Going Green Looks Good on You 10 Ways To Be Sustainably Stylish

Your coworker shows up wearing a cool shirt on Monday, so naturally you ask him where he bought it. With a couple of taps on your computer or smartphone, you can have that same shirt waiting at home for you to wear on Friday. In this scenario, being a shirt copier isn’t the biggest offense. Research into the fast fashion industry, however, shows that our need for instant gratification with clothes takes a notable human and environmental toll.

Fortunately, with moderate willpower and a little effort, you can be kind to the planet and still have a social-media worthy closet.

SHOP RESPONSIBLY

1. Think hard about your shopping cart. When we impulse-buy cheap trendy clothes, we contribute to a wasteful system that’s harming the environment. Try shopping vintage instead.

2. Invest in durability and timeless pieces. Make all the materials and labour that went into your clothes mean something.

3. Rent for events. There’s no longer a reason to spend a fortune on an outfit that will be worn for only one night. Plus, you can wear designer styles for a fraction of the retail price.

4. Know who made your clothes. You can feel better about supporting companies with fair labour practices and a transparent sustainability mission.

HANDLE CAREFULLY

5. Show your garments some TLC. Wear what you love longer by patching holes and re-heeling shoes. It’s much more affordable than buying new, and you can show some support to your neighbourhood shoe repair.