What is Ethical Fashion?
Ethical fashion is a way of producing clothes in a way that both protects people and the environment. It ensures that workers are treated fairly, their work environment is safe, and their rights are upheld. It also ensures that materials used in production are sourced responsibly and improve the environment rather than harm it. Ethical fashion is not just about style, but sustainability, accountability, and safety (Bluesign).
Why Should You Shop Ethically?
Not only is ethical fashion good for people and the planet, ethical fashion uses high-quality materials, allowing you to use your clothes for years to come. Though the cost is high upfront, it enables you to think more about your purchase. This helps circumvent overconsumption by investing in slightly more expensive, high-quality pieces over time (Bluesign). Shopping ethically also allows you to express yourself with pieces that not everyone has. Rather than following the trends, you can become the trendsetter.
How to Shop Ethically: Ethical Fashion Decision Tree
Okay, so you want to look good, but be ethical at the same time? Then this ethical fashion decision tree is the tool for you!
Step 1: Practicality vs. Aesthetics
First, you’ll choose your preference. When it comes to fashion, do you lean more towards practicality and functionality or aesthetics? A good way of knowing your preference is to think, would you rather wear something comfortable and fitting, or something cute but a bit uncomfortable after a long period of time?
Step 2: Second Tier
Practical Route
If you chose the practical route, you would then choose between more alternative styles or basic, everyday styles. Would you prefer to be out of the box or is simple the best choice?
Aesthetic Route
If you chose the aesthetic route, you would choose between dark and light aesthetics? Are you more of a Wednesday Addams or an Enid Sinclair? The light aesthetic will lead you to Kotn, which will be talked about in the next tier.
Step 3: Third Tier
Alternative Route
If you prefer alternative styles, you have the option to pick between dark and edgy or fun and bright clothing.
Basic Route
If you prefer the basics, you have the option to pick between trendy basics or alternative basics. The trendy path brings us to our first ethical fashion brand, Kotn. Kotn is a clothing brand made of natural, biodegradable materials. Each purchase goes directly to the communities that produce their materials through efforts such as building schools, funding the needs of the community, and giving subsidies to farmers in the form of fertilizer and agricultural consultants (Kotn).
Step 4: Fourth Tier
Dark and Edgy
The dark and edgy path will lead you to CHNGE. CHNGE is fashion with a positive impact. They create sustainable clothing produced at a Fairtrade Factory, guaranteeing safe working conditions, fair wages, and the right to form unions and collective bargaining. CHNGE features collections based on various causes that the purchase of their products contributes to. If you like street fashion with an edge, CHNGE is for you.
Bright and Fun
The bright and fun path will lead you to the brand, Dedicated. Dedicated is a brand that shows fun, creative clothes can be good for the environment. Their products are made with organic, natural, or recycled fibers, and they only work with suppliers that share their values. Even the packaging of their products is made using recycled or certified materials. Their brand features unique patterns and is perfect for the artsy individuals, as they collaborate with artists of various media (Dedicated).
I hope this decision tree makes the process of shopping ethically easier and more accessible for you. We do not exist in a vacuum, and our individual actions can contribute to a larger problem that impacts the environment. Fashion can be used for good, but it starts with where we put our dollar. So, invest in ethics, because ethics is trendy.