How to be a more ethical consumer
Streetwear is a term that has been gaining a massive boost in popularity within the past few years. Basically, streetwear is more casual and practical clothing that is becoming more popular, as opposed to fast fashion. Think, jeans, hoodies, sneakers, and clothing that makes one look more sporty.
Environmental issues
While streetwear has become more of a cultural phenomenon, it has also become more close to fast fashion when it comes to their environmental footprint. This is due to the fact that a lot of clothing is bought, of which most of which is made from virgin materials. Otherwise known as materials that are created directly from mining or other harmful practices.
This can be a major issue, as manufacture of many of these products, as well as the materials used, is often done without sustainability in mind. As a result, factories can cause emissions of CO2 and other pollutants, and cutting down forests and extracting to make the brand new item can be devastating on the environment as a whole. But what can you do to make sure that you are doing your best for the environment?
What can be done?
Fashion is something that will always be here, and I would never even imagine telling anyone that they should not buy clothing or try to be fashionable. This is because our society runs on appearance, and first looks can make all the difference.
Choose the right brand
That said, there are many things that you can do to make sure that what you wear is a lot more sustainable. For instance, you can check up on the company. Companies like Patagonia boast about their lesser environmental impact, and many smaller companies are not quiet about it either. So checking to see how eco-conscious the company is before you buy can be a great start.
Buy second hand
Another thing to do would be to try to make sure that what you buy is bought secondhand. Secondhand goods are on the rise, are cheaper, and can even be just as high quality as something that you might spend hundreds of dollars on. So check your local thrift shop before you consider buying something new.
Pick the best material
Another thing that you can do, is check up on the materials that are used in the items. We have mentioned before about fashionable items, such as sneakers, that are made out of reclaimed plastic. This is a great way to remain sustainable while also helping reduce the amount of trash that may otherwise end up in the landfill.
In the end
But whatever you do, make sure that you shop knowing what you need. Wearing an item once or twice and then tossing it does not help be sustainable, regardless of how much of the product was recycled. With global warming being an impending threat, it is vital that we make sure that we do what we can to help the environment in any way that we can. And we can still look good in the process.
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