Always buying the latest trend, shopping for fun not because we need clothes and throwing the new t-shirt away after only one year of using it, because it is not up to date anymore. Fast fashion is a strong companion of our everyday life. Also of mine, don’t get me wrong. But why is it so dangerous for the environment? Why should we look for sustainable alternatives instead? The fashion industry belongs to the top CO2 emission producer and is the second largest water consumer. Next to that it also effects the ocean pollution by micro plastic particles ending up in the ocean. On a different note, a lot of fast fashion brands produce in economically struggling countries, employing children under horrible conditions.
So, let’s see what we, as a consumer, can do to make a small positive impact on the environment, by choosing sustainable options over fast fashion. Today I present you three different options: Buying & selling second hand, repairing instead
of wasting and sustainable brands.
Buying second hand is a great option, especially for a smaller student wallet to shop sustainable. Vinted is an amazing app where you can buy and sell well-preserved clothing of all types: shoes, jackets, jeans, and so on! And the best thing is that there is an option of secured delivery. So, in case someone scams you or the delivery gets lost you will always get your money back! Personally, I usually buy leather boots and winter jackets on Vinted because I consider myself a vegetarian and I only want to buy used leather item. Also, it’s way cheaper than buying new ones! Next to buying second hand online, you can also check out some physical shops. It is sometimes a bit difficult to find exactly what you are looking for, but it is for sure a fun afternoon with your friends!
The second option is to repair clothes instead of throwing them away. Bring your shoes to a good old shoemaker next door to fix the sole or ask someone skilled from your family to sew a loose seam. It is sustainable and way cheaper for you than buying a new product!
The last but not least option, even though not very student budget friendly, but maybe an option for you in your later life is to buy from sustainable brands. Just to introduce three of many options: People Tree pays workers and farmers of developing countries fair wages good working conditions. Levis has launched the "Water<Less" technique that has already saved around 4.2 billion litres of water (status 2021) and they are planning to source 100% sustainable cotton by 2025. Armedangels produced active wear that is made out of 93% recycled fibers to save petroleum.
There are also a lot of options out there to buy electronics or bath utensils but I save that for another time!
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