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Original clothing item

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Original item upcycled

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Another outfit by 6th year

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Original item from 6th years outfit

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Outfit from 6th year student

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Fancy giving your wardrobe a new lease of life but don't want to spend money on more clothes? Give your old clothes a makeover (and help the environment) with these upcycling ideas.
Everyone knows that fast fashion (constantly buying new, cheap clothes) is bad for the environment and society too. For example, it takes 20,000 litres of water to make a single t-shirt and pair of jeans, and across the globe, we consume 80 billion pieces of clothing each year.

Selling your clothes is a great way to keep your wardrobe fresh and earn some money, but if there's some stuff you're attached to or you've got clothes that are too old to donate, then upcycling is the way forward!

There are loads of creative ways you can reuse your old clothes. If you get it right, you could end up upgrading your clothes into things you love even more than you did previously. Here are our top upcycling ideas for inspiration!

If you're up for this upcycling lark but don't actually have any clothes you'd be happy practising on in case it all goes horribly wrong, check out charity shops, or look online if you've got any vintage kilo sales in your area (where clothes are sold by weight - we kid you not!).

What to do with old clothes

Here are nine creative things you can do with old clothes and the best ways to repurpose them if you're struggling to come up with a solution:

1. Make your own glitter trainers

If you've got a scruffy pair of Converse that you can't bear to part with, then Love Maegan has the solution. Give them a glow-up by covering them in glitter, diamonds or whatever else you fancy.

All you need is heaps of (environmentally friendly) glitter and some fabric glue. Your best bet is to mix the glitter with the glue when you apply it, and add an extra layer of glue on top afterwards to keep everything in place - the last thing you want is to be leaving a trail of glitter wherever you go.

You can also dye your laces to match, or even switch them for sparkly ribbon instead. Your new night out trainers are sorted!

2. Turn your favourite t-shirts into a duvet cover

It's a shame when you collect tour t-shirts from your favourite gigs or festivals over the years, only for them to end up being used as pyjamas. Or maybe you're holding on to some seriously ragged jumpers and t-shirts that you never wear anymore, but which have real sentimental value.

Either way, a great way to avoid chucking these out and bringing them into the limelight instead is by turning them into a magnificent duvet cover - a great idea from Stars for Streetlights.

This one is a bigger job, and you'll need something called 'l ightweight fusible iron-on interfacing fabric' to stop the t-shirts from stretching - don't worry though, it's super cheap to buy and you can grab some here.

If you don't have access to a sewing machine, it might take a while to get all the sewing done, but the extra effort is definitely worth it!

3. Cut a t-shirt into a halter neck top

If you've got an old baggy t-shirt that you never wear anymore, why not give it a new lease of life by turning it into a halter neck top?

This method by Versace my Body is super easy to follow and can be done by pretty much anyone.

Again, a sewing machine will make this much easier, but you can hand sew if you've got a bit of extra time (and patience). Other than that you'll just need some paper to plan out your pattern, some scissors and pins.

If you want to repurpose some of your old clothes for summer, then this is the perfect solution.

4. Turn old jumpers into cushion covers

You can turn pretty much anything into a cushion cover, so this works for old t-shirts just as much as jumpers. But old fluffy jumpers are perfect for making cushion covers that'll make your uni room look that much cosier.

You'll need some of that fusible interfacing we mentioned above, to ensure the jumper material maintains its shape and doesn't stretch.

This method is super easy to do, and you can literally make the covers in minutes - Hallmark Channel have astraightforward method to follow.

Bonus tip: Try this out with any university hoodies you have and you'll have a nice souvenir for after graduation!

5. Put your favourite t-shirts in a frame

If you have any old band t-shirts, football strips or sentimental hoodies, then turning them into artwork is the perfect way to give them the airtime they deserve.

Plus, if you use At Home with the Barkers' method, you can get this done in seconds. Simply buy a smart new frame and use it to plot out a matching square on the t-shirt.

Cut out the square, tape it to the inside of the frame to keep it straight, and voila!

6. Make your own chokers

Chokers have made a huge comeback recently, but you don't need to fork out cash to buy them on the high street.

Making them yourself is really easy to do - no sewing required - although you will have to invest in some materials to get started.

Track down a fabric shop in your local area, and choose your favourite ribbons and lace. Velvet is a timeless classic and easy to work with, but you can use pretty much anything.

You can also buy some charms to hang on to the front of the choker if you want some extra embellishment.

Once you've measured and cut your ribbon, get yourself some press buttons and glue these to either side. This will enable you to clasp the necklace at the back.

If the stuff you make is of a good quality, you could try selling it on online! Platforms like Depop and Etsy are great for this, and could help you make some extra income while your study!

7. Cut jeans into shorts

Don't know what to do with your old jeans? Simply grab a pair of scissors and turn them into shorts.

Try them on first to make sure you get the right length, and then you can either fold up the edges or leave them loose to fray.

To give them some extra pizzazz, grab some scrap patterned material and use it to make (or cover) the pockets - like these ones by Delightfully Kristi.

8. Use material scraps to make hand warmers

This is a great option for any unwanted clothes you have that are made of strong material without much elastic to them (so t-shirts and jumpers won't work for this, but shirts will, as will some skirts and dresses). They also make excellent birthday and Christmas presents.

Cut the material you have into roughly 5" x 5" squares and some extra squares the same size in a simple flannel material to double up and make the packs extra strong.

Once you've sewn the squares together and filled them with uncooked rice, blast them in the microwave for 30 seconds and you've got a great little hand warmer for those cold mornings.

You can also create longer packs out of trouser legs that can then be placed along the bottom of your bed to keep your feet warm during the winter months! Check out Bee in my Bonnet's full tutorial for details on how to get started.

9. Turn a baggy t-shirt into a dress

If you've got a t-shirt which is now way too big for you, or a family member is trying to get rid of one, try experimenting with ways to upcycle it. With all the extra material to play around with, there are loads of options!

There are tonnes of tutorials online, so get searching on YouTube and check out Pinterest for some amazing how-to guides and pictures. If they're extra big tops, they can double up as jersey dresses, for instance.

Find out how upcycling helped one eco-friendly student create a super-popular Instagram account showing off her stunning second-hand clothes.

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Fancy giving your wardrobe a new lease of life but don't want to spend money on more clothes? Give your old clothes a makeover (and help the environment) with these upcycling ideas. Everyone knows that fast fashion (constantly buying new, cheap clothes) is bad for the environment and society too.

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Search for charity shops in your area here

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Search for charity shops in your area here

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Shops | ICSA - Irish Charity Shops Association

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The Irish Charity Shops Association is the umbrella organisation for registered charities who operate shops as part of their fundraising activities. We are funded by our 40 charity members, who operate over 470 shops nationwide. We support our members in running their charity shops to the highest standards, the proceeds of which help to fund much needed services in many communities nationwide.

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The Irish Charity Shops Association is the umbrella organisation for registered charities who operate shops as part of their fundraising activities. We are funded by our 40 charity members, who operate over 470 shops nationwide. We support our members in running their charity shops to the highest standards, the proceeds of which help to fund much needed services in many communities nationwide.

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The Hospice Shop Roscommon located at Castle Street sells a mixture of items from new & used quality clothes, BRIC-A-BRAC, and Books. Every time you donate to Hospice you are helping us to care for your community.

The shop is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Call us on 087 387 9248 or email us info@hospice.ie

Click on the map below for directions to our Hospice Shop in Roscommon.

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The Hospice Shop Roscommon located at Castle Street sells a mixture of items from new & used quality clothes, BRIC-A-BRAC, and Books. Every time you donate to Hospice you are helping us to care for your community. The shop is open from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday.

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This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

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Our Vincent's shops are a very important aspect of the service SVP provides. Find your local shop using the map on this page.

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The Irish Charity Shops Association is the umbrella organisation for registered charities who operate shops as part of their fundraising activities. We are funded by our 40 charity members, who operate over 470 shops nationwide. We support our members in running their charity shops to the highest standards, the proceeds of which help to fund much needed services in many communities nationwide.

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Unleash your inner designer with these upcycling methods.

Let the enhanced community quarantine test your inner creative and finally push you to revamp your entire closet. If you have tons of shirts, jeans, and sneakers that you rarely use or worn the life of, you should consider upcycling these pieces into something new. Upcycling is the new recycling and its not just about rewearing your pre-loved pieces but it's more of breathing new life into them through deconstruction.

Rewearing your clothes is the most conscious decision you can do to promote a better sustainable lifestyle. Apart from supporting sustainably made T-shirts, why not recreate one in the comfort of your own home? Apart from its beneficial contribution to our planet, the best thing about upcycling your wardrobe is its literally for your own good. We all know that the lockdown is a true test of the times. Make your self-quarantine period a time for self-check and productivity.

We're starting off with revamping pieces you can commonly find in your closet and even in your beau's closet-if given permission. For each fashion piece there will be inspirations and a tutorial to follow the entire upcycling process. Make sure to take notes and adjust accordingly!

T-shirts
First things first, T-shirts are heaven-sent and there's no other fashion piece that shall last a lifetime. T-shirts are versatile and everyone has probably over 10 pieces of these or more. It's a fashion piece that won't ever run out of style and if it ever will, it's still the easiest to revamp. Breathe new life to your T-shirts by completely cutting it into half and attaching it to another-twist, sew, or simply cut it up. Upcycling a shirt is like diving into the dessert counter in a buffet, the design ideas are limitless!

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New Lockdown Project: Upcycle Your Clothes Into Something New! Here's How

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Let the enhanced community quarantine test your inner creative and finally push you to revamp your entire closet. If you have tons of shirts, jeans, and sneakers that you rarely use or worn the life of, you should consider upcycling these pieces into something new.

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Singapore produced 168,000 tonnes of textile and leather waste last year. We have also been producing more waste since we started staying home for the circuit breaker.

Instead of throwing away unused clothes and accessories that will generate more waste, why not try repurposing them?

Here are some upcycle under-utilised pieces in your wardrobe and reduce your own fashion waste.

1. Crop oversized sweaters

This is the easiest way to transform your old, baggy sweaters into something that's more in style now.

All you have to do is cut off the bottom of your sweater using a pair of fabric scissors.

I recommend cutting slightly lower than where you want your new cropped sweater to end, in case it ends up being too short.

Here's a detailed YouTube tutorial you can follow.

You can also use the fabric allowance to hem the sweater so you won't have raw edges.

2. Turn an old purse into a belt bag

I've always wanted one of those trendy belt bags from ASOS, but they retail for upwards of $20.

If you're like me and don't have that kind of money to blow on a tiny bag, try these steps to transform a crossbody purse into a belt bag.

First, untangle the knots in the strap.

Next, remove one end of the strap and thread the opposite end through the holes.

All that's left is to adorn the bag on your waist and tie the ends of the strap behind your back.

3. Use fabric paint to cover up stains on jeans

If you feel your jeans look too plain or you have small stains on them that you can't get rid of, paint your designs on them!

For this project, you'll need acrylic paint, fabric painting medium, paintbrushes, masking tape, a charcoal pencil or an artist's pen. And of course, your jeans.

Before you start to paint on your jeans though, do wash and dry them so you can get rid of any dust that lingers.

If you're painting the jean pocket, tape off the area around it so there won't be any paint smudges.

You can see how YouTuber Maddie Cuan paints her jeans in the tutorial here.

Remember to only remove the masking tape once your paint dries!

One tip to prevent your paint from cracking after it dries is to turn your jeans inside out and iron the part you painted to make sure the paint sets.

I actually tried painting an old pair of jeans with my sister. It was a fun and therapeutic experience (with my sister doing most of the work).

We decided on a simpler design since we're not really artists.

4. Turn an old knit t-shirt into a grocery bag for produce

All you need is a knit t-shirt, scissors, marker or fabric chalk and basic sewing supplies.

This reusable grocery bag will be great for holding your fruits and vegetables from your supermarket trips.

You can find a detailed tutorial on how to make your own produce bag here.

5. Turn fabric scrap and elastic into scrunchies

When doing upcycling projects, you'll probably have some chunks of fabric left over. Don't throw them away just yet!

With just some fabric, elastic or an old hair tie (and basic sewing supplies of course), you can create pretty scrunchies that will hold your hair in place all day.

Although this tutorial requires you to sew, you can take the easy way out and use a hot glue gun instead!

6. Print your own graphics onto a shirt using transfer paper

You'll need a printer, scissors, transfer paper, an iron and an old plain t-shirt for this project.

What's great about this project is that you can create your own designs and customise what you want to be printed on your shirt.

This tutorial shows the difference between using light and dark transfer papers.

Do note that you have to mirror your image or design 90 degrees before printing on light transfer paper so that it will appear right side out when you transfer it onto your shirt.

Also, wait for your t-shirt to cool completely before peeling off the transfer paper backing so you don't hurt yourself.

The next time you clean out your closet and end up with a big pile of clothes you want to get rid of, try repurposing them using these ideas or donate them instead!

Doing these upcycling projects with your family is also a great way to pass the time.

BANNER AND TEASER PHOTO CREDIT: YOUTH.SG/ANIS NABILAH

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Easy ways you can upcycle and repurpose old clothes and accessories

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Singapore produced 168,000 tonnes of textile and leather waste last year. We have also been producing more waste since we started staying home for the circuit breaker. Instead of throwing away unused clothes and accessories that will generate more waste, why not try repurposing them?

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If you've got a closet full of clothing that doesn't fit or isn't flattering, you don't have to dump it all at the thrift store drop-off. There's another solution: upcycle it! That old clothing is actually like having an extra stash of fabric, ready to be sewn! Here are 100 ways to upcycle the clothes in your closet.

Whether you convert it into something more wearable for you or turn it into something completely different, the possibilities are endless with a few old clothes and a little imagination.

100 Ways to Upcycle Your Closet
Clothing too small? Here are some creative ways to make it fit!
1. Lengthen a dress with lace

2. Pullover to cardigan

4. Sweater with fabric inserts

5. Too-small shirt solution
Too Big: Take it in, make it new!
7. Frumpy to comfy hoodie (pictured)

8. Gigantic sweater refashion

9. How to make jeans into skinny jeans

10. Oversize dress refashion (pictured)

11. Oversize shirt to maternity top (pictured)

12. Oversize tee to bolero cardi

13. Oversize tee to dress super cute!

14. Sweatshirt liposuction looks so comfy!

15. Thrifted dress redo
Cover it Up: Got a stain or a tear? Here are some clever ways to cover it up and keep wearing the item!
16. Cardigan embellishment pictured

20. Elbow patches pictured

21. Jeweled raglan sweatshirt

22. Lace inset jeans my daughter would love these

25. Top + Sweater into Cardigan

26. Tank with doily insert
Make it New: It used to be a T-shirt, now it's your favorite skirt! An old button-down becomes a new blouse. Make it new, make it YOU!
27. 10-minute skirt pictured

31. Braided T-shirt belt pictured

32. Braided Fabric bracelet

33. Button-down refashion

34. Downton-inspired tank

35. Fingerless mittens pictured

38. Kids lounge pants these are great!

44. Recycled T-shirt necklace

45. Rocker shirt pictured

47. Swants (sweater pants) pictured

52. The Skirt that was a Shirt

53. Three Tees Dress pictured

54. Tie dye swim cover-up

58. T-shirt dress for girls

60. T-shirt into strappy tank I LOVE these!

61. T-shirt memory scarf

63. T-shirt pencil skirt

65. Two shirts into one top
Raid his closet: Raid a man's closet and make his clothes into something new for yourself or someone else.
72. Flannel infinity scarf

74. Long-sleeved two-tone tee

75. Necktie cuff bracelet very cool!

80. Shirt dress WOW, you would never guess this was a refashion!

81. Suited vest pictured
Switch It Up: You don't have to make your clothes into more clothes - there are plenty of other ways to upcycle it into something else entirely.
86. Bandana & jean tablecloth

88. Denim & flannel quilt

97. Sweater pillows SO pretty!

99. pictured

101. Wall pocket panel pictured
Further reading ...
The Anatomy of an Upcycled Sweater - 8 projects from one thrift-store find!

This is one of those posts you will want to refer to over and over again for different ways to upcycle your clothing. So, don't forget to PIN THIS for easy finding!

Still want more???? Check out these fantastic rounds up filled with crazy inspiration to help keep you stitching!

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Feel free to connect with me on Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram. I look forward to getting to know you and stitching up a storm!

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100 Ways to Upcycle your clothing - The Sewing Loft

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If you've got a closet full of clothing that doesn't fit or isn't flattering, you don't have to dump it all at the thrift store drop-off. There's another solution: upcycle it! That old clothing is actually like having an extra stash of fabric, ready to be sewn!

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Here are a few examples and why we need to adapt to slow fashion now and stop fast fashion:

The consequences of fast fashion

The widespread use of synthetic fibers and specifically polyester has the biggest impact on the environment. Polyester emits up to three times carbon dioxide than other fibers such as cotton. It can also take hundreds of years to degrade yet more than 50 percent of clothes are made from this material. Due to increased consumption in the form of fast fashion, there has been a 157 percent increase in the amount of polyester used in clothing since the year 2000 to date. Such number should encourage us to choose sustainable fashion brands that produce clothes from natural fibers instead.

Approximately 2 billion pairs of jeans are produced each year and a pair takes up to 7,000 liters of water to produce. It takes up to 2,700 liters of water to make a single shirt. Over 1.5 million tonnes of hazardous chemicals, which permanently impact the environment, are used in the production of these clothing. Chemicals such as azo dyes, NPEs, and toxic perfluorinated substances are carcinogenic to animals and humans. In total, up to 20 percent of global water pollution can be attributed to the clothing industry.

The rate at which we are consuming and discarding clothes is contributing to mass waste not only in our own landfills but also in developing countries. First, 6 percent of textiles produced each year are floor waste and this ends in landfills in the developing countries where our clothes are made. While 80 percent of the clothes discarded by consumers in major cities could be reused, these typically end up in landfills too. In the US alone, clothing landfills occupy more than 125 million cubic yards each year and the worst part is that most of these clothes are made from non-biodegradable materials.

Who made our clothes? This is question more and more people are asking as they seek to adopt an eco-lifestyle. Still, the continuing fast-fashion frenzy has seen large corporations and retailers engage in unfair labour practices in an effort to keep production costs low and to increase the rate of production too.

Today, women comprise over 80 percent of textile workers globally many of whom work many hours overtime for little pay.

Child labour also helps to fuel the fast fashion frenzy with workers under the age of 18 constituting 60 percent of those who labour in the global fashion industry. A lack of regulation exposes millions of workers to hazardous work conditions where workers are prone to death.

Clothes are typically sprayed with formaldehyde to prevent mildewing and wrinkling during shipping. Extensive exposure to this chemical i.e. through overconsumption of clothing items can cause severe allergic reactions. Clothes made from synthetic materials are produced using toxic chemicals. Textile workers are the most exposed to these chemicals and they are increasingly prone to all sorts of health problems. An accumulation of these toxins over a period of time can predispose one to terminal ailments such as cancer.

The clothing choices we make don't just affect us personally. They also have global implications on the environment and the livelihoods of millions of people in developing economies. If we all choose a slow fashion way of life by reducing our consumption, we can alleviate these detrimental impacts.

122 commentaires

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Consequences of Fast Fashion on Health and the Environment

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The widespread use of synthetic fibers and specifically polyester has the biggest impact on the environment. Polyester emits up to three times carbon dioxide than other fibers such as cotton. It can also take hundreds of years to degrade yet more than 50 percent of clothes are made from this material.

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It’s time to dismantle fast fashion and its exploitative practices

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Frankie Leach argues that “there is no redemption for fast fashion” in the wake of the Boohoo slavery scandal.

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Working Conditions in the Fashion Industry - SustainYourStyle

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Most of our clothes are made in places where workers' rights are nonexistent

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It's a term we, as passionate believers in all things sustainable and ethical, love to hate - but what exactly is 'Fast Fashion' and why is it so bad for the environment and the fashion industry's reputation?

The apparel industry is booming. Every year, 62 million tonnes of clothing are consumed globally and this is only set to rise to over 100 tons by 2030. In the UK alone, 350,000 tonnes of clothing are being sent to landfill annually.

These towering figures summarise the vastly wasteful nature of today's fashion industry, fuelled by large, high-street retailers such as Primark and H&M, selling copycat designs of the latest runway looks at rock bottom prices. To add insult to injury, a new wave of online fashion retailers are swooping in to clean up the market, with Boohoo (who last year made headlines with £5 dresses), reporting profits that were up 53% on last year's.

Google 'Fast Fashion' and you won't receive a favourable impression: "Why I'm giving up fast fashion', or "How to break up with fast fashion" are a couple of recent headlines. Films like The True Cost (2015) or Stacey Dooley Investigates, Fashion's Dirty Secrets (BBC3), that expose the sinister reality of cheap clothing are widely available to watch. However, the statistics paint a different picture: the Fast Fashion market is booming, which begs the question - why is this kind of clothing still so popular among consumers despite high-profile negative press?

In the first of a three-part blog series, I'm going to explore what exactly is Fast Fashion, how it has developed since its 'birth' in the 1990s and what paradox makes it so popular among consumers despite the damaging truths that have been exposed about it.

Key facts about Fast Fashion:

62 million tonnes of clothing are consumed globally each year [Traid]

This figure is expected to rise by 63% by 2030 to 102 million tonnes [Traid]

In the UK alone, 350,000 tonnes of clothing was sent to landfill in 2018, 30% of all unwanted clothing [Clothes aid]

The term 'fast fashion' was coined by the New York Times when Zara first opened in New York in the early 1990s [The Well Essentials]

52% of UK and US shoppers want to see more sustainable practices in fashion, but only 29% want to pay more for it [Forbes]

What is 'Fast Fashion' and why is it so bad?

We hear this term a lot, but what does 'Fast Fashion' actually mean?

Let's start with a definition. The Cambridge Dictionary defines 'Fast Fashion' as:

"clothes that are made and sold cheaply, so that people can buy new clothes often".

This definition suggests Fast Fashion is an enabler, it's a system that allows people to achieve something. In this case, it's 'buy new clothes often', which is a claim that some may argue is a positive. Democratising fashion, making it more widely available to people who cannot afford to spend vast sums on clothing is probably the strongest (and perhaps only) argument on Fast Fashion's pro side. However, those who argue for this side are not likely to fully appreciate the extensive negative side effects of making clothing available on such an extensive scale, nor at such a low cost.

So how does it actually work?

Fast Fashion is a term specifically applied to the production model that allows retailers to manufacture and sell clothes at lightning speed, capitalising on humans' need to be fashionable and acquire stuff for social status reasons. The system takes advantage of the traditional fashion calendar, which drives forward new trends in clothing, and takes it to extremes, with more than 52 "seasons" now being turned over every year. The production model compresses every process involved in making clothes with the sole aim of getting products in front of customers as quickly as possible. At every stage of the supply chain, corners are cut, and although the system is now highly evolved, it remains fractured and is heavily reliant on low-tech human input to make it work.

What really is terrible about this model, which could arguably be said to have started as simple supply-and-demand, is that it produces excessive quantities of garments that no human could possibly consume sensibly. And in turn, the constant availability of fashion at prices as low as a cup of coffee in some cases is instilling a convenience mentality about how the fashion system should work for us - i.e. if it's not available immediately, then it's almost not worth the bother!

In addition to this, the high volume of clothes produced by the industry, paired with the poor quality manufacturing and cheap materials used to make them, lead to short lifespans and very little circularity in the system. People discard clothing almost as much as they consume it - and this is not the only source of fashion's big waste problem. Manufacturers are also guilty of dumping huge quantities of unsold stock or batches that have mistakes.

Where did Fast Fashion come from?

The growth in the ability to manufacture clothing on such vast scales has correlated with human's decline in understanding of how clothing is made, where clothing fabrics come from and how they are manufactured, and how to repair and maintain garments for longer lifetimes.

Cheap manufacturing

The abundance of cheap, mass-manufactured, ready-to-wear clothing in the 1960s democratised the previously stuffy and elitist fashion industry. No longer did one have their clothes tailored or made up by a seamstress or a home sewing machine, but instead younger consumers flooded into stores on the high street packed with cheap and cheerful dresses in every colour. The quality was notoriously abysmal. Clothing from the famed BIBA, for instance, today revered for its vintage glamour, was known for falling apart after just a couple of wears.

The 1960s was when shopping really took off as a hobby among young people too and the notion of buying new became associated with status, no matter the price tag of the garment.

Purchasing habits

Fast Fashion today plays on human weakness for new shiny objects in much the same way. The phenomenon can be traced back to Zara's first opening in New York in the early 1990s and was coined by the New York Times to describe the drastically sped-up production model that allows a look from Fashion Week to quickly be available in high street stores.

Over the years, we have seen companies push copycat fashion culture to the extremes. The trend today seems to be a constant release of new styles, intended to keep up with the influx of images offered up to the world by celebrities, influencers and everyday fashionistas on social media and blogs. It's now part and parcel for companies to track trends on a granular level. [See our Masterclass on Trend Forecasting for in-depth insight into how this system works.]

Fast Fashion retailers are using the immediacy of the online world in new and clever ways, often following up on ideas so quickly that they admit to throwing out strategy in their business decisions. Within 24 hours, some brands are copying styles seen on influencers' social media accounts and turning them into design samples, with marketable collections following within the next two weeks. Others are working with influencers in paid promotional gigs to launch collections that are available to purchase from the moment the look goes live on a blogger's Instagram feed.

>> Register, and upgrade as a Professional Member of The Sustainable Fashion Collection for full access to our archive of Masterclasses on ethical fabrics and sustainable fibres. <<

The popularity of Fast Fashion - despite the negative press

With environmental concerns increasingly making the headlines each year, it's not unreasonable to think that practising more eco-friendly lifestyles is going hand-in-hand with this heightened awareness. However, last year, a report into UK and US online shopping habits exposed the harsh reality of 52% of consumers wanting more sustainable practices in fashion, but with only 29% saying they would be willing to pay more for it.

That shortfall between the groups is the best explanation for why Fast Fashion is not losing its momentum just yet. Cost is a crucial factor for consumers, particularly those in the younger age brackets. The high cost of living today makes quick and small purchases more attractive to young consumers when the perception is generally that homeownership and even starting a family are off the cards for them. The likes of Boohoo and Misguided are succeeding in attracting young shoppers through influencer partnerships and heavily targeted social media advertising. Owning items from their latest collections also succeeds in creating a sense of community. People are able to share their own styles, tagging their favourite brands and celebrity idols - making them feel a part of something simply by purchasing a £5 dress.

Beyond cost reasons, accessibility is also a big influencer on Fast Fashion's popularity. With increasingly busier lifestyles, the ability to have a dress delivered at the drop of a hat after finding it a mere 15 minutes earlier is a very appealing prospect for most people. Fast Fashion retailers, with their vast array of products - and often their ability to pay for high search rankings - make them highly visible in the eCommerce space.

Psychology of "stuff"

Furthermore, people will always like the process of acquiring stuff. Possessions are how we distinguish ourselves from our neighbours; fashion is inherently a method of demonstrating to the world who we are through an accessory or colour choice. It will be a long time before anyone is able to stamp out this instinct in human nature.

I would go so far as to call Fast Fashion an addiction - it is an inherent problem in our society and shapes the way most people in the Western world shop. Despite people knowing the negative consequences of buying cheap garments, they will continue to do so as long as they are widely available. What we can do, is to continue to spread awareness of the issues the Fast Fashion industry cause.
Stay tuned for my next blog post, where I'll be addressing the negative impacts Fast Fashion has on the environment and the choices we can encourage consumers to make to reduce them. To join in the conversation about sustainable fashion with like-minded, creative entrepreneurs, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or sign up to become a Member of The Sustainable Fashion Collective.
Interested in learning more about ethical textiles and how to use them in your fashion collection?

The Sustainable Fashion Collective brings you Masterclasses on specific fibre types. Each Masterclass contains lessons from guest experts, from brands to material innovators.
The Environmental Impacts Of Washing And Laundry Extending The Life Of Clothing And Textiles

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What is Fast Fashion and Why Is It Still So Popular?

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What does fast fashion mean, where did it come from and why is it still so popular despite its harmful impact on the environment?

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Seventy percent-off sales, twenty dollar and under dresses, tanks and leggings for less than five bucks, who wouldn't take advantage of deals offered by stores like Forever 21, H&M and Uniqlo? All us young college gals love trendy, affordable stores like Forever21--but are these deals too good to be true?

Forever 21 has over 723 locations across the nation and is the fifth largest speciality retailer in the US. H&M is #30 on Forbes' World's Most Valuable Brands. Zara is #52 on that same list and has more than 2,000 stores. By 2020, the highly popular and fast-growing Japanese brand Uniqlo will have more than 1,000 US locations. Gap Inc. made over $16 billion in sales last year.

Crazy right?! These companies, aka the leaders of the "fast fashion" industry, appeal to millennials because their clothes are trendy, hit every style from hipster to prep, and most significantly, don't hurt our wallets. With less than $50, you can walk out of Forever 21 with a brand new outfit in comparison to a local boutique down the street where $50 dollars might just buy you half a blouse.

But the ease of access, endless selection and low costs come at a price. The instant gratification of a cheap new outfit is far outweighed by its social and environmental impacts. Just as hitting up McD's everyday for some dollar menu chicken nuggets will eventually lead to health problems, a habit for shopping at fast fashion stores harms our local and global communities.

We are living in an age of speed---not only with technology but within the fashion industry as well. We see winter fashion shows in early summer because the products won't actually be sold until half a year later, but "fast fashion" stores like Forever 21 can have a much more wallet-friendly imitation on shelves within 3 weeks. How is it even legal to borrow (*cough cough* steal) from designers? (That's a whole other article in itself).
Even though price tags are cheap, it doesn't mean all this is ethical. Here is why:
After watching a FANTASTIC John Oliver video on this issue , it turns out that there are still labor practices happening around the world that are just absolutely unacceptable. To keep their expenses low, fast fashion brands rely on low-wage, overseas labor. As Oliver pointed out, Gap has been accused of child labor and paying sweatshop workers 25 cents per hour for the 100 hours per week that they are required to work. We have fast fashion because of this cheap exploited labor. Those cute fifteen dollar high waisted jeans are suddenly not as cute and innocent as you thought.

Another problem is that these stores don't offer the best quality in their products. I can't tell you how many times I had to throw away skirts from Forever 21 because of broken zippers! This just goes to show that we are all totally okay with the idea that we won't be keeping these items for long. It is promoting a culture of disposability. I visit my friends' closets once in awhile and I am shocked by how much clothes they hoard. We have so many things that we just continue to fill our space with, and on top of that most Americans waste more money and buy storage to keep more stuff that they don't even need. And if that's not enough for you, according to Psychology Today, Americans spend more on shoes, jewelry, and watches ($100 billion) than on higher education. I'm obviously not the only one with a closet full of options and "nothing" to wear.

Ok so easy solution: Donate everything to Goodwill! EH wrong. Turns out centers like Salvation Army and Goodwill actually receive too many low-quality donations.Only 60% of donations make it to the store and everything else just gets thrown away.

This is going to keep happening if we let it. It's a vicious mix of consumer greed but also another bigger problem that many people can't afford clothing at a higher price point. It's a vicious cycle, that enables the rich to get richer, and ultimately the bubble will burst.
"Buy less, choose well, make it last."- Vivienne Westwood "Fast fashion isn't free. Someone somewhere is paying."- Lucy Siegle "Sometimes you can do everything right and it all goes wrong. And sometimes you can do everything wrong and it still goes right. It's not fair-it's just life."- Larry Winget

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Seventy percent-off sales, twenty dollar and under dresses, tanks and leggings for less than five bucks, who wouldn't take advantage of deals offered by stores like Forever 21, H&M and Uniqlo? All us young college gals love trendy, affordable stores like Forever21--but are these deals too good to be true?

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Top 10 Reasons Why Fast Fashion Is So Popular

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Do you still buy fast fashion currently? I know it’s difficult to resist. It’s fun, practical and convenient. Maybe learning about the reasons why it’s so popular will help you make better purchasing decisions. Fast fashion represents the culture of instant gratification is our modern societies.

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With Fashion Revolution Week just around the corner (23 rd -29 th April), I have been thinking about my children and how I can develop an understanding of the environmental and ethical implications of fashion and help them to make informed choices as they get older. My oldest daughter is studying textiles and so is starting to an understanding of the complexities of the supply chain. My youngest daughter who is still at primary school is beginning to show an interest in fashion but is yet to get a fuller understanding of what is involved in the manufacture of clothing and its impact on the environment. So for any parents or teachers that would like to teach their children more about ethical and sustainable fashion, I have compiled a list of useful teaching resources.

Collaboroo, a teaching community has an interesting lesson idea for debating around fast fashion and its impact including the environment and rights of workers.

Fashion Revolution have a range of ethical fashion resource available to download including a design a Fashion Revolution Day poster, play our Fashion Ethics Trump Card Game or try our Quiz. University students can also get involved by becoming Fashion Revolution Ambassadors.

TRAID is a charity working to stop clothes from being thrown away. They provide a selection of high quality free education resources to support teachers and educators to investigate the impacts of the fashion industry. Most of these resources can be used in informal education settings, as well as in the classroom.

Redress have created a sustainable fashion education pack for higher education. It includes teaching materials, exercises and project briefs and covers a number of topics including a Garment's Lifecycle, Zero-waste, Up-cycling and Reconstruction.

BBC Northern Ireland has a number of resources about ethical and sustainable fashion for KS3 children. This includes Art and Design - New Clothes from Old, Citizenship - The Cost of Cheap Fashion and Personal Development - Fashion and Self Image

The Clothes Line is a resource by Oxfam exploring cotton production and the textile industry in India for learners aged 7-11. It includes lesson plans covering fairtrade, India, cotton growth and print making.

For secondary teachers, Labour Behind the Label provide a sustainable fashion handbook for educators which includes practical ideas on how to teach about social and environmental responsibility in the fashion industry. It includes ideas for assignments, class based interactive activities, project briefs, course outlines, case studies, teaching experiences and reading lists.

If you know of any other useful resources, please do let me know!

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With Fashion Revolution Week just around the corner (23 rd -29 th April), I have been thinking about my children and how I can develop an understanding of the environmental and ethical implications of fashion and help them to make informed choices as they get older.

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ow much did your outfit cost? Chances are, much more than you think. The clothing industry is the second-largest global polluter - after oil - and its complex production techniques and supply chains create a myriad of environmental issues. It takes 2,700 litres of water to make one t-shirt, and an estimated £140m worth of clothing [pdf] goes to landfill sites in the UK annually.

The need for change is urgent - and education can play a key role in championing new attitudes towards clothing. Some schools are now working with organisations to explore the impact of the fast fashion industry.

Students use an old t-shirt to create a new piece of clothing.
Photograph: Traid

"The clothing business model is built on volume and getting the clothes produced as cheaply and quickly as possible - buy cheap, wear a few times and then throw away. This is not a sustainable model for our environment," says Sarah Klymkiw, head of education at Traid, a UK charity working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of clothing waste.

Learning lifecycles

Traid runs programmes at primary and secondary levels. It reaches 10,000 students per year and provides in-depth, interactive workshops on issues such as the lifecycle of clothing, upcycling and mending, to citizenship, geography and technology for older students.

"We want to deepen understanding, then engage students in thinking critically about which stakeholders are responsible for the environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry - and what can be done about it," says Klymkiw. "We have free downloadable resources for teachers on our website, which include lesson plans and presentations to use in the classroom. We also have useful videos on our Traidfilms YouTube channel."

Aurora Thompson teaches design and technology at Haggerston School, east London. The school has worked with Traid on a sustainable fashion programme, which is particularly pertinent to the subject Thompson teaches: "Every scheme of work in design and technology has sustainability issues embedded, such as using recycled materials, understanding the complex issues within the textiles industry and the life cycle of products."

The programmes at Haggerston School were aimed at two age groups; the year 10s took part in upcycling workshops, while the year 11s were given lectures. Thompson continues: "The workshop promoted group work and developed students ability to work well in teams, while the lectures consolidated the year 11's understanding of sustainability."

For some pupils, the course has been inspiring: "It has given them a new insight into their own consumption of fashion. A few students from this class have subsequently volunteered to help run a Fairtrade week at school."

A pupil learns to weave with yarn made from old clothes.
Photograph: Traid

Carol Fitzwilliam, design and technology, arts and textiles, teacher at Queens Park Community school, was inspired to design a sustainable fashion programme after an initial session with Traid: "We worked with the year nine students on what they could do with old shirts. They worked in teams and set about restyling them to various degrees of success. The project worked well as it involved a personal journey for a garment no longer wanted. It made them think twice about all the cheap clothes they buy."

Fashion Revolution offers a selection of educational resources through its website, and its areas of outreach include 2015's Fashion Revolution Arts and Speaker Tour, which visited universities to raise awareness of issues in the fashion industry. It also hosts regular talks and exhibitions in colleges around the UK.

"Most schools and universities are beginning to see education in sustainability as essential to the formation of the next generations, and not just in fashion," says founder and creative director Orsola de Castro. "In fact, perhaps in fashion we lag behind."

The organisation uses case studies, such as one detailing the impact of the lifecycle of a pair of jeans. De Castro says this exemplifies "the full social and environmental impact, from farming cotton through to the dyeing and making processes".

The societal impacts of the fashion industry - such as global welfare, employment and equality - are also important classroom discussions. According to a Clean Clothes Campaign report, 75 million people are employed in the textile industry. Three-quarters of those garment workers are women and many work in low-paid, unregulated positions.

Social media and selfies

The Leys, a school in Cambridge, has worked with Fashion Revolution on education programmes. Andrew Harmsworth, a coordinator for World AIMS (a project to help learners find out more about the world around them) at the school, highlights the practical impacts of discussing fashion in the classroom.

He says their conversations have had a "profound influence on pupils, as it revealed to them what most of us only had a vague idea about: that the things we buy are made by people far away and that our choices can greatly influence whether the purchase is associated with heaps of negatives, or is a purchase that causes positive change."

Teacher Denz Fernandes adds: "Over recent years we have participated in social media campaigns through Fashion Revolution's #WhoMadeMyClothes hashtag. Students and staff had items of clothing and took selfies with the label showing. These photos were then sent via social media to the producers of the clothes."

So are there hurdles to giving young people new perspectives on fashion? Clothing is one way that students begin to define themselves, be it through style or loyalty to a brand label. But Fitzwilliam believes that teaching about fast fashion can help alter some of these habits, and make young people think: "The usual 'brand' focus had to be put to one side. I think the students actually started to appreciate that it is sometimes a good thing to be unique and different."

Projects such as these highlight exactly why teaching about fashion and its impacts is essential: it can provide an entry point into some of the most important and wide-ranging issues we face today, while bringing a relatable touchstone to students' everyday lives.

"It's a big issue," says de Castro. "But hopefully if we act together we can overcome the apathy of having inherited a huge problem, and focus on being an active part of the solution."
Follow us on Twitter via @GuardianTeach. Join the Guardian Teacher Network for lesson resources, comment and job opportunities, direct to your inbox

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Want to teach ethical fashion to kids? Here's how

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ow much did your outfit cost? Chances are, much more than you think. The clothing industry is the second-largest global polluter - after oil - and its complex production techniques and supply chains create a myriad of environmental issues.

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Clothes recycling is the pressure-release valve of fast fashion, and it is breaking under global Covid-19 curbs.

The multi-billion-dollar trade in second-hand clothing helps prevent the global fashion industry's growing pile of waste going straight to landfill, while keeping wardrobes clear for next season's designs. But it is facing a crisis.

Exporters are struggling, as are traders and customers in often poorer nations from Africa to Eastern Europe and Latin America who rely on a steady supply of used clothes.

The signs are everywhere.

From London to Los Angeles, many thrift shops and clothing banks outside stores and on streets have been deluged with more clothes than could be sold on.

This has resulted in mountains of garments building up in sorting warehouses.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic began early this year, textile recyclers and exporters have had to cut their prices to shift stock as lockdown measures restrict movement and business slows in end markets abroad.

For many, it is no longer commercially viable and they can not afford to move merchandise.

"We are reaching the point where our warehouses are completely full," Antonio de Carvalho, the boss of a textile recycling company in England wrote to a client in June, asking for a price cut for clothes he collects.

De Carvalho pays towns for clothing collected in his containers then sells it on at profit to traders overseas.

Since May, he said, the price he has been able to charge overseas buyers had dropped from £570 a tonne to £400, making it hard for his company, Green World Recycling, to cover the costs of collecting and storing items.

Buyers were also asking to increase the credit periods before they had to pay from 15 days to 45-60 days, adding to cash-flow problems, de Carvalho wrote.

"We are losing a huge amount of money, making a big loss for the operation."

De Carvalho's experience is mirrored across the sector, suggesting that, even once the pandemic passes, the battered trade could take a long time to recover.

Recyclers are removing clothes banks from streets, reducing the number of times they are emptied per week and looking at laying off workers to conserve cash, according to Reuters interviews with 16 market players in Britain, the US, Germany and the Netherlands.

At the same time, in a bleak irony for such firms, donations have mounted as people stuck at home clear out their wardrobes - a boon in normal times.

"This is unlike any other recession in a century," said Jackie King, executive director of US trade body the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART). "I would anticipate there will be companies going out of business."

The retreat of recyclers is having far-reaching consequences for an industry that has seen an annual average of more than $4 billion of used clothing exported globally over the five years to 2019, according to U.N. trade data.

Exports have shrunk this year.

In Britain, the weight of used clothing exported from March to July was around half what it was for the same period last year, official trade data shows.

Exports improved in July - the latest month on record - as merchants rushed to shift stock as countries began to re-open, but were still down around 30%.

In the US, the value of exports from March to July fell 45% compared with the same period last year, government data shows.

Up to a third of clothes donated in the US - the world's biggest exporter of used clothing - ends up for sale in markets in the developing world.

The consequences of the decline can be seen in countries like Kenya, which imported 176,000 tonnes of second-hand clothing in 2018, equivalent to over 335 million pairs of jeans.

Business is sluggish in the open-air Gikomba market in Nairobi, one of the biggest second-hand clothes market in East Africa. Shop assistants stand idle while traders call out to shoppers asking them to try their garments

Traders have been hit with a double-whammy of the shrinking supply, exacerbated by the government banning the import of used textiles in March on concerns they could carry the novel coronavirus, and a drop in footfall due to people staying home.

"Before coronavirus came in, I would manage to sell at least 50 (pairs of) trousers a day," said trader Nicholas Mutisya, who sells jeans and hats. "But now with coronavirus, even selling one a day has become difficult."

"We cannot buy bales (of clothes) directly, so we buy our stock from those who have already bought them," the trader said.

The ban on used textiles imports was lifted in August after pushback from traders in Kenya and industry bodies in Europe and the US who said second-hand clothes were safe as the virus could not survive the journey to Africa.

Yet the struggle continues for traders like Mutisya and Anthony Kang'ethe, who works as a driver for a shop selling second-hand clothes in bales shipped from Britain. He said the business had been hit hard by the supply crunch.

"Before we used to have five workers in our company," Kang'ethe said. "We are left with two."

Large-scale commercial trade in second-hand clothing from Europe and the US to emerging markets took off in a big way in the 1990s due to growing African and Eastern European demand for Western fashion.

Such demand has provided a badly needed release value for a booming fashion market, where clothing production has approximately doubled over the past 15 years, according to sustainability charity the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

The fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions - more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined, the UN's environment programme said in March 2019.

Meanwhile, clothes account for a massive, and growing, pile of waste that ends up in landfills.

In Britain, shoppers buy more clothes per person than any other country in Europe, amounting to some five times more than what they bought in the 1980s, according to a 2019 UK parliamentary report by the Environmental Audit Committee.

About 300,000 tonnes of clothing goes to landfill or incineration per year, the report said.

The US produces just under 17 million US tons (15.4 tonnes) of textile waste per year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency - equivalent to around 29 billion pairs of jeans. Two-thirds of this ends up in landfills.

Many fashion retailers, including Zara owner Inditex and H&M, encourage shoppers to bring unwanted textiles to their stores for collection and, in the case of H&M, even offer discounts on new purchases in exchange.

Only a small proportion of clothes collected by Inditex end up for sale in international markets, a company spokesman said.

H&M said clothing collected in its stores was processed by I:CO, a unit of German textile recycling company Soex.

"The whole problem is just getting bigger," said Anna Smith, a doctoral researcher at King's College London looking at a so-called circular economic system, which aims to eliminate waste.

"People are consuming more and more," she stated.

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Clothes mountains build up as recycling breaks down

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Clothes recycling is the pressure-release valve of fast fashion, and it is breaking under global Covid-19 curbs. The multi-billion-dollar trade in second-hand clothing helps prevent the global fashion industry's growing pile of waste going straight to landfill, while keeping wardrobes clear for next season's designs. But it is facing a crisis.

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Fashion & Environment - SustainYourStyle

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Cheap clothing is an affordable option for our pocket. But what is the real cost of that? Learn more about the impact of the fast fashion industry on the environment 🌏.

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The Good Trade editors endorse products we've personally researched, tested, and genuinely love. Learn more about our methodology and business model here.

As we've become more conscious about our purchases, we often wonder: Who makes the clothes we wear every day and in what kind of conditions? Documentaries like " The True Cost" shine a light on how the fast fashion industry depletes the earth's resources and leverages labor to pass on a "cheap" cost to the end consumer.

But our spending-and non-spending-can help make a positive difference for the people and resources involved in the making of our clothing. So when we do need to update our wardrobes, we turn to slow fashion brands like the 35 sustainable fashion brands listed below. Each fashion brand has made it a central part of its mission to approach garment production in an ethical and transparent way that considers both people and the planet. Many of these ethical clothing brands come with third-party sustainable and ethical certifications as well.

If you're new to shopping for sustainable fashion, you may be surprised by the price tags-but it's important to understand these brands are not designed to be consumed at the same rate as fast fashion. Instead, these sustainable fashion brands prioritize eco-friendly practices, ethical production standards, timeless design, and high-quality essentials that never go out of style.

For more sustainable clothing, you can check out our guides to responsibly made shoes, sustainable underwear, and even fair trade fashion brands in the UK.

And remember: We don't have to buy a whole new wardrobe all at once. To create a more sustainable wardrobe, we can simply start with what we have, mend pieces we love most, and build our closets out slowly and intentionally.

2. Pact

Pact is pretty obsessed with making super-soft sustainable clothes for kids and adults that also make the world a better place. This socially conscious brand goes to great lengths to make sure its entire supply chain, from the growing and harvesting of the organic cotton to the final sewing and all the processes in between, are as responsible and clean as possible. And the non-GMO cotton is great for you and the farmers growing it. Pact is one of our go-to brands for basics and underwear, and offers carbon-offset shipping for a more sustainable purchase.

8. Kotn

Add some luxury to your daily wardrobe with Kotn's ultra-soft basics, made from Egyptian cotton. From its farms to its factories, Kotn creates all of its garments in a fair and safe environment, and is even helping suppliers make the switch to organic within the next five years. In addition, the certified B Corp has helped impact over 100,000 lives in Egypt by building schools and funding 2,000+ farms. With quality manufacturing, you know its cotton tees will last you 30 wears and beyond-and cozy and impactful every time.

9. Fair Indigo

One thing that is often overlooked when shopping for sustainable apparel is the quality and longevity of an item. Fair Indigo is committed to creating clothes that will last upwards of five years-like the Forever Organic Tees (available in a variety of styles and earth-friendly dyes). The brand's garments are made with organic Peruvian Pima cotton, grown on a family farm and harvested by hand. With an emphasis on quality apparel, sustainable and ethical practices, and free shipping options, it's one of our go-to shops for affordable organic basics and artisan-made accessories.

12. Summersalt

Summersalt, a travelwear brand offering sustainable swimwear, athleisure, and loungewear, turned to women themselves to inform its fit-10,000 women to be exact. Equipped with over 1.5 million measurements, the team has created a versatile and delightful line of garments, from color-blocking one-pieces to light and breezy sweaters. Summersalt pieces are responsibly made in WRAP- and sustainably certified factories, using materials like recycled polyamide, regenerative cupro, and cruelty-free wool.

16. ALOHAS

ALOHAS is committed to a sustainable on-demand model to eliminate waste from overstock. Working from pre-orders, they make only what is needed, filling happy customer carts and not the landfill. Their Spanish factories are externally audited to maintain the highest level of fair labor practices, and their Second Life Project uses cactus and corn leathers along with other recycled materials for soles, heels, caps, and linings. Come here for well-made, elevated classics with updated details, perfect when your style hasn't quite changed but you're interested in a revamp.

17. Christy Dawn

Christy Dawn hopes only to take inspiration from Mother Earth-and nothing else. This sustainable brand works primarily with deadstock or surplus fabric that would otherwise be wasted along with organic cotton, rather than conventional textiles. Most recently, Christy Dawn has taken it a step further to invest in regenerative farming practices through its Farm-to-Closet initiative in India. There's so much to love here, from a line of petite and extended sizing to maternity-friendly pieces.

20. Organic Basics

Organic Basics aims to create all your basics at a higher level: their motto, "Basically Better Made" says it all! They use sustainable materials like regenerative organic cotton, Italian eco-certified recycled nylon, and TENCEL™ Lyocell sustainable sourced from central European forests, and they are also transparenty about their ethical production. We particularly love their undies and lounge sets, and everything except their wool and cashmere collections are PETA-approved vegan.

24. Levi's

Donned by cowboys, presidents, and everyone in between, Levi's is known for being the face of denim-with a presence in more than 100 countries. And the team has always been at the forefront of change and progress: The brand touts eco-friendly and sustainable practices like recyclable denim, ethically sourced cotton, and innovations to reduce water use, in addition to giving back to its workers and community organizations alike. Find apparel (some discounted secondhand!) for the entire family that continues to stay "in"...and lasts.

29. TomboyX

TomboyX specializes in creating unisex garments for your entire wardrobe: underwear, activewear, swimwear, and ever accessories for bodies of all shapes, sizes, and gender expressions. Their thoughtful attention to bodies extends to their production practices, and each piece is made without harmful chemicals or wasteful packaging. The brand uses a water recycling program and ethical factories in Asia and South America. Working directly with suppliers and factories, TomboyX is diligent about their supply chain, which we love to see!

30. Avocado

Best For | Breathable & cozy pajamas| Certified B Corp, GOTS certified organic & biodegradable fabrics, MADE SAFE certified, nontoxic dyes, gives back to anti-hunger causes & 1% For The Planet
Price Range | $$-$$$$

From natural bedding company Avocado comes a new responsible fashion brand. With ribbed sweaters made from renewable alpaca fiber, ultra-breathable modal pajama sets, and organic cotton tees, the collection is full of comfy basics and loungewear that are super soft and ethically sourced. Plus, every purchase from the certified B Corp feeds one person in need so you'll feel good wearing these clothes, in more ways than one.

31. LACAUSA

LACAUSA is as clever as it is conscious. The name La Causa is Spanish for "The Cause," and it also represents the company's Los Angeles location. (LA, CA, USA, get it?) Whether you're shopping for a flowy dress reminiscent of warm, breezy weather or you'd prefer a jumpsuit to pair with your favorite mules, this ethical and sustainable brand is where classic meets comfort. Most garments are made in LA, and for the apparel crafted overseas, the brand ensures fair factories, living wages, and healthy working conditions for all. LACAUSA gives back quarterly to various charities.

32. Outerknown

Looking for durable classics that transcend season? Outerknown has 'em. This green brand knows that a truly conscious company needs to consider both people and the planet before, during, and post-production. The team works with global partners who offer fair wages and practice sustainable production, carefully detailing every partner on the site. It's also been a leader in creating many sustainable firsts, including recycled plastic trunks. The California-cool aesthetic for all genders, matched with the brand's ethics, has us excited to come back for more-even through its secondhand shop!

33. EILEEN FISHER

EILEEN FISHER is an industry leader in ethical and sustainable fashion. The company believes social and environmental injustices are a reason to do business completely differently, and carefully oversees its entire supply chain to ensure fair working wages. The brand is also on a mission to be a leader in circular systems, taking back old pieces of apparel and making new ones whenever possible. Otherwise, it crafts stunning organic cotton, recycled nylon, silk, and linen clothing -without hazardous chemicals.

35. Sotela

Best For | Flexible fits | Ethically made in the USA, organic & sustainable materials, made-to-order, recycled packaging, inclusive sizing
Size Range | 0-30 (see sizing details here)
Price Range | $$-$$$$

Our bodies change and fluctuate every single day; whether it's from bloating, weight change, or pregnancy, the list goes on and on. The team behind Sotela wants you to celebrate your body in any and all forms. Its line of body-positive women's apparel uses flexible sizing so that your body can look relaxed and confident in any outfit, any day. All of the apparel is made in-house in its LA studio, utilizing eco-friendly fabrics like TENCEL & linen whenever possible, and shipped to you in recycled packaging.
Featured image is from Summersalt

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35 Sustainable Clothing Brands Betting Against Fast Fashion - The Good Trade

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The best sustainable clothing brands and ethical fashion collections of 2023.

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Article on sustainable fashion.

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The fashion industry needs to fundamentally change in order to mitigate the environmental impact of fast fashion, experts have said.

Clothes rental, better recycling processes, pollution control technology and the innovative use of offcuts are among measures that could help, they said.

The researchers produced a report - pubished in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment - into the environmental cost of the industry, and how it needs to change to deal with some of the many associated problems.

While the figures are debated, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has calculated the fashion industry produces 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions every year, while it is estimated to use around 1.5 trillion litres of water annually. Meanwhile concerns have been rising about pollution, from chemical waste to microplastics.

Among the developments deemed to be exacerbating the problems, is fast fashion - cheap clothes bought and cast aside in rapid succession as trends change - such as the £1 bikini sold by Missguided last year.

The £1 Missguided bikini highlighted the issue of fast fashion last year. Photograph: Missguided

"It is really a global problem," said Dr Patsy Perry, a co-author of the research from Manchester University.

Perry and an international group of colleagues point out that the global nature of the fashion industry means clothes may have travelled around the world several times during manufacture, while it is estimated that if 3% of garment transportation shifted from ship to air cargo - a burgeoning trend in the industry - it could result in over 100% more carbon emissions than if all garment transportation was by ship.

The team also points to the industry's water consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, textile waste, and use of chemicals - substances they say not only pose environmental risks, but health risks for those involved in the industry. "In one example, a single European textile-finishing company uses over 466g of chemicals per kilogram of textile," they write.

And while many garments are designed in the US or EU, they are often produced in developing countries. The team says that not only increases fabric waste through poor communication of requirements, but regulations around pollution are often less strict in the countries of manufacture. "The waste water is going out into freshwater streams and polluting the rivers that people are fishing from [and] living from," said Perry.

A garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The production of clothes for foreign designers is one of the issues highlighted in the report. Photograph: NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The report stresses limited natural resources mean the fashion industry must change, and sets out a number of ways it could become greener, including embracing renewable energy and developing new methods for recycling, as well as reducing the use of polyester - a non-biodegradable fibre, produced from petrochemicals, that dominates the fashion industry.

They also argue the industry should focus on producing better quality, long-lived items, while innovations like clothes rental and new approaches to resale should be scaled up.

But they add: "Consumers must understand fashion as more of a functional product rather than entertainment, and be ready to pay higher prices that account for the environmental impact of fashion."

It is not the first time solutions to fast fashion have been mooted. Last year, MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) proposed a number of measures, including a 1p charge on each new item of clothing to fund better recycling and collection. All were rejected by the government.

Extinction Rebellion protests outside London Fashion Week in February targeted fast fashion. Photograph: Ollie Millington/Getty Images

Libby Peake of the Green Alliance said the UK had a particular problem when it came to fast fashion.

"We buy more clothing per head than any other country in Europe, including nearly twice as much as Italians, who are better known for their fashion sense," she said.

As well as emphasising the need for improved quality and clothing rental schemes, she said, the report highlighted the importance of buying clothing second hand. Industry-led initiatives to reduce environmental costs had been ineffective while consumption continued to rise.

"Slow fashion is the only sustainable future for the industry and the planet," she said.

Carry Somers, the co-founder of the campaign Fashion Revolution, also stressed the use of chemicals in the fashion industry, as flagged by the new report, is of particular concern, especially in clothes made outside the EU where it is difficult to know what substances have been used.

Prof Steve Evans, an expert in industrial sustainability at Cambridge University, also welcomed the report. But he said it was unclear what proportion of the industry's environmental impact was down to fast fashion per se. A key challenge for the "closed loop" industry was that different sectors, from production to retailing and recycling, must begin to work together.

But Evans said a future where the rate of fibre production and disposal was lowered need not mean a dearth of new outfits, if garments were rented or re-sold. "It might be fast fashion from the perspective of the fashionista," he said, "but it is slow from the perspective of the planet."

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Fast fashion speeding toward environmental disaster, report warns

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Study highlights industry failures and calls for shift in consumer attitudes

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Some parts of modern life are, at this point, widely known to cause environmental harm - flying overseas, using disposable plastic items, and even driving to and from work, for example. But when it comes to our clothes, the impacts are less obvious.

As consumers worldwide buy more clothes, the growing market for cheap items and new styles is taking a toll on the environment. On average, people bought 60% more garments in 2014 than they did in 2000. Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity's carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams.

What's more, 85% of all textiles go to the dump each year. And washing some types of clothes sends thousands of bits of plastic into the ocean.

Here are the most significant impacts fast fashion has on the planet.

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The fashion industry emits more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Here are the biggest ways it impacts the planet.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Some parts of modern life are, at this point, widely known to cause environmental harm - flying overseas, using disposable plastic items, and even driving to and from work, for example. But when it comes to our clothes, the impacts are less obvious.