When we talk about environmental pollution, many of us are quick to point accusing fingers at the energy, transport, and agricultural industries. But did you know that the fashion industry is also to be blamed? Are you aware that this industry is responsible for 20% of all water pollution worldwide?

If you care about mother earth and support the drive for sustainability, you’ll want to ensure that your wardrobe mirrors your intention. Here are four sustainable fashion practices and tips that are easy to implement in 2023.

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Sustainable Fashion Practices and Tips to follow

We live in an era where we have access to more information than ever before. However, our ability to process this information has not kept pace. In fact, we may be losing our capacity to think critically about what we see. Fast fashion is toxic and it is for the greater good of the environment to lean more toward sustainable fashion. Start with these sustainable fashion practices and tips that are easy to follow.

1. Go for vintage clothes and second-hand items.

If you care about mother earth, including the effects of dangerous fashion materials on the environment, you’ll stock your wardrobe with more vintage clothing. Unlike their eco-unfriendly counterparts, vintage clothing is eco-friendly and reusable.

And you don’t have to stop at clothing, either. You can also accessorize with unique and timeless vintage rings or necklaces. Even secondhand watches are a great option not just to be sustainable, but also to save money.

Plus, vintage comes in multiple varieties for individuals looking to spice up their wardrobe. And they can be altered and repaired easily. So, ensure you purchase a few vintage clothing in your wardrobe as

2. Choose sustainable fashion materials.

When looking to furnish your wardrobe in 2023, what type of materials should you go for? Of course, if you are a sustainable advocate, you’ll certainly want to go for sustainable fashion materials. And what are examples of such materials? Examples are hemp, organic cotton, recycled polyester, Piñatex, etc.

Consider stocking your wardrobe with sustainable options for each season in 2023. For summer, go for breathable and light-colored sustainable clothes. During fall and winter, you can consider sustainable cardigans or jackets.

There are many brands that deal in sustainable fashion, so finding sustainable clothing shouldn’t be difficult. While you embrace sustainable fashion, ensure you ditch eco-unfriendly options like fur, leather, etc.

3. Seek quality, not quantity

Quality beats quantity anytime and any day. So rather than rush to the boutique each season and spend a huge amount of money on 15  pieces of low-quality clothes that don’t last, why not invest in a few quality pieces that give you value for your money? By doing this, you reduce the rate at which you discard your clothes, thus helping the environment.

4. Exchange clothes with friends

If your friends are sustainability advocates like you, consider pitching them a “clothes swap day” idea. This is a wonderful idea for many reasons.

First, it helps you refresh your closet and swap clothes you are tired of wearing, and your friends get to do likewise.

Secondly, it makes you less likely to throw out clothes you aren’t interested in, polluting the environment. In fact, during the exchange, you might give out a cloth you are tired of in exchange for the one you have always admired. So it’s a win-win for both parties.

ALSO READ: Your guide to simple living

What to look for in sustainable clothing?

When shopping for clothes, it’s important to know where your items come from. Find out more about sustainable fashion here!

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Infographic from UCA Lingerie.

Here are Sustainable Fashion Practices for the Future

The fashion industry is notorious for its use of toxic chemicals that harm people’s bodies and minds. This includes dyes, pesticides, and other harmful substances used in the production of clothing.

This is why it’s important to understand how to make sustainable fashion choices.

There are many ways to reduce the impact of the fashion industry on human health and the environment. One of the easiest things you can do is to buy fewer clothes. If you need something new, consider buying secondhand or vintage items instead of new ones.

You can also support local businesses by shopping at independent boutiques and supporting small business owners.

Know Where Your Clothes Come From.

Another thing you can do is to make sure that the materials used to produce clothing are sustainable. This means using natural fibers such as cotton, wool, hemp, linen, silk, and bamboo. It also means avoiding synthetic fabrics like polyester and nylon.

The fashion industry has been criticized for being wasteful and polluting. In fact, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), the average American uses nearly 100 pounds of textiles each year. That’s enough to cover an area the size of a football field with fabric every day. And while we might think that our clothes are recyclable, most of them end up in landfills after we wear them out.

Buy Locally.

If you buy locally, you support small businesses. You will also help reduce pollution and waste by reducing transportation costs. Buying locally helps keep money within your community and supports local jobs. It’s one of the great sustainable fashion practices that you can easily start with.

The first step to buying locally is to find a store that carries what you want. Look for stores that carry products from companies that use sustainable practices.

For example, if you want to buy organic cotton clothing, look for stores that sell clothes made with organic cotton. If you want to buy locally, look for stores that offer items from local vendors.

Shop at Small Businesses.

There are many reasons why buying locally is better than shopping online.

First, when you shop at a small business, you are supporting the people who work there. Second, you are helping to keep money within your community. Third, you are helping to reduce pollution and waste by cutting out the middleman. Fourth, you are helping to build stronger communities. Fifth, you are helping to strengthen the economy. Sixth, you are helping to support local jobs. Seventh, you are helping to make the world a better place. Eighth, you are helping to preserve the environment. Ninth, you are helping to save energy. Tenth, you are helping to protect the planet.

So many reasons right?

Support Fair Trade.

If you want to help the environment, buy local. Buying locally supports small businesses, reduces pollution, and helps to build strong communities. It also helps to support local jobs. And, it helps to preserve the environment.

The fashion industry has been criticized for using unsustainable practices such as sweatshops and child labor. In fact, many clothing companies use unethical business practices to keep prices low.

However, there are ways to shop ethically while still getting fashionable clothes at affordable prices. One way to do this is to buy from fair trade retailers. These stores sell products produced by artisans who live in developing countries.

Artisans work in factories that follow sustainable practices, which means that they use environmentally friendly methods to create goods. By buying from fair trade retailers, you are helping to protect the environment and supporting ethical business practices.

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Ready to implement these sustainable fashion tips?

You don’t need to be a member of the environment protection agency to play your part in protecting mother earth. You can do so by the clothing choices you make. So today, make a mental note to be conscious of what you buy. You can start by implementing the tips above. And ensure you pass them on! Together, we can save this planet. So save these sustainable fashion practices and start implementing them.