Ever since I can remember, I have loved clothes. They have always been my form of self-expression and an exercise in identity and creativity. I have mostly bought them abroad and taken them home as souvenirs, inherited them from my mom, ordered them online for a specific occasion, or had them made-to-measure for me only. Therefore, they serve as living memories and treasures that I use and love. But they are also much more than that. While those deliberate purchases form my style, they are today more than ever assembled into a declaration of my values.
The times changed, and so did the fashion industry. Many fast-fashion as well as luxury companies nowadays have a long history of sweatshop labour, dangerous working conditions, and ethical and environmental issues raised in their supply chains, accompanied by distraction marketing methods, empty promises, and outright lies. And the only thing that can transform the industry are our buying decisions. We all have the power to make change. And it is actually pretty simple.
Follow these tips to become a more mindful fashion consumer:
Harmony between comfort, practicality, and style is the main concept behind Studio August’s design process. Particular importance is attached to the careful choice of natural materials and attention to all steps of the manufacturing process. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified fabric mills and sustainable fabric fairs are the cornerstones of Studio August’s fabric sourcing.
1. Take care of the clothes you already own
Taking care of your clothes is the most basic and, for sure, the best thing you can do right away to become a more mindful consumer. Always check the care tags and follow the instructions. Handwash and don’t tumble dry delicate fabrics; never hang heavy sweaters; repair a rip or missing button; take the stained piece to the dry cleaners; the list goes on. Clothes that are well taken care of last longer and need to be replaced less often.
2. Buy less, choose well
The quote by Vivienne Westwood “buy less, choose well, and make it last” is obviously pretty self-explanatory. Buying clothes that are well-made of high-quality materials is more eco-friendly because they last longer and do not need to be replaced so often. Stay reasonable, resist buying things with impossibly low price tags, and avoid the buy-and-toss behaviour. Those clothes you bought impulsively might have been cheap to you, but once you add to their real cost what someone else had to pay, you see that cheap in fashion simply doesn’t exist.
3. Calculate your cost per wear
The real worth of a piece of clothing is actually a pretty subjective thing. The sales tag isn’t the only one you need to consider; rather, think about how often you will actually wear it. Before buying any new item, do the math: divide how much an item of clothing costs by the number of times you plan to wear it. It might turn out that the 200-euro dress you will wear 20 times is a much better buy than the 20-euro one you will wear only once.
Joanna Organisciak is a young designer based in Poland. The characteristic style of her brand, Organisciak, is a unique combination of classic and modern, deconstruction of traditional forms, and ambiguity. Easy yet elegant shirts and dresses fulfill the mission of bringing an avant-garde twist to classic silhouettes. Forms created in a highly limited palette of colors are focused on considered details and have become an Organisciak signature.
4. Be curious, ask questions
Start looking at your clothes differently. Instead of only asking yourself “Does this piece look great on me?”, rather answer some of these questions: Who made these clothes? What materials were used? Where did they come from? Where were they made? What’s it like to work there? What are the workers lives like? Being interested in the answers to these kinds of questions is the best first step towards changing the story for the people who make our clothes.
5. Learn about the textiles
Do the research and learn about fabric production. Choose brands that use recycled fibers and opt for sustainable options like hemp, organic cotton, Tencel, etc., unlike mainstream fashion, which mostly uses elastics, nylon, and polyester that contain plastic. And we all know that when thrown away, plastic does not compost; it sits in the soil and floats in the oceans forever.
Janja Videc operates in a socially responsible, local, and sustainable manner. Avoiding seasonal changes, the brand is based on a monochromatic color scale, well-thought-out tailoring, and geometrically shaped patterns and is consequently wearable in many different ways anytime of the year.
6. Support local designers
Small independent brands with sustainable production models are becoming more and more available. They ignore the insane fashion cycle, create pieces that can be worn all year, or produce smaller collections per season. The small independent brands usually produce their clothing close to their stores in their local environment to avoid the staggering CO2 emissions caused by shipping garments around the globe. So with every purchase you make, you support craftsmanship in the region and enable your local designers to grow.
Check out the selection of our independent designers in our shop.
7. Buy vintage or second-hand
Buying vintage or second-hand clothing is another great, budget-friendly alternative to buying new clothing. By buying pre-worn clothes, you extend their lifetime and reduce their negative environmental impact. Additionally, vintage boutiques and online marketplaces hide some truly unique treasures that you will not find anywhere else!
8. Swap, share, hire
Every now and then, you still need a fashion fix. I get it. But rather than buying new clothing, consider organizing a swap party, sharing clothing with your friends, or simply hiring them. More affordable and way more entertaining than a shopping spree!
9. DIY – do it yourself!
If you’ve fallen out of love with a piece of clothing, don’t throw it out; change it. Learn the basics of sewing, so you will be able to repair a rip or a missing button, tailor clothes to a different shape, add new embellishments, or dye them a different color.
10. Join the revolution
Fashion Revolution, an organization that challenges the fashion industry to Fashion Revolution, an organization that challenges the fashion industry to provide greater transparency, safer work places, fair pay, and environmental issues, is already active in more than 90 countries. Tens of thousands of people get involved each year in Fashion Revolution Week, asking brands #whomademyclothes on social media. Find out more and take part at fashionrevolution.org!
Written by Sandra Gubenšek
Featured image: Shaina Mote via the Dresyln, other images by Studio August, Joanna Organisciak and Janja Videc.
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10 Steps to Becoming More Conscious Fashion Consumer
Ever since I can remember, I have loved clothes. They have always been my form of self-expression and an exercise in identity and creativity. I have mostly bought them abroad and taken them home as souvenirs, inherited them from my mom, ordered them online for a specific occasion, or had them made-to-measure for me only. Therefore, they serve as living memories and treasures that I use and love. But they are also much more than that. While those deliberate purchases form my style, they are today more than ever assembled into a declaration of my values.
The times changed, and so did the fashion industry. Many fast-fashion as well as luxury companies nowadays have a long history of sweatshop labour, dangerous working conditions, and ethical and environmental issues raised in their supply chains, accompanied by distraction marketing methods, empty promises, and outright lies. And the only thing that can transform the industry are our buying decisions. We all have the power to make change. And it is actually pretty simple.
Follow these tips to become a more mindful fashion consumer:
Harmony between comfort, practicality, and style is the main concept behind Studio August’s design process. Particular importance is attached to the careful choice of natural materials and attention to all steps of the manufacturing process. Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified fabric mills and sustainable fabric fairs are the cornerstones of Studio August’s fabric sourcing.
1. Take care of the clothes you already own
Taking care of your clothes is the most basic and, for sure, the best thing you can do right away to become a more mindful consumer. Always check the care tags and follow the instructions. Handwash and don’t tumble dry delicate fabrics; never hang heavy sweaters; repair a rip or missing button; take the stained piece to the dry cleaners; the list goes on. Clothes that are well taken care of last longer and need to be replaced less often.
2. Buy less, choose well
The quote by Vivienne Westwood “buy less, choose well, and make it last” is obviously pretty self-explanatory. Buying clothes that are well-made of high-quality materials is more eco-friendly because they last longer and do not need to be replaced so often. Stay reasonable, resist buying things with impossibly low price tags, and avoid the buy-and-toss behaviour. Those clothes you bought impulsively might have been cheap to you, but once you add to their real cost what someone else had to pay, you see that cheap in fashion simply doesn’t exist.
3. Calculate your cost per wear
The real worth of a piece of clothing is actually a pretty subjective thing. The sales tag isn’t the only one you need to consider; rather, think about how often you will actually wear it. Before buying any new item, do the math: divide how much an item of clothing costs by the number of times you plan to wear it. It might turn out that the 200-euro dress you will wear 20 times is a much better buy than the 20-euro one you will wear only once.
Joanna Organisciak is a young designer based in Poland. The characteristic style of her brand, Organisciak, is a unique combination of classic and modern, deconstruction of traditional forms, and ambiguity. Easy yet elegant shirts and dresses fulfill the mission of bringing an avant-garde twist to classic silhouettes. Forms created in a highly limited palette of colors are focused on considered details and have become an Organisciak signature.
4. Be curious, ask questions
Start looking at your clothes differently. Instead of only asking yourself “Does this piece look great on me?”, rather answer some of these questions: Who made these clothes? What materials were used? Where did they come from? Where were they made? What’s it like to work there? What are the workers lives like? Being interested in the answers to these kinds of questions is the best first step towards changing the story for the people who make our clothes.
5. Learn about the textiles
Do the research and learn about fabric production. Choose brands that use recycled fibers and opt for sustainable options like hemp, organic cotton, Tencel, etc., unlike mainstream fashion, which mostly uses elastics, nylon, and polyester that contain plastic. And we all know that when thrown away, plastic does not compost; it sits in the soil and floats in the oceans forever.
Janja Videc operates in a socially responsible, local, and sustainable manner. Avoiding seasonal changes, the brand is based on a monochromatic color scale, well-thought-out tailoring, and geometrically shaped patterns and is consequently wearable in many different ways anytime of the year.
6. Support local designers
Small independent brands with sustainable production models are becoming more and more available. They ignore the insane fashion cycle, create pieces that can be worn all year, or produce smaller collections per season. The small independent brands usually produce their clothing close to their stores in their local environment to avoid the staggering CO2 emissions caused by shipping garments around the globe. So with every purchase you make, you support craftsmanship in the region and enable your local designers to grow.
Check out the selection of our independent designers in our shop.
7. Buy vintage or second-hand
Buying vintage or second-hand clothing is another great, budget-friendly alternative to buying new clothing. By buying pre-worn clothes, you extend their lifetime and reduce their negative environmental impact. Additionally, vintage boutiques and online marketplaces hide some truly unique treasures that you will not find anywhere else!
8. Swap, share, hire
Every now and then, you still need a fashion fix. I get it. But rather than buying new clothing, consider organizing a swap party, sharing clothing with your friends, or simply hiring them. More affordable and way more entertaining than a shopping spree!
9. DIY – do it yourself!
If you’ve fallen out of love with a piece of clothing, don’t throw it out; change it. Learn the basics of sewing, so you will be able to repair a rip or a missing button, tailor clothes to a different shape, add new embellishments, or dye them a different color.
10. Join the revolution
Fashion Revolution, an organization that challenges the fashion industry to Fashion Revolution, an organization that challenges the fashion industry to provide greater transparency, safer work places, fair pay, and environmental issues, is already active in more than 90 countries. Tens of thousands of people get involved each year in Fashion Revolution Week, asking brands #whomademyclothes on social media. Find out more and take part at fashionrevolution.org!
Written by Sandra Gubenšek
Featured image: Shaina Mote via the Dresyln, other images by Studio August, Joanna Organisciak and Janja Videc.
There is more:
/ Editorial note: And who made your clothes?
/ Quiet but Powerful: Minimalism in Fashion
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