The trail towards sustainable and ethical clothing begins with how and where we buy (or don’t buy) our clothes to start with. Following is the buyerachy (or buying hierarchy) of sourcing clothing that is sustainable and ethical. At the top, is the most desirable method of clothes sourcing all the way down to the bottom, while still acceptable, is the least favourite method.
Please note that the buying of cheap and nasty ‘fast fashion’ clothing, available from mass-market retailers (you know who you are!) does not appear anywhere on the buyerarchy and is definitely not recommended. Items of fast fashion are poor in quality, produced in third world sweat shops. They are a waste of resources, and your money!
1. Shop in your wardrobe
The idea behind this is to make use of what you already have, rather than going out to buy new stuff. Look through your closets, drawers and clothes rack to see what you might have hidden that you haven’t worn in a while. Take a fresh look at what you have, save yourself some money and help save the planet.
2. Upcycle your old clothes
This part of the buyerarchy does require a bit of kit and a bit of skill, but old clothes can become new again by using some age-old ideas to freshen them up. Sewing on applique, either home made or bought in for the purpose can add extra flair. Mending your clothes boro-style using layered fabric patches works too, and embroidery can add a touch of style to any garment. It is just a case of looking at what you have then using your creativity to freshen up that old pair of jeans!
3. Swap your unused/unloved clothes
Just because they are no longer a garment you love to wear doesn’t mean they can’t be a go-to piece of clothing for someone else. Swapping your clothes can be as simple as getting together with friends or family and checking out the contents of each other’s wardrobes. If you are looking for broader swapping opportunities you could attend a clothing swap event put on at a sustainability hub, community hall or library, organised by the local council, permaculture or environmental group. Can’t find a clothes swap event near you? Consider putting one together yourself, it is lots of fun, and you get new clothes!
4. Buy second hand on the web/op shops
Back in the day if you wanted second hand clothing, op shops (Opportunity shops run by charities) were the way to go, but these days there are other options available. There are websites offering good quality second hand clothes like Swap Up - https://swapup.com.au/ , Lulu’s Fashion Flair - https://lulusfashionflair.com.au/ ) or Designer Wardrobe https://designerwardrobe.com.au/. I am sure there are lots more, these are just the first three that came up on a quick search. To be fair, fellas, these websites do seem to be aimed at the ladies. Of course op shops are still around they are run, for example, by the Salvation Army (the Sallies or Salvos), St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) or Anglicare with outlets in many suburbs. These days there are also newer privately run second hand clothing shops selling vintage and retro styles like Di Nuovo, Irreplaceable Store and Reunion, all clustered around inner Sydney. Do a search for second hand clothing shops in your area, you will be surprised at what comes up.
5. Rent (there’s an app for that!)
When I was a young lad, the call for rented clothing was mainly for the 6th form formal or when you got married, at least for guys like me. These days there are all sorts of opportunities, again mainly for the ladies, to rent high end glamour clothing for a fixed period (they seem to be 4 day or 8 day hires), then returned once the need is over or you get tired of it. I found this website most helpful https://www.brittslist.com.au/article/online-places-rent-borrow-clothes-australia/ or at least I would have if I was female and looking to rent an ensemble. That is not all however, you can rent rather than buy clothing that you will only use for a short time. These include baby clothes (eg Curious Kind https://www.curiouskind.com.au/), and Pregnancy dresses (eg Mama Rentals - https://mamarentals.com.au/collections/maternity-dress-hire-sydney.
6. Make your own
While I think this is a great idea, this one is a bit fraught! You need to get hold of the supplies like fabric and thread, gear like a sewing machine (not that hand sewing is impossible, but it takes time) and have the knowledge and skill to use both. I am still amazed by the tales from an earlier generation, like my mother-in-law who made my wife and her sisters clothing until they were in their teens. If you have the gear and the supplies at least there is YouTube to help you out with learning how to sew and maybe you still have friends or relatives that can clue you in enough to get started.
7. Buy from sustainable/ethical clothes retailers
If you do have to buy new clothes, and sometimes it is unavoidable, then please leave the cheap and nasty ‘Fast Fashion’ garments alone. Spend a bit more and get better quality that lasts longer and does not have modern day slavery and/or environmental degradation in their supply chain. To identify which brands are worth supporting I have found the ‘Good on You’ website to be of great help and they have a list of the most ethical and sustainable brands in Aus and NZ so the work has been done for you - https://goodonyou.eco/most-ethical-and-sustainable-clothing-brands-from-au-and-nz/ They also have an app for the phone that provides lots of information on sustainable clothing. Their home page is - https://goodonyou.eco/ . There is also the hard copy book ‘The Better World Shopping Guide’ that rates a whole stack of products and retailers from Star performers and A list, all the way down to F or X at the very bottom. The latest edition is number seven and clothing appears on pages 78 and 79.
Buying online – While this is not a bad practice in and of itself, buying clothing online, especially from an El cheapo fast fashion supplier means you do not get to check the quality and fit of the garment before you buy. This can result in disappointment for you when it arrives, which you then express by returning the clothing for a refund. It is a sad fact that in a lot of these cases the clothing, even if it has never been worn, is sent straight to landfill or incineration rather than being returned to stock, because that is the cheaper way for the supplier. Food for thought.
It is worth taking the time to work out where it is best to shop on the buyerachy for you, but that may vary from time to time and under different circumstances. However, if you can stay on the buyerachy, you’ll be striking a blow for a more sustainable, more equitable world.
