Reducing clothing waste is a deeply important part of my business model. Shopping with sustainability in mind supports ethical labor practices, makes a positive impact on the environment, and is much more affordable in the long run! Most clothes that are available in stores today are made through a model called fast fashion. Essentially, retailers will churn out cheaply made new designs at a crazy pace (one of the worst offenders is the brand Shien which can produce up to 10,000 new designs a day). Some other fast fashion brands include Zara, H&M, Gap, ASOS, Fashion Nova, Nike, Cider, Temu, Anthropologie, Hot Topic, Urban Outfitters, Target, and Victoria's Secret. 

Many fast fashion clothes don't even make it to retailers, they will end up getting incinerated or dumped directly into landfills. The ones that do make it to consumers don't last much longer. The average American buys 63 new items of clothing a year, and an average piece of clothing only gets worn 7 times. Fast fashion has a horrific environmental impact, producing more CO2 every year than France, Germany, and the UK combined! Fast fashion is also built on gruesome human rights abuses like sweat shop labor, child labor, and slavery.

I will never judge anybody for buying fast fashion because that's unfortunately the type of clothing that is most accessible and affordable for people. However, I will always encourage my clients to buy from small, sustainably made brands whenever possible, and here are a few reasons why!

1. They are made better and will last longer. Although the initial price will be much higher, you won't have to constantly replace your clothes as they wear out. 

2. When you buy fast fashion, you're more likely to buy a bunch of clothes you don't really like. It's easy to justify impulsive purchases when the clothes are so cheap. When you make an investment in higher quality clothes, you're more likely to make thoughtful purchases that you'll enjoy more and keep for longer.

3. They're made from more sensory friendly materials! The majority of fast fashion is made of synthetic materials (essentially - plastic!) which can be extremely irritating, to the skin, especially for neurodivergent folks. Small, sustainable brands tend to make things out of soft natural fibers like cotton or bamboo that are better for the environment and for you!

4. As I've mentioned, fast fashion relies on horrific human rights violations like sweat shop labor, child labor and slavery. It is also one of the leading contributors to climate change! Buying from small, sustainably made brands ensures that the workers making your clothes are treated well, paid a living wage, and minimize the environmental impact. 

Thrifting is another great way buy clothes more sustainably and affordably and I am a huge fan of thrifting! At the same time, it's important to note that because of the high volume of fast fashion, many thrift stores are also full to the brim with fast fashion clothes. Thrift stores are a really important piece of the puzzle for shopping sustainably, but it cannot be the only solution! That's why investing in the alternative (ethically and sustainably made small clothing brands) is just as important as thrifting.

Learn more about the fast fashion industry with this entertaining and super informative video by Climate Town.