QFIN x QFSF: Guide on Sustainability in Fashion
The topic of sustainability in fashion has become widespread through the means of social media during the past few years with clothing brands making public proclamations of their new step towards sustainable practices. While the message behind speaking out on fast fashion and shifts in eco-friendly lifestyle choices is paramount, ensuring the idea of ‘sustainable fashion’ doesn’t become just a trend is consequently more important. Choosing to make changes in your life that affect your personal carbon footprint DO have an impact on the environment and anyway you are able to contribute to energy-efficient behaviour creates a positive influence.
It can be overwhelming and intimidating when you feel you have to be 100% environmentally friendly with your choices in a short period of time. Be aware that it takes conditioning and the will to try something new to produce habits and practices that you’re proud of and help the environment, rather than give in to its decline. In collaboration with Queen’s for Sustainable Fashion, researchers Neva Dean and Isabella Hamilton along with co-president Chloe Edwards have gathered ideas and practices to implement that don’t take much time or energy. Here is a guide highlighting alternative courses of action to try when shopping for new items, cleaning out your closet, and reflecting upon your overconsumption of clothes.
Shopping
It can be difficult to resist going into a mall and buying a relatively cheap clothing item from a trendy store when that notion is so accessible, fashionable, and budget-friendly. But the convenience of that clothing item is detrimental to the overarching significance of sustainable fashion. It’s highly probable the fabric and material used a considerable amount of water to make, way too many resources to transport, and features a shelf-life as long as the last trend. Falling into trend-culture can feel like you’re building a wardrobe that you love and will serve you for a long time, however, the lifespan of a clothing trend is becoming shorter and shorter as overstimulation and the need for overconsumption is popularized.
Rather than contributing to the short-lived and impermanent supply and demand of production of new clothes, make an effort to start thrifting. I know thrifting seems like a ‘trend’, but it’s one of the best ways to prolong the disposal of a clothing piece and find unique and individualistic items that you won’t find at the mall. There are probably many thrift stores in your neighbourhood where you can sustainably shop and purchase clothes that don’t have a trail of waste and overconsumption of resources following them. As well, the online website ThredUp facilitates a simple system of shopping second-hand on high-quality pieces that have been kept in great condition, easing the idea of beginners on purchasing and wearing second-hand clothes.
If you’re not keen on purchasing second-hand clothes, it’s important to do your research on the sustainable practices of the store you’re interested in. A great source to check out is https://goodonyou.eco/ where they rate the brand’s sustainable practices in terms of the environment, labour, and harm to animals, as well as recommending similar brands with higher ratings.
Closet Cleanout
Many of us go through our closets a couple of times a year to remove clothes we don’t wear anymore or clothes that don’t fit nicely. If you’re going to be disposing of your unwanted clothing items, it’s pertinent that they are disposed of correctly. Local thrift stores, charities, and donation centres are more than happy to get a hold of your old clothes and donate them to their thrift store to provide an opportunity for others to purchase them or supply necessary items like children’s clothes and winter pieces to those who need it. Although, it is more beneficial to donate your unwanted clothes to shelters and organizations accepting clothing donations rather than to thrift stores. In finding your clothes a new home to owners that will have great use out of them, the clothes won’t reach the end of their life cycle at a landfill as quickly and will get more wear before they are undesired.
If your clothing pieces cost you a sufficient amount to purchase and are in good shape, there are online websites and apps such as Depop and Poshmark that allow you to sell your quality clothes to new buyers. Or if you just want to get rid of your clothes hassle-free, gifting your unwanted items to family/friends is always a good idea in providing a loved one with new clothes!
Oftentimes when a clothing item doesn’t fit right or it sits weird, our immediate reaction is that it is of no use anymore. That’s not the case: repurposing your clothes is a way of creating something new to wear… who doesn’t love new clothes?? Altering clothes may seem like a daunting task, but there are handy and resourceful YouTubers such as Withwendy, Best Dressed, The Essentials Club, and The Line Up that can aid you in fixing your old clothes or inspiring a thrift flip. Clothes that fit oddly one way can be the perfect starting place for your next favourite piece!
Overconsumption
Overstimulation and overconsumption are two overarching themes in this new modern generation of style influencers and brand marketing. Almost all fashion influencers on social media share with their followers the product packages they receive from brands trying to promote their new products. This creates an unhealthy cycle: the influencer wants to work with the brand so they promote their products, often overseeing the unknowing potential negative impacts the brand contributes to the well-being of the earth because they are creating work for themselves. Then, followers who look up to these celebrities and creators for inspiration and guidance view the product packages being sent full of new clothes and accessories as something they must attain. By giving into consumerism, the public will go out and purchase the most accessible and budget-friendly version of what their influencers are wearing/posting. More often than not, the places that are offering these pieces are supporters of the supply and demand effect and don’t focus on creating long-lasting and consciously-made items.
Try to gain perspective on what you already have by taking a step back and seeing the variety and options you already obtain. Sometimes when we really want a specific sweater we saw our favourite YouTuber talk about, we feel the urgent need to immediately go purchase it. Instead, see if you already own something similar that you can style in an interchangeable manner; besides, it’s better to wear something the way you want than trying to recreate someone else’s outfit because the public deems it as desirable. As well, rather than seeking to buy new clothes, push yourself to style the clothes you already own in new ways. There are plenty of fashion and lifestyle content creators who share outfit ideas and numerous ways to wear just a couple of items: Laini Ozark, Moya Mawhinney, Nayna Florence, and Best Dressed just to name a few.
The notion of a capsule wardrobe has become increasingly popular and is an example of a great way to invest in a smaller quantity of trans-seasonal pieces that are of higher quality. In purchasing clothes that will last you a long time and give you the opportunity to wear them all throughout the year, the idea of investing with purpose is utilized. You can become creative and style outfits with only a couple of pieces in a variety of ways. This highlights the personal value of every piece you own; it’s important to appreciate what you already own instead of longing for what you don’t have.
Being aware of how your personal preferences affect the environment, either explicitly or implicitly, can be the first step in striving for improvement regarding your choices. No one is demanding you go completely sustainable within the next week or month, but forging conscious efforts to achieve small tasks that serve the greater good of the environment will generate a collective group of people making these same selections. QFSF’s Instagram curates weekly posts that require a short amount of time to read with a sizable amount of knowledge gained. As well, QFSF shares other posts that highlight cardinal information regarding climate change and what we can do to help, emphasizing the relationship between fashion and its industry. Big shoutout to Neva Dean, Isabella Hamilton, and Chloe Edwards for helping highlight major steps necessary in creating a healthy and sustainable environment in regards to fashion lifestyle choices!
Check out QFSF’s instagram @qfsfashion and linktree https://linktr.ee/qfsfashion