Eco fashion
There are so many options for buying clothing, with great alternatives to expensive, new fast fashion which fills the high street and pollutes the planet.
According to the UN, the fashion industry produces up to 8% of global carbon emissions, with dyeing textiles being the second-largest cause of water pollution globally. With tonnes of textiles being burned or buried in landfill sites every day, and workers in the global textile industry often being poorly paid and working in appalling conditions, it makes sense for us to reuse and upcycle whenever we can.
Here are some ways of reducing your fashion environmental footprint:
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Charity shops
The option which Clare Matheson, Founder of Little Green Change swears by. Ideal if you love bargain hunting, giving money to charity through your purchases, and keeping your clothes-buying travel miles down.
Some, like Oxfam (UK) and Thames Hospice (Berkshire), have specialist bridal and vintage/retro shops, as well as their standard charity shops.
A number also sell clothing via their online shops (see below).
Clothes swap events
Clothes swapping, often known as Swishing, occur across the country.
Want to organise your own public event? There are some useful tips on Get Swishing. Great for a fun get-together with family & friends.
Car boot sales
Local car boot sales are a great place to buy second-hand clothing and accessories, often in great condition. They're also amazing for grabbing a bargain and keeping costs down. Perfect for baby and toddler clothes, which tend to get stained and which they grow out of very quickly. A quick search online will bring up your nearest one.
Make your own
Charity shops and online selling sites are full of textiles like bed linen and curtains, with many also having a haberdashery section. If you're creative, you could get your sowing kit out and make one of kind items, like a cartoon skirt from a kids duvet cover, or some fashionable denim shorts from torn jeans.
Keep buttons and zips from stained & damaged items, so these can be reused as well.
