Ethical Fashion Dos and Don'ts

Shopping sustainably has without a doubt gotten easier over the last years - but the idea of curating an ethical style can still be somewhat confusing. What really counts as "ethical"? What materials are sustainable, and how can you express yourself with clothing while keeping strictly to them? If you're someone who loves clothes, shopping ethically might seem limiting, but today's sustainable fashion landscape is more rich and creative than ever - and creating your sustainable style can be simpler than you think.

By Sascha Camilli 

DO buy to last.

Durability and timeless design is key in sustainable shopping. Imagine the garment you buy staying in your wardrobe for years. How does it fit into your life? Would it support you or do you imagine it becoming irrelevant in a couple of months? Choosing durable clothing also means paying attention to materials to ensure longevity. Stylist and vegan fashion advocate Rebekah Roy says: "Invest in clothing made from durable fabrics like cotton, hemp, or denim. Quality craftsmanship also ensures that garments withstand wear and tear."

DON'T wear animal skins.

Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of the climate crisis, and this isn't just limited to food but includes animal skins such as leather, wool, fur, and other animal-derived materials. Cattle ranching is responsible for 80% of deforestation rates in the Amazon, and this also involves raising cows for leather. Choosing vegan fashion can still mean wearing natural materials: a lot of sustainably made fashion is crafted from cotton, hemp, linen, and other natural textiles. Vegan leather can be made from grapes, pineapples, corn, cactus, and can even be plastic-free.

DO experiment with material innovation.

Speaking of vegan leather, material innovation has developed infinitely in the last decade. Unlike the pleather of olden days, today's vegan leathers are resistant, supple and luxurious - and made from plants. Laura Way, founder of vegan accessory brand Votch, raves about bamboo leather: "Bamboo leather is, without a doubt, my favourite vegan leather yet. The moment I came across it for our new range, I knew it was something special, having sampled lots of other materials too—it has an incredibly luxurious feel, with a buttery soft texture that’s so refined yet incredibly durable and long-lasting." 

DON'T follow trends.

The trend mentality is detrimental to sustainable fashion as it dictates that our clothes be thrown out and replaced every few months. Viewing clothing as something that can be "in" one season and "out" the next feeds into the fast-fashion mentality (at any price point, including luxury) and facilitates a harmful production cycle that results in extreme overproduction and enormous quantities of textile waste. Try to see beyond media's portrayal of trends, and don't fall prey to copying what influencers are wearing. 

DO find your personal style.

Finding your personal style is a great way to maintain durability in your wardrobe and avoid impulse purchases. By knowing what suits your personal style and what doesn't, you set yourself up for success and longevity, and avoid the throwaway mentality. Also, finding your personal style can be an infinitely fun pursuit. Rebekah Roy says, "Understanding your style personality will change how you shop and look at fashion. It’s not about following the latest trends or owning a wardrobe full of designer labels. It’s about understanding who you are and wearing clothes to express yourself."

DON'T shop for special occasions.

Ah, the special-occasion purchase. That dress bought for that one wedding, that ends up gathering dust in your wardrobe, waiting for the next wedding to come along. That on-trend design that's forgotten about once the trend has passed. Whenever choosing outfits for a special occasion, it's important to keep in mind the lifecycle of this garment after the occasion has passed. Will it have other chances to shine? Or is it a one-hit wonder? To avoid waste, choose styles you'll wear again and again.

By Sascha Camilli

About Sascha

Sascha Camilli is a vegan writer, speaker and activist. Her book Vegan Style is out now on Murdoch Books. For more about Sascha, you can read our interview with her or sign up to her newsletter Kind of Wild. 

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