mass production of fashion (fast fashion) which we know is an industry that exploits men, women, and children around the world.
Statistics from the Fashion Industry:
Globally, 1 in 6 people works in a fashion-related job. (UNECE)
Approximately 80% of garment workers are women. This is not by chance, but the result of gender discrimination which runs through the industry. (Labour behind the label)
93% Of surveyed brands aren't paying garment workers a living wage. (Fashion Checker)
1% of prominent fashion brands disclose how many of the workers in their supply chain get paid a living wage. (The Fashion Transparency Index)
2% of garment workers globally are paid a living wage. (Collective Fashion Justice)
Of 71 leading clothing retailers in the UK, 77% believed there was a likelihood of modern slavery occurring at some stage in their supply chains. (ethicaltrade.org)
Zara creates 500 new designs for clothing each week. Shein adds 6,000 items to its online range of 600,000 daily. H&M creates over 3 billion garments per year. (The Fashion Law; BBC; Fast Company)
From a human rights and sustainability perspective, disengaging in fast fashion is more crucial than ever. Picking up our needle and thread to make do and mend is to stand up against an exploitative industry.
To double your efforts against exploitative fast fashion, why not purchase a piece of our stunning Liberty London fabric from our Summer Fabric Sale? Every order helps fund our mission of supporting survivors of modern slavery toward sustainable freedom.
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