I love fashion. I love clothes. I love shopping.
The latter has become somewhat problematic. I have always tried to adopt a thoughtful approach to shopping, as in before a purchase, I pose the question, "do I love it?". Depending on the answer, the item is either left, or bought to set up residence in the comfort of my welcoming wardrobe.
More recently, I have tried to expand this thoughtfulness to more than just material love. I have made a conscious effort to think more broadly. Still I consider how much I like the item. Then I think about the potential outfit possibilities. Of course cost factors into it. But now I think about the environmental impact. Am I buying into a trend or is this a lifelong item? What is it made from? Where did it come from? And more and more am I choosing to buy my wears secondhand to fulfil many of the above quandaries.
I am not against fast-fashion. It makes fashion attainable for the masses. However, I am not ignorant to the issues of mass production and the impact that fashion waste has on the environment. Following Stacey Dooley's documentary 'Fashion's Dirty Secrets', I was truly astounded by the fact that fashion is the third most polluting industry (after coal and oil).
And it would seem that many have had this awakening of conscience, as the impact on the climate has transcended to that of the fashion climate. The recent BAFTA awards added a caveat to the dress code that requested stars re-wear or hire clothing over buying new. And when asked what she hoped to see more of on the runways, Anna Wintour expressed her hope that designers "would be mindful of sustainability and clothes that are meaningful and made to last". Which was the exact message that informed Mulberry England's LFW show as looks were accessorised with the mantra "low waste is good taste".
Websites like Vestiaire Collective, By Rotation Collective and the OG, eBay have risen in popularity, as not only can a bargain be found, but the lesser impact on the environment is priceless. Re-wear, repair and recycle has become a mantra to be lived by. And although any and every effort to aid in the reparation of the environment is to be commended, it is very much the zeitgeist to embrace buzzwords for the sake of a hashtag and increased insta cred. However, in this instance I would adopt the adage 'all publicity is good publicity' as despite the motivation, the environmental impact is still lessened nonetheless.
Websites like Vestiaire Collective, By Rotation Collective and the OG, eBay have risen in popularity, as not only can a bargain be found, but the lesser impact on the environment is priceless. Re-wear, repair and recycle has become a mantra to be lived by. And although any and every effort to aid in the reparation of the environment is to be commended, it is very much the zeitgeist to embrace buzzwords for the sake of a hashtag and increased insta cred. However, in this instance I would adopt the adage 'all publicity is good publicity' as despite the motivation, the environmental impact is still lessened nonetheless.
With the collective focus shifting from trend-led to trend-less, it is far easier to shop better. Of course shopping less is the most beneficial, but banning oneself completely is not necessarily a viable answer. Whilst abstaining from ever buying an item of clothing ever again is unlikely, shopping smarter is something that we can all educate ourselves on. Whether you call it charity shopping, vintage shopping, thrifting; shopping secondhand is not only better for the environment but the satisfaction of finding a long sought after item is addictive.
I recently set myself the goal of shopping vintage alternatives to new items that I have been fancying. My first item of choice was a leather blazer. I trawled eBay and found so many great options and then by chance wandered into a charity shop and amongst the misshapen jumpers, found the leather blazer. Good quality, good price and good for the environment.
My second item was a trench coat. I almost bought one in the H&M sale (I'm not impervious to a high street bargain, though my restraint has grown). Said H&M variation was deceivingly heavy, which was not something I was necessarily looking for in a trench and the belt was missing. I walked away and would you believe it, the very next day I found the perfect trench coat in none other than my mother's Antique shop. The satisfaction was tangible and the purchase, a sustainable one.
Whilst I can appreciate that not everyone likes the thought of wearing preowned garments, eBay is full of items still with the tags on, or items bought for that special occasion, never to be worn again. And with the rise of apps to rent the latest fashions, even the newest of trends can be bought into guilt-free. And for those that like the highstreet, current season items often feature on resale sites, so a bargain needn't mean old and outdated.
(Photos : Unknown)
