Nine Easy Ways To Get Into Ethical Fashion<\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cTreat others as you wish to be treated.<\/em>\u201d It\u2019s a simple philosophy, and you\u2019ve probably heard it a million times – I know I heard it more than enough when I was growing up.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a phrase that is quite deeply ingrained in the way I behave today. I like making small talk with the postman when he\u2019s got a delivery for me, and even when I\u2019m mouthing off on Twitter I try to make sure there\u2019s a moral to my story, something to learn from and improve on!<\/p>\n So I was deeply troubled a few years ago when I learnt that the clothes I was buying caused poverty and pain for millions of fashion industry workers. It was one of those revolutionary moments, looking down at a dainty dress and wondering how such a pretty thing can come from system of exploitation, poor working conditions, and even death.<\/p>\n Luckily, there are ways to source clothes in an ethical fashion (see what I did there?<\/em>)<\/p>\n And they\u2019re good clothes at that: forget the stereotypical hemp hoodies and dreadlocks, this is fashion that is modern, well-made and readily available too.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s my list of easy ways to switch up your wardrobe and feel better about the clothes you wear:<\/p>\n 1. Watch The True Cost<\/strong><\/p>\n If you\u2019re new to the ethical fashion movement, I really recommend you take a peek at the way the majority of high street fashion is produced. Documentaries such as The True Cost<\/a> (currently on Netflix) will open your eyes to the plight many people are suffering because we\u2019re used to buying cheap clothes without knowing the consequences.<\/p>\n 2. Learn ethical fashion lingo<\/strong><\/p>\n This could be a guide unto itself really. There are a lot of different descriptors for ethical fashion, and it\u2019s worth knowing what each one means and where your preferences lie:<\/p>\n 2. Unsubscribe from fast fashion<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to escape the temptation of new trends, accessories, it-bags, etc. when they\u2019re bombarding you across social media and even in your inbox. Unsubscribe from brands that don\u2019t fit with your own ethics.<\/p>\n 3. Read ethical fashion blogs<\/strong><\/p>\n Ethical fashion blogs are popping up across the world, and provide a constant stream of inspiration. Personally I\u2019ve found there\u2019s a lot more movement in the USA, and it\u2019s slowly creeping across the Atlantic to the UK. Here\u2019s my ethical blog directory<\/a> to help you get started.<\/p>\n 4. Demand transparency<\/strong><\/p>\n Now it\u2019s time to start looking for ethical fashion brands. The easiest way to spot ethical fashion brands is the way they use their ethics as selling points, rather than hiding them under their FAQ page coded in lawyer-speak. Stella McCartney<\/a> proudly declares it is a vegetarian company and makes whimsical videos on deforestation<\/a> for example.<\/p>\n There are tools out there to help, too. Apps such as Not My Style rate brands based on transparency, while sites like Project Just provide a crowdsourced database to refer to.<\/p>\n 5. Invest time in your wardrobe<\/strong><\/p>\n Whatever your style, there is ethical fashion out there to suit you. Getting into ethical fashion also involves changing your buying habits: with less trends, your wardrobe will slowly become a selection of classic pieces and accessories. It\u2019s therefore a good idea to invest time working out your style at the start of your journey to ensure you\u2019ll love your clothes for as long as they last you.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also important to respect that the clothes you currently own: they may not come from ethical manufacturers, but they\u2019re yours now and they\u2019re your style!<\/p>\n 5. Fuss over fabrics<\/strong><\/p>\n Knowing the fabric composition of your clothes is actually a great indicator as to its ethical credentials. Natural fibres such as cotton, wool, flax, and yes, hemp, are renewable and biodegradable<\/a>, while often making for a better garment too. Better still is organic materials, which reduce the use of pesticides – a positive for the planet and the people growing them.<\/p>\n 6. Try vegan fashion (with caution)<\/strong><\/p>\n By reducing our demand for leather, we reduce our general demand for the meat industry and its harmful emissions<\/a>. Vegan fashion is on the rise: Votch produces vegan leather watches, Matt & Nat create vegan bags and shoes. Both use eco-friendly materials to do so, but vegan leather can sometimes be used to describe petroleum-based products<\/a> – not a good alternative.<\/p>\n 7. Give it a second life<\/strong><\/p>\n Second-hand items provide a handy ethical fashion loophole: items that would otherwise be going to waste are now up for grabs. Try using eBay<\/a> and searching under \u201cUsed\u201d to find clothes you would like on a budget. It\u2019s not the perfect solution, so if you prefer, try charity shops (Oxfam even has an online charity shop<\/a>) where your money will do good too.<\/p>\n 8. Rent your wardrobe<\/strong><\/p>\n Sometimes, you just need a new dress. I know, I\u2019ve been there! It might be an important work event, or a wedding, and it seems frivolous to buy a special dress for one occasion. Instead, try renting ethical couture from sites like Wear The Walk.<\/p>\n 9. Ask for better<\/strong><\/p>\n Ethical fashion is still in its infancy, but it\u2019s growing fast. It\u2019s important to vote with your money, but also spread the word about the ethical options out there. Even celebrities like Emma Watson are doing so – her ethical fashion Instagram page The Press Tour<\/a> has over 500,000 followers. Take part in the Fashion Revolution<\/a> by praising the brands with ethical practices, and asking shadier stores #WhoMadeMyClothes<\/em>?<\/p>\n This post has been published on HuffPost\u2019s blogging platform. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and should not be taken as those of HuffPost. HuffPost does not allow bloggers to acquire products, access or accommodation for review in the site\u2019s name.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \nwww.huffingtonpost.co.uk\/entry\/nine-easy-ways-to-get-into-ethical-fashion_uk_5a52094fe4b0cd114bdb3424<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Nine Easy Ways To Get Into Ethical Fashion \u201cTreat others as you wish to be treated.\u201d It\u2019s a simple philosophy, and you\u2019ve probably heard it a million times – I know I heard it more than enough when I was growing up. It\u2019s a phrase that is quite deeply ingrained in the way I behave … Continue reading Nine Easy Ways To Get Into Ethical Fashion<\/span> \n