For most of my life I didn’t know ethical fashion was a thing. I didn’t give a thought to how clothing brands treated their workers and the environment.
Considering ethical fashion means asking questions like, does a brand pays its factory workers living wages? How is a brand minimizing its negative impact on the environment?
I had no idea that information about the ethics of fashion brands is available! Being aware and knowledgeable about the ethics of fashion brands is possible, and it’s really important.
We absolutely can become informed and choose to limit our purchases from brands harming people and the environment. And, there is an abundance of brands we can support who are being transparent with their practices, enforcing high standards of rights for their workers and factories, and limiting their negative environmental impact!
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Here’s a quick run-down on what ethical fashion involves, according to the Ethical Fashion Forum:
1. Laborer Rights: defending fair wages and working conditions.
Slavery exists in the world today. Let’s not support slavery by supporting brands that underpay and overwork their workers, especially their factory workers.
I believe all people are created equal and deserve to be treated fairly and with respect. So, it’s important to me to support brands that are going out of their way to treat all employees justly and honorably.
2. Environmental Sustainability
It’s also important for brands to do the following for environmental sustainability:
- Avoid the use of toxic chemicals.
- Ensure sustainability in their material usage.
- Minimize their water use.
- Recycle.
- Increase energy efficiency.
- Produce less waste.
If we viewed every dollar we spend on clothing as a vote, what kinds of human rights treatments and environmental impacts are we voting for?
Resources to Help Us Out
As you consider these things, you can decide for yourself which issues are most important to you.
With Rankabrand.org and Ethical Consumer you can search and see overall ethical ratings for brands and how they compare to each other. DoneGood is a site with a searchable directory of brands that are doing good to people and the environment. They offer a free browser extension that notifies you of ethical brand options as you browse the web or search online!
The True Cost is a captivating documentary all about the ethical issues surrounding fashion. You can find it on Amazon where its description reads:
“This is a story about clothing. It’s about the clothes we wear, the people who make them and the impact it’s having on our world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades, while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically.”
Watching it was very eye-opening and moving for me. Seeing the faces of the people affected by our choices in fashion and hearing their stories was impacting. I would highly recommend it.
Cost of Ethical Fashion and Fast Fashion
A big holdup for a lot of people is that, let’s face it, buying ethically sourced clothing can cost a lot more. This is where the idea of combatting fast fashion comes in.
Fast fashion is the idea that clothing is disposable, and that you should update your wardrobe with each new season. It’s why clothing is often made cheaply, so it can be priced cheaply, then it wears out quickly, so you have to buy more. This vicious cycle is designed to cause you to spend more and always be discontent with what you have. Plus, it creates ridiculous amounts of waste.
(In an article about clothing waste, you can read about how Americans throw away 14 million tons of clothing each year and 80% of it ends up in landfills. Also check out my guide on how to successfully sell your clothes on eBay rather than throwing them away.)
Sustainable Ethical Brands
Thankfully, there’s a better way!
Many sustainable brands around the world are taking initiative to create clothing lines that are more affordable, sustainable, and designed to last. After doing lots of research, I have curated lists of my favorite sustainable and ethical brands for both men and women. They include apparel, shoes, bags, jewelry, lingerie, and more.
Check out my post of 25 Ethical Clothing Brands for Women and 16 Ethical Clothing Brands for Men for trendy clothing lines that are made sustainably and ethically.
Keep in mind that in combatting fast fashion, we need to view clothing items as investments. Investing in classic, quality pieces means paying a little more for something that will last.
Thrifting
If you aren’t able to buy from these brands, another extremely affordable and fun option for shopping ethically is thrifting.
A friend of mine runs a blog called Unwrinkling on “Fashion, theologically and thoughtfully considered,” and she wrote an article on thrifting as an excellent option for frugal shoppers who want to shop ethically.
