THE 11 WORST FAST FASHION BRANDS TO STOP SUPPORTING IN 2025

Have you ever wondered how millions of pieces of clothing are produced by the fast fashion industry per day? That is 190 000 new items every MINUTE. Do you know who the top fast fashion brands are who are responsible for contributing to the 92 million tonnes of textiles that are discarded each year (McKinsey & Company)? Have you ever wondered where all of this waste and billions of unsold garments are discarded?

Influencer marketing & the destruction of the planet:

Every day we see influencers all over social media promoting the exact brands mentioned in this blog post. They promote the latest fashion trends, the “it” color of the season, get ready with me, their new clothing haul, the excitement of wearing something new – only to wear it 7-10 times before discarding of it. And convincing you that you need it all to be happy and fulfilled. They wouldn’t be doing their job if they weren’t intentionally influencing you to click that link or use their promo code because they got sponsored cheap plastic clothing as PR from a brand they are working with.

What you don’t see them promoting is the detrimental destruction that the fast fashion industry has on the planet, the over exploitation of employees and child labour (over 170 million children in the world are working in dangerous conditions), unfair labour practices, the loss of natural resources from production, the 10% of CO2 emissions that come from the fast fashion alone, and the half a million tonnes of micro plastics (Earth.Org) polluting our oceans and vital eco-systems each year.

There are enough pieces of clothing in existence today to dress the next 6 generations. And the industry is only rapidly growing more and more each year. Big fast fashion brands are destroying and/or burning their unsold garments to protect their brand from being copied or resold for cheaper. And because it is more affordable for them to do this than to properly dispose of or recycle their goods. It is time for us to make a change in the way we consume fast fashion. And bring awareness to how we can be more mindful of our shopping habits.

WHAT IS FAST FASHION?

Fast fashion refers to the rapid production of large quantities of clothing at a low cost.

Fast fashion keeps up to date with the latest fashion trends. Allowing customers to buy trendy outfits at a low retail cost, encouraging them to buy more and discard “outdated” fashion more often.

To keep these companies’ costs low, they use cheap synthetic fabrics and textiles that use an extensive amount of natural resources in production. Producing even one t-shirt, can use over 2000 liters of water. That is an unimaginable amount of liters being used every single minute to produce the millions of clothing being made each year!

The demand for fast fashion:

To keep up with the demand, fast fashion brands produce an extremely high quantity of clothing every single day. And everything that does not sell? It all ends up in landfills and unable to decompose. Some brands burn their unsold items which releases harmful chemicals into the atmosphere and pollutes the environment. Micro-plastics from the waste ends up in the ocean and essential eco-systems, harming the environment and wildlife. And lastly, these companies dump their waste and unsold items in developing countries. Research the landfill in Ghana, you will be absolutely shocked!

Fast fashion more often than not exploits its employees and is responsible for a number of human rights violations. The working conditions are not only below standard, they are dangerous and inadequate for employees to be spending overtime hours in every day for little to no wages.

A common characteristic of fast fashion brands is that they lack transparency. They do not share openly about their work spaces and factories, where and how they produce their products, their employees, where their fabrics are sourced and discarded and the ethics of their company.

The brands we are going to discuss in the list produce clothing so fast and so frequently that they are even referred to as ultra-fast fashion brands.

Honestly, almost all of the brands well-known to you today are contributing to the horrific effects of this industry. It is a business model that is growing at a detrimental pace.

WHAT ARE THE WORST FAST FASHION BRANDS IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW?

1. TEMU:

This list is no specific order, but I had no idea whether to talk about TEMU or Shein first. Because both are at the top of the list for the worst ultra-fast fashion brands in the world.

Let’s take a look at Temu’s business model to truly understand how this brand is of the most unsustainable in the world:

Their competitive prices are unmatched (AKA alarm bells!). They sell everything from fashion, to beauty, to electronics and everything in between. They sell at extremely low retail costs and even at a loss to promote their brand and get their name shared in the market space. This is called a loss-leading strategy. They are able to do this because they source their products directly from cheap Chinese manufacturers which cuts out the middle man.

If you research TEMU’s transparency, you will find little to no information. They do not openly share about their manufacturing process, waste management, carbon footprint, employees’ wages or working conditions. Their company is built on unfair practices and high volumes of shipping that has a detrimental environmental impact.

Over-production & over-consumption:

TEMU is a master at over-production and promoting over-consumption by tempting customers with extremely low costs, promotions and games on their site.

If a brand is producing, selling and marketing a product for just a couple of dollars, how are they able to pay their employees fair wages? Again, there is no information on TEMU’s labour practices. The products and brands sold on the platform are linked to child labour, forced labour and unethical labour practices that violate a number of human rights.

It is so obvious to see how TEMU fits every characteristic of a fast fashion business just by looking at their website. Without a shred of transparency, customers are blindly supporting a massive company that takes advantage of people’s financial situations and dodging regulations put in place by countries to protect workers and the environment.

2. SHEIN:

Would you believe me if I told you Shein ships between 880 000 and one million packages EVERY DAY worldwide?? Which is about 5000 tonnes of packages a day! With over 600 000 products on their platform available to customers at any given time, people from all over the world are supporting this massive corporate giant who has completely taken over the fashion industry.

Just like TEMU, there are no regulations in place to manage production, waste solutions or labour practices. Shein is constantly exposed for their unfair labour practices. Their employees are over-worked, underpaid and spend endless hours in unhealthy working environments.

Shein and TEMU are both responsible for stealing original artists’ designs. They produce clothes with cheap, low quality fabrics and sell them for extremely low costs. As little as $7 an item! This is completely unacceptable. They are stealing from small businesses and original designers for their own gain. Because how else are they going to produce 2000 new designs every day on their own originality?

Trends, hauls & fashion influencers…

Shein thrives on hauls promoted by social media influencers showing off their latest orders. They thrive off of being on top of the latest trends. And rely on customers to buy and discard every season. Cheap purchases encourage more consistent hauls.

The amount of pollutants, harmful chemicals, fabric waste, carbon emissions and unsold items are unimaginable. According to studies, it is estimated that Shein emits about 6.3 million tonnes of CO2 a year. That is absolutely shocking. All of the synthetic fabrics used to produce these millions of garments a day will exist long passed our lifetime. The earth cannot keep up with these unsustainable production speeds.

Shein is the essence of an unsustainable and unethical fashion brand. There is not a single value in the company’s ethics that is good for humans or the earth.

3. ZARA

Customers can purchase garments from Shein for a fraction of a price of Zara’s clothing. Yet Zara is still rightfully considered one of the biggest fast fashion brands in the world. And even a leader in the industry since the company was founded in 1975. Zara has set the example for fast fashion brands worldwide with their business model and rapid production of over 450 million garments per year! Shocking, I know!

So, how is Zara so successful with higher priced garments than its fast fashion competitors and 3000 stores in over 90 countries?

What sets Zara aside from most other fast fashion brands?

They have portrayed their brand as a high-end fashion brand with up-to-date styles inspired by the runway and the latest trends. They take garments from design to making it available to customers in store within as little as 2 weeks. Regardless of the sustainability claims from Zara, this kind of rapid production is a core characteristic of a fast fashion brand. Nothing about their production model promotes a sustainable and ethical business.

With new styles and garments being released every 2 weeks, Zara thrives off of customers returning to their stores more frequently to keep up to date with the latest fashion trends. And not only thrives, but encourages its customers to buy more often. A key ingredient in Zara’s success as a fast fashion brand is that instead of spending millions of dollars on advertising, they rely on word-of-mouth by customers (builds trust), a memorable in-store experience, a strong social media presence and influencers and micro-influencers to promote their brand. Their clothing is mostly made from cheap, unsustainable, synthetic fabrics. They are not made to last (dispose and replace more often!).

Blend together over-production, influencers promoting over-consumption and garments made from low-quality fabrics – and you have the perfect combination for a brand that has no regard for the effects they have on the environment. Hence, there is extremely little transparency about waste management, where their animal products are sourced from and their labour practices.

Inhumane & slave-like labour practices:

Zara has been accused of inhumane, unsafe working conditions and slave-like labour practices in their factories around the world. Including the mistreatment of employees and the use of child labour. (Poor working conditions in Brazil, Inhumane factories in Argentina, Sao Paolo raid).

If you look at how much a dress costs on the Zara US website, you can expect to pay anywhere between $20 and $400 per item! Take a moment to compare that to buying from a sustainable, ethical, natural fiber fashion brand. You will be paying the same or much less for a piece of clothing that will last you a lifetime, is good for your own health and does not contribute to the destruction of our planet. Also, there are already more than enough Zara pieces in circulation in thrift shops that you could purchase instead of buying new. This reduces the demand and therefore, reduces the supply!

4. LULULEMON

Lululemon is one of the most controversial fast fashion brands in existence today. They are masters in portraying a green, sustainable lifestyle and ethical clothing to their customers to manipulate them into wearing their brand. A brand that is much less environmentally friendly than they claim to be (GREENWASHING).

Although Lululemon does make use of some recycled fabrics, the company still heavily relies on producing garments with nylon and polyester. Neither of which are biodegradable. These fabrics pollute oceans and essential eco-systems with micro-plastics. Many of Lululemon’s claims to a more sustainable future cannot be backed up with evidence or transparency from the company. They do not openly share the necessary steps they are taking to reduce their carbon emissions. In fact, their carbon footprint increased by 60% from 2022 to 2023.

From luxury to fast fashion…

Lululemon’s demand has grown rapidly over the years. Once thought to be a luxury athletics and leisure wear brand, is now known as a fast fashion brand. They over-produce garments, pump out new collections frequently, use synthetic fabrics and falsify claims of sustainability and ethical practices. They have even been known to reduce the quality of their garments to keep up with the global expansion of their brand while keeping their manufacturing costs low.

Lululemon has also been accused of unethical, under-paid and inhumane labour practices. Specifically in factories in Bangladesh where their garments are produced. Factory workers have claimed to be over-worked and abused by management. Lululemon has said they do not own the factories. Yet it is their responsibility as the brand to ensure the safety of their workers. And to make sure their supply chain is holding true to ethical labour practices and fair treatment.

In conclusion, at surface level, Lululemon seems different to all of the other fast fashion brands in this list. But their brand is misleading and manipulating customers into believing they have their best interest and the well-being of the earth at heart. Lululemon still has a lot of work to do in ensuring their brand can truly be labelled as ethical and sustainable.

5. NIKE

Even though Nike has evolved over the years in regards to a more sustainable image, their lack of transparency and sweatshop scandals are major red flags in the fast fashion world. It is estimated that Nike sells about 26 pairs of shoes every second! The extent of production to keep up with this level of demand is unthinkable.

Nike has 533 factories in 42 countries – mostly in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia (source). They have built a successful brand on cheap labour. And even the exploitation of their workers with many human rights violations. Ever since the 1990s, Nike has been accused of the use of child labour and sweatshops in Asian countries. Where video evidence of children working 7 days a week had surfaced. They were also accused of underpaying their employees in Chinese factories for more than 20 years.

The most recent accusations of Nike’s labour practices is underpaid workers in a Cambodian factory where Nike claims to pay employees 1.9 times more than the minimum wage. Yet payroll evidence shows that only 1% of employees earn that much. And employees were working over-time in fear of being fired. Nike has since left this factory. But with the hundreds of factories worldwide and literally thousands of workers per factory, Nike should take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of their employees and shift their multi-million dollar sponsorship budget for famous athletes to paying their employees fair and livable wages.

What is Nike hiding?

Nike even blocked labour rights experts from directly assessing their factories and work spaces. This is a violation of worker and human rights. Their employees’ access to address concerns and have their voices be heard was taken away by the company. If Nike had nothing to hide, why did they feel this action was necessary in protecting their brand?

Amongst the synthetic fabrics used in Nike’s production, they do use natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, leather bamboo and hemp. But it is unclear as to whether the welfare of the animals from which these fabrics are sourced is ethical.

The company has made steps towards a more sustainable production in regards to fabrics. But their promises to customers about a greener future without fulfilling their words with actions has even raised lawsuits against them for greenwashing.

6. ADIDAS

As the second largest sportswear company in the world after Nike, you can imagine that ADIDAS is not much different to the business practices of Nike. As we know by now, multi-million dollar companies have no issue putting their bank accounts above the destruction of Mother Nature and breaching a number of human rights and ethical labour practices. ADIDAS has faced much backlash regarding the treatment of their workers and underpaying them so little that they cannot even cover their basic needs.

ADIDAS (and Nike) have been under investigation by Greenpeace for the use of extremely harmful chemicals in their production. Greenpeace tested the waste water flowing out from textile factories in China. They found toxic chemicals that end up in waterways and harmful chemicals that disrupt hormones and cause human health issues.

Of course, ADIDAS’ transparency leaves little to the certainty of their supply chain. Nor where their fabrics are sourced and how each product is made. In 2023, they produced over 300 million pairs of shoes and about 330 million garments. Releasing this amount of toxic chemicals to keep up with production is a major environmental impact that has detrimental effects on eco-systems and wildlife. And just imagine what wearing those chemicals on our skin is doing to our health.

ADIDAS has been asked to stop the use of Kangaroo Leather in their products. This is because of rising concerns of Kangaroo populations and the animal welfare ethics connected to sourcing the leather.

Although they claim to reduce carbon emissions by 2030, very little has changed in their production and manufacturing process. ADIDAS is facing complaints of greenwashing and “deceptive marketing practices“.

“It is time for justice to take up the scourge of greenwashing and for fast-fashion brands to understand that they are illegal when they claim that selling sneakers made from recycled materials helps fight plastic pollution”

– Alice Elfassi

7. FOREVER 21

If you have not heard yet, Forever21 has officially filed for bankruptcy. F21 is closing down all of their stores within the US – unless a buyer can be found. But so far, Forever21 has not made any comment on whether they have successfully found another entity to take over the company. However, Forever21 stores outside of the US will remain open as they are owned and operated by other entities, as well as their online presence.

Because of the rising giants of Shein and Temu with their extremely low, competitive prices, Forever21 has filed for bankruptcy twice since 2019. But ever since 1984, Forever21 has built its foundation on cheap labour, cheap fabrics and cheap ethics. For decades, the company has been stealing designs from other fashion brands to copy and sell for much lower prices. They pump out hundreds of designs on the regular. With no regard for quality or sustainable production.

A lack of transparency & detrimental environmental impacts:

This fast fashion brand is known to have extremely poor quality clothing that is not made to last. Leading to excessive waste that ends up in landfills and polluting the environment. Not to mention, most of their garments are made from plastic based fabrics (100% polyester!) that are worn only a handful of times before being tossed away because of a lack of durability. For many years, they have absolutely contributed to the 30%-40% of overproduction by the fast fashion industry. As well as the micro-plastic pollution that ends up in water sources and our oceans. They have almost 0 transparency on waste management and what steps the company has taken to improve its production process in favor of the planet.

Forever21’s history of lawsuits, unethical labour practices and copyright infringement screams fast fashion! They are one of the few brands who have not signed the Bangladesh Accord. Which is a legal agreement between brands and factories to ensure safe and ethical working conditions for its employees. And they have been accused of sweatshop labour and underpaying their employees far below the minimum wage per hour. Never-mind paying them a livable wage!

Forever21 might be closing down hundreds of stores in the US, but the environmental impact of their millions of garments will remain on earth for generations.

8. H&M

Can you guess how many garments H&M produces each year as one of the top 10 most valuable clothing retailers in the world? 3 BILLION GARMENTS PER YEAR! And how much of that production is actually sold? Almost a third is either burned or tossed into landfills. And let us remind you that these garments are made mostly with synthetic fabrics and contain chemicals that are harmful to the environment and are known to be hormone disrupters.

With all of the climate strategy agendas that H&M claims to withhold for a more sustainable brand, their garments and production thereof tell a different story. You can simply go onto their website and see that their low prices are what you would expect a fast fashion brand to sell their garments for. As well as the materials they use are not environmentally friendly. Many of which are made from fossil fuels and are not biodegradable or ethically sourced.

Stolen land & the displacement of local people…

H&M was previously accused of sourcing their cotton from land grabs in the Omo Valley of Ethiopia which displaced thousands of local people. A non-profit, Earthsight, also found that H&M used cotton sourced from “stolen” and “deforested” land in Brazil. They are also using an excessive and unsustainable amount of natural resources to produce millions of cotton garments every year.

The success of H&M’s business model is the epitome of fast fashion. And why they are turning over billions of dollars each year. You would think that a company as globally successful as this would be able to pay their workers fair and livable wages. Yet they have been accused of underpaying 850 000 employees.

It is safe to say that H&M is a massive global contributor to the impacts of fast fashion. The more we demand as consumers, the more they grow, overproduce, underpay, overuse resources and pollute precious environments.

9. FASHION NOVA

Fashion Nova is another fast fashion brand that you will see overtaking social media with trendy clothing hauls and influencer marketing. They use influencers, and even famous celebrities, across all social platforms to promote new releases and put pressure on customers to keep up with the latest trends and encourage and disposable fashion culture.

Let’s take a look at their mission statement straight from their very own website:

“Our Mission
Our team works around-the-clock to bring you the world’s hottest styles. We forecast fashion trends before anyone else, and introduce 1,000+ new arrivals to our site every week! We listen to our customers and are always finding innovative ways to improve and deliver the most coveted styles at a moment’s notice. It’s our top priority to ensure that our FN community always feels confident and included. We’ve revolutionized the fashion industry and dominated the market with our FashionNova, FashionNovaCURVE, FashionNovaMEN’s, and an up-and-coming FashionNovaKIDS line. We cater to anyone who has an affinity for fashion. Regardless of shape, personal style, or gender, we’re here to fit everyone.
Today, Fashion Nova’s mission remains the same—making affordable fashion accessible to customers around the world.”

It is clear that their focus is all about dominating the fashion industry by staying ahead of the fashion game in the most affordable way and by over producing garments every single week! Not a word is said in relation to sustainability, ethical practices or sourcing of materials. And good luck finding any transparency in Fashion Nova’s production, sourcing, manufacturers and labour ethics. They make no effort to share any sustainability goals, ways in which they are trying to reduce their carbon footprint or their waste management.

Cancer-causing ingredients:

Thanks to cheap materials, Fashion Nova is able to sell their garments for extremely low prices. Attracting returning customers over and over again, despite the fact that the garments are not made to last.

Not only are they using cheap synthetic fabrics (made from plastic and fossil fuels), some of their clothing/swimsuits have come with a warning label that the ingredients used in production can cause cancer and birth defects. ‘Can expose you to Di(2-ethylhexyl), phthalate, lead and cadmium‘.

Consumers are very much kept in the dark when purchasing from Fashion Nova. They completely lack transparency with regards to their supply chain and factories. The fact that they do not work directly with their manufacturers tells us that they are not taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their workers. And they are not actively over-seeing fair labour practices. The only thing we know is that some of their manufacturing is done in Los Angeles. In 2019 they were exposed for paying workers as little as $2.77 per hour. A wage way below the livable wage amount!

10. PRETTYLITTLETHING (BOOHOO GROUP)

PrettyLittleThing is the queen of Instagram VS Reality. They are known to disappoint its customers when it comes to how the garments look on their website compared to how it looks on their customers in real life. Which in other words, is a complete scam. This brand thrives off of using the cheapest fabrics and making them in the cheapest way possible with no regard for quality or durability. They are attracting customers with affordable prices and disposable fashion that keeps them coming back for more multiple times a season.

With hundreds of new items released on their site each week, they manipulate customers into thinking it is okay to buy into disposable fashion. Because you can always buy the latest trend again and again with just a tap of the finger right?

In 2020, Boohoo (PrettyLittleThing’s parent company) was exposed for dangerous working conditions and underpaying employees in Leicester factories. Their workers were being paid under the legal minimum wage. Once they were caught with unethical labour practices, the company made empty promises to ensure safety in their supply chain and change the way their employees are treated and paid. But a reporter who worked at Boohoo said that the company constantly put pressure on suppliers to get their garments made for cheaper. Sometimes even after orders had been finalized. Suppliers would be the ones to lose profit while Boohoo makes over a billion dollars a year.

Forcing suppliers to cut costs by threatening to take business elsewhere:

Boohoo also put pressure on production times. For every week a supplier was late, they would charge a 5% price cut. Just imagine the pressure and unrealistic production time this put on factory workers. The cost of production for one dress compared to the selling price does not add up to a substantial amount for covering costs, paying garment workers a minimum wage and ensuring safe waste management production.

PrettyLittleThing has an extremely high returns rate. Because of garments not being true to size and fitting. The company even banned users for “unusual high returns activity” which of course caused an outrage on social media.

Boohoo’s climate impact is one of the worst in the whole fast fashion industry. They are extremely vague in how they plan to combat their carbon emissions. Nor disclose plans to make better choices when it comes to synthetic fabrics and creating a more sustainable brand. Their environmental impact statements offer no promise of a more sustainable future in the company’s practices.

11. MANGO

When one of a company’s garment factory collapses and injures its suppliers’ workers, it is safe to say that the company is not doing enough to ensure safe working conditions for the people who work tirelessly to keep up with the demands of a multi-million dollar fast fashion brand. Over 1000 workers died in the Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh. Although Mango was one of the brands sourcing production from this factory, they did not take responsibility or compensate the victims of this fatal incident.

Mango has also been accused of overworking and underpaying factory workers in Myanmar in 2022. The suppliers’ employees were unfairly treated by supervisors and discriminated against if they did not submit to working overtime and even working when they are sick.

Mango is one of the few brands who have made an effort to use more sustainable materials in their production line. 44% of their garments are now made from sustainable fabrics. And they have eliminated harmful PFCs from its clothing. And they have become more transparent about their supply chain and sourcing over the years. But they still have a long way to go in paying their employees livable wages, reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and their contribution to overproduction polluting the earth and ending up in landfills.

A FEW OTHER FAST FASHION BRANDS TO AVOID:

OTHER BRANDS TO AVOID WHO CONTRIBUTE TO ALL OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED ISSUES OF THE FAST FASHION INDUSTRY:

• Zaful
• Nasty Gal
• GAP (owner of Old Navy, Banana Republic and Athleta)
• ASOS
• Victoria’s Secret
• Guess
• Urban Outfitters
• Alo Yoga
• Uniqlo
• Free People
• Missguided

WHAT IF BUYING THE LATEST FASHION TRENDS IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY LIFESTYLE?

If you have a love for fashion, promote fashion brands to your audience and have a passion for the industry, I completely understand that this is an important part of your lifestyle. And possibly your income. It can be very challenging shifting from one avenue/income/niche to another. I think that it is important for us to take a deeper look into our values. We can ask ourselves whether what we are buying and promoting aligns with those values.

“Do the brands I work with and purchase from on a regular basis align with my own personal values?”

If the answer is no, you will be so happy to know that there is an array of ethical and sustainable fashion brands in the world who are owned by small business owners, who hold true to sustainability and would be over the moon to work with creators to get their brand out there. Many of these businesses pay well and collaborate on a regular basis. Not only are you supporting an ethical brand but you are also supporting a small business owner who appreciates every single sale and exposure that they receive. You are supporting original creativity and a brand that actually cares about their customers.

Years ago I would have understood the argument that there are not enough small fashion brands creating different designs to suit everyone’s style. But today, you really can find the most beautiful handmade clothing boutiques and thrift shops that sell in every kind of style your heart desires.

Fast fashion isn’t free, somewhere someone is paying.

– Lucy Siegle

HOW CAN I SUPPORT ETHICAL AND SUSTAINABLE FASHION INSTEAD?

One of the best places to start is to research small sustainable businesses in your community or country. You can easily find amazing fashion brands on social medias. Also at your local markets where local artisans share their creative pieces and rely on the community for support.

I am from South Africa, and the amount of incredible sustainable fashion brands that exist here are creating waves in the fashion industry. It is amazing to have such an array of small businesses to purchase from who care about their impact in the world. And these brands are becoming more and more present all around the world. Slow, ethical fashion is becoming more readily available in the market for us to choose sustainability over fast fashion trends.

Below, we will break down a few things that we can do as consumers to reduce the impact we have when buying fashion.

WHAT CAN I DO TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF FAST FASHION ON THE PLANET?

“But I am only one person. How am I even making a difference when the problems of the fast fashion industry are so vast?”

If more and more people are educated about the effects of the fast fashion industry it creates a mindful ripple effect in how we consume in our day-to-day lives. It is simple. When the demand for fast fashion declines, it reduces production. Reduced production means less exploitation, less pollution, less destruction of the planet.

Let’s explore a few ways in which we can reduce the impact of fast fashion on the planet:

WEAR WHAT IS IN YOUR CLOSET

The most sustainable choice is wearing what is already in your closet. There is always a way to spice up an outfit with accessories and style pieces in a fashionable way. Wearing what you already have reduces the need to buy new clothing every single time there is a new trend out there. Sometimes we forget what we have because our gems are hidden under a pile of clothes. We can always do a little closet reorganizing to see all of the beautiful pieces we have waiting to be worn again.

THRIFT AND SWAP

Thrift shopping – no need to ask me twice! I am a full time traveller and even in the most remote countries I have found the cutest thrift shops selling pre-loved clothing. So, there is definitely a thrift or charity shop nearby you! And if not, there are amazing online thrift shops and local sellers that you can support and find beautiful clothing in your style.

Notable thrift shops to keep in mind:
South Africa: YagaZA
USA & Europe: ThredUP

I have seen more and more communities setting up clothing swaps lately. Which is an amazing way to refresh your closet without actually purchasing anything new. You can swap clothing you don’t wear anymore, with someone who will love your pre-loved pieces, and make use of their pre-loved clothing in return.

UPCYCLE

I am not sure if you have seen all of the amazing small businesses on Instagram these days who are taking unwanted clothing and up-cycling them into really beautiful and unique wearable pieces? These creative clothing businesses have become so popular amongst the conscious consumer communities for their ethical production and owning a piece that not only tells a story but was handmade with love.

If you have clothing that you really think you would not wear again, you can always get a little creative and find ways to make new pieces from the very fabrics that are in your closet.

One of my favorite creatives that make the most stunning dresses from up-cycled fabrics is Kilo Collective. A small business based in South Africa. Her dresses are timeless, made from quality fabrics and can be worn in every season.

RECYCLE

The amount of clothing that is discarded that could have been recycled is incomprehensible. Instead of clothing ending up in landfills, in the ocean and polluting the earth, we can make more of an effort to sustainably recycle clothing and textiles.

You can research your nearest fabric recycling drop-off bin where old clothing is turned into new textiles. Natural fibers are reused or decompose. And synthetic fabrics can be pulled apart to weave new sheets of fabric to re-produce with.

BUY QUALITY NOT QUANTITY – BUY LESS

As we mentioned before, fast fashion brands use low quality fabrics that are not made to last. They want you to buy more frequently. So why would they produce clothing that would last you a lifetime?

Sustainable fashion brands tend to pride themselves on quality products. When you buy from an ethical and sustainable clothing brand, you are buying clothes that are made to last. You don’t need to continuously replace your closet with new clothing because last season’s trend is already coming loose at the seams.

Buying quality fashion also means buying timeless pieces. Pieces that can be styled for every season and be passed on to friends and family who will treasure them once you have outgrown them.

SUPPORT BRANDS THAT VALUE SUSTAINABILITY

Transparency in a fashion business is key to understanding the values, morals, ethics and vision of the foundation they have built their brand on.

When a brand is secretive about their practices, how can we know as consumers that they are aligned with sustainability and ethical values? So many fast fashion brands are being exposed for their unethical production and working environments. And nowadays, you can simply research a brand to find out almost everything you need to know. Are they a part of the problem or a sustainable brand?

But when a brand displays full transparency in their production, fabrics, waste removal and employees, they build trust with conscious consumers. Consumers who will support them time and time again. We are able to make an informed decision about where we are spending our money and the effect we have on humans, nature and wildlife.

QUESTIONS TO KEEP IN MIND:

– What materials do you use?
– Where are your materials sourced?
– Do you use chemical dyes or any harmful chemicals in your production?
– Where do you dispose of any waste created from production?
– Do you use any renewable/natural energy?
– What do you do with any unsold garments?
– Do you share your manufacturing process with your customers?
– What packaging and shipping materials do you use?
– Are you aware of your carbon footprint and do you do anything to reduce your impact on the environment?
– Are your workers treated ethically and get paid fair wages?
– Do your employees work in safe and adequate conditions?
– What is your vision for your brand?
– Do you support your local community or are involved with any sustainable/environmental programs?

BUY CLOTHING MADE FROM NATURAL FIBERS

Not only is wearing natural fiber clothing better for the environment, it is also better for your health. Natural fibers are breathable. They don’t contain disease causing chemicals and dyes that are detrimental to our health.

Natural fiber clothing is generally more costly than synthetic garments. But they are made to last many years, even a lifetime, longer than a $12 dress from Shein.

There are also no micro-plastics polluting the earth when using natural fibers. These materials are biodegradable, recyclable, renewable, and usually require less resources to produce.

Examples of natural fibers:
– Organic Cotton
– Wool
– Hemp
– Silk
– Bamboo

Examples of synthetic fibers:
– Acrylic
– Polyester
– Nylon
– Rayon
– Microfiber

DO YOUR RESEARCH TO BECOME A MINDFUL CONSUMER

This comes back to supporting brands who are transparent about their practices. If you research a brand that does not openly share all of the details you need to make a decision about whether you want to support them or not, you can reach out to them via email or on their social media to ask for more information and proof of their claims.

Being a conscious consumer, in every aspect of life, comes down to being informed and being mindful of our spending habits. As we know, where we choose to spend our dollar has an impact. And so does how often we choose to spend our dollar on the products we don’t actually need.

DONATE

Donating your clothing is one of the options that I am on the fence about.

On the one hand, there are thrift shops, charity shops and NGOs that do actually sell and reuse all of the clothing that is donated to them. But on the other hand, tonnes and tonnes of clothing that is donated ends up in landfills anyway! Especially because NGOs and charity shops do not have the funds or resources to dispose of waste/unwanted clothing properly.

So, it is best to do some research first before donating your unwanted clothing to just any shop or organization. You can ask them if they are in need of specific items to ensure they will not be going to waste. And enquire about where the unsold items end up.

You can also donate your clothes on a more personal level. Perhaps to people in your community who might be in need of clothing that is still perfectly wearable.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON FAST FASHION BRANDS & THE INDUSTRY…

Even though fast fashion has completely taken over the fashion industry and infiltrated our every day lives, there are brands out there who are staying true to the values of sustainability, ethical production and conscious consumerism. It makes my heart extremely happy to see more and more brands staying true to the values of sustainability and ethical production.

Now, more than ever, it is so important for us as consumers to do our own research regarding which fashion brands we are choosing to support. And the ripple effect our spending habits are creating. The fast fashion industry thrives on “out of sight, out of mind”. But when we are knowledgable about what is truly happening behind closed doors, it gives us the power to choose wiser. Because our choice to choose more sustainability and more ethically, has a long-lasting effect on the world around us.

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WHY BUYING SECOND HAND CLOTHING IS THE MORE SUSTAINABLE CHOICE

SOURCES & REFERENCES:

https://www.mobiloud.com/blog/shein-statistics
https://www.shipbob.com/blog/shein-shipping-guide
sciencedirect.com
https://earth.org/fast-fashion-facts/
https://earth.org/fast-fashion-companies/
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https://www.thefashionlaw.com/fast-fashion-sustainability-is-about-more-than-the-fabrics/
https://www.forbes.com/companies/zara/
https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/oct/14/workers-making-lululemon-leggings-claim-they-are-beaten
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allamerican.org
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