Eventually, you are going to need to buy a few things. A change in size, a rip too big to repair or a desire for a little refresher. At this point, you’ve determined your why and developed a personal style. You also know what works for your lifestyle, and have maybe even have a capsule wardrobe. Now you can shop! Ethically of course!
As I’ve mentioned many times before (and likely will keep saying), your most ethical clothes are the ones you already own. But even those with the most ethical of wardrobes still sometimes need something new.
Fortunately, it is getting easier to find ethical fashion. There are countless brands that have ethics and sustainability at the core of their design process and business philosophies. Some of the mainstream brands and shops that have ethical, sustainable, or fair trade lines. Ethical fashion is becoming more mainstream. Hurray!
So, you can shop (ethically). Here are a few tips:
1. Make a plan before you go.
Determine what you are looking for and what you will settle for. This will help you eliminate impulse buys.
Try second hand first. It is easier than ever before to shop second hand. Sites like Poshmark and ThredUp, as well as ebay and any number of awesome online consignment stores allow you to search for vintage buys from home, like never before. Rather than rummaging through racks and racks at your local Goodwill, you can just do a few searches. But, Goodwill is still a great (and super cheap) option.
2. Know your ethical fashion brands.
If you must buy new, know where to shop and what brands you want to buy. Take a look at our ethical shopping guide for different shops and brands for different occasions. Nordstrom, Anthropologie, J. Crew and Madewell all have an assortment of ethical clothing. Obviously, shopping online is easier as you can head over to shops that specialize in ethical fashion, but even the mall has options if you know what you are looking for.
3. Make sure what you are buying is something you’ll wear, you love, and is made well.
You want to make sure that it lasts. No matter how ethically something is made, if you don’t love it, won’t wear it, and it won’t last, it is not ethical. Learn how to tell if something is built to last. For tips on finding buying clothes that last, take a look here.
4. Make sure it fits with what you already own.
Buy items that match with your existing clothes and lifestyle so you don’t need to add to your wardrobe just to wear something that you just added to your wardrobe.
5. Take it home, and then love and care for it.
Wear your clothes a lot, take great care of them, and then wear them again. This is the key to an ethical wardrobe.
There it is! You’ve built (and will continue to build) an ethical wardrobe. At this point, I hope you are confident in knowing that you can have the ethical wardrobe you want and love, without compromising on style. A little research and patience and your ethical wardrobe can be just as beautiful as any conventional wardrobe.
How to Build an Ethical Wardrobe When You Don’t Know Where to Begin
Step 3: Find your personal style
Step 4: Assess what you already have (and love)
Step 5: Consider a uniform or capsule wardrobe
Step 6: Clean out your closet responsibly