By Zoe Angud
I hope everyone is aware of the news regarding the rising climate crisis and that one of the main causes is the fashion industry. As most of us purchase clothes from the website Shein or go to the mall and purchase clothes from Forever 21, really ask yourself: Where are these clothes coming from? and Will I wear this more than one time?
Does anyone know where their clothes are from nowadays? No, not really. One of the many reasons is that companies do not have a transparent supply chain, consumers cannot track where the clothes are created and how it ends up in their hands. Yes, we all fall into trends like cropped halter tops like when I bought them in 7th grade and only bought them because I thought I was going to wear them but never did. Shein is a great example on how everyone wants the cheapest trendy clothes. The thing is, it’s called a trend for a reason; trends are not supposed to last for long, which leads to clothes becoming disposable fashion. Disposable fashion describes clothes that are made not to last for long and just here for a good time.
Solutions to better the environment and our well-being are to donate our clothes, purchase second hand and shop ethically sourced companies.
Shopping secondhand is an amazing way to find timeless pieces that you can wear season after season. For me personally, I purchase some basics but also some fun pieces to spice up my closet with one-of-a-kind garments. If you don’t like the jacket you bought from the thrift store 3 years ago, do not be afraid to donate it either back to the thrift store or to consignment shops like Plato’s Closet to earn a little more cash. Another way is also to sell on apps or website for a reasonable price. Note: reselling a piece that you got from the thrift store for $3 should not be sold for more than $100!
Another option is donating to organizations that will properly recycle your clothes into new ones. In Philly, the company Fabscrap will take your old scraps and re-create them into new fabric to be properly repurposed. They offer services where they pick up scraps from companies or you can shop recycled and deadstock fabric for a new project of yours. They are always looking for volunteers to help sort scraps and if you do, you receive free goodies like fabric, discounts and more!
They will be open November 15th, located at:
BOK building
1901 S 9th St UNIT 601A
Philadelphia, PA 19148
Open Monday through Friday 9 to 5 PM
Anyone can register to make a shopping appointment or volunteer session. Here is their website to read more: https://fabscrap.org/
Here are some cool brands to support and purchase from if you want unique pieces:
https://www.elvisandkresse.com/
Creates luxury bags and belts from old fire hoses and donates 50% of profit to charities
Creates luxury zero-waste sustainable pieces from deadstock and reclaimed fabrics
Uses pre-consumer waste from NYC garment industry, as well as hard to recycle materials that are created into genderless clothing and accessories that send nothing to landfills
The three links I have listed are pretty pricey but remember quality trumps quantity. Striving for unique pieces to wear repeatedly is ideal compared to wearing something only once before it falls apart. Support these shops on November 27th for Small Business Saturday!
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