It won't surprise you to know that I LOVE fashion. I love getting creative with outfits. I love watching the runway shows and seeing how designers are pushing the limits and using fashion as an art form. I also went to school for apparel design and worked in the industry after college. It wasn't until a few years ago that I started to realize and see first-hand how wasteful and unethical the fashion industry truly is. I began to read up on regulations and sustainability and WOW was it eye opening.
Let's Look At The Stats
The fashion industry is one of the least regulated and most wasteful industries in the world. It accounts for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than all flights and shipping emissions combined.
Garment production is also the second biggest consumer of water. To put this into perspective, it takes 1,800 gallons of water to make the cotton for a single pair of jeans.
The Fashion industry is only growing too - The number of garments produced annually has doubled since 2000 and exceeded 100 billion for the first time in 2014.
What Can We Do?
Ultimately the biggest question we need to answer is how can we put an end to fast fashion and keep garments from getting tossed into landfills?
I know I'm not the only one who probably feels discouraged by the price point and lack of variety offered by some of the more sustainable and natural clothing brands. I love simplicity, but I also enjoy getting creative and adding a flare to my outfits. This is why second hand shopping is my best friend when it comes to creating a unique, sustainable and affordable wardrobe.
We, as consumers, have the spending power to change the wasteful cycle of the fashion industry. Large clothing brands respond to our actions and demands. I invite you to join me in slowing down, shopping intentionally, and lengthening the garment life-cycle by shopping second hand!
Guilt-Free Shopping
You may be familiar with large thrifting sites such as ThredUP and Poshmark, but did you know that these 9 clothing brands also have second-hand shops right on their sites?
Comment below if you're a fan of second-hand shopping or want to start now! I would love hear your thoughts and if there are any other sites you love for vintage and thrifty finds:) Together, we can change the course of the fashion industry and help fight against climate change.
xx
Emily