One of my favorite trends in fashion right now is thrift shopping. It’s a great way to find unique clothing and accessories, and it’s fun to try things on and explore a new store with friends- you never know what you’ll find!
Thrift shopping is also a great way to shop sustainably. The fashion industry is a major contributor to the increase in pollution and waste that is destroying the Earth at a frightening speed. According to EcoWatch, the production of clothing and textiles is the second most polluting global industry. The clothes we wear daily are created with toxic chemicals that linger on our clothing and make their way throughout our ecosystem.
Another major issue in the fashion industry is how terribly employees are often treated. They are underpaid, work under dangerous conditions, and sometimes rely on human trafficking and child labor to quickly pump out products as cheap possible.
So what can we, lovers of fashion, do about these undeniably scary issues? That’s where nonprofit organizations like Responsibility in Fashion and Remake come in.
Responsibility in Fashion is a nonprofit organization that's goals are to “empower progress toward a clean, safe and ethical global fashion industry.” The company works by connecting sustainable, conscious, eco-friendly, and ethical fashion companies with academic institutions, government programs, and consultants. Their main goal is to educate people about where their clothing comes from and how they can change their spending habits to help heal the world.
Remake is another fashion nonprofit that stands out because it has short documentary films about where their clothing is created and how it is helping women across the world.
Remake outlines a three-step plan for people who want to make a difference in the fashion industry:
1. Equip yourself, learn about the toxic industry and about the women whose lives have been improved because of Remake’s actions.
2. Shop differently, take the pledge to change the way you shop for 30 days and find brands that help people and the environment.
3. Use your voice, host an event, with Remake’s guide, to help people learn about sustainable fashion and tweet that you have joined the movement using #WearYourValues.
The company also sells sustainable clothing on its website and releases a new collection every season featuring the top trends. To shop the brands Remake approves of click here!
Shopping through sites like these, reworking the clothes you already own, and thrift shopping can make a huge impact on the environment and are an easy way to spice up your wardrobe You also might find that you actually do have something to wear!
If you want to learn more about the dirty side of fashion, watch the documentary “The True Cost” on Netflix.
Cover Photo by Onur Bahçıvancılar on Unsplash.