You’ve definitely heard of sustainable fashion before, but what does it even mean? Let us break it down for you as we ask local experts and give you tips on how you can take steps to becoming environmentally-friendly in style.
Let’s take it back to the basics.
Fashion during pre-industrial times had to be sustainable, and it wasn’t by choice. At this point, fabric could only be made by plants and was extremely tedious to make. While the rich had wardrobes full of clothing, commoners could only afford a few garments and rarely needed closets because they just didn’t have enough to fill them, and they had to make their clothing last an indefinite amount of years. To give an example of how precious fabric was, even rags had some value!
Flash forward to the peak of the Industrial Revolution where inventions for manufacturing took the world by storm, and the textile industry was practically changed overnight. Suddenly, fabrics could be made with more than just plants, and synthetic fibers became the go-to and for good reason—they were just as durable and cheaper to manufacture. But, a price was paid. Synthetic fabrics and dyes came at a cost to the environment. Before long, streams and land were starting to pile up with waste from the factories.
Each decade in the 21st century gave way for fashion trends as manufacturing clothing became easier and more efficient. From the 1920s flapper dress to the 1950s poodle skirt and the 1980s shoulder pads, it was really in the 1990s where ‘fast fashion’ as we know it today was born.
Let’s go full circle and bring it back to 2021. While fast fashion still reigns, it may not be that way for long. Roughly 13 million pounds of textile waste gets sent to landfills every year and with the veil lifted on working conditions worldwide—there has never been more of an emphasis for change in the industry than now. Consumers continue to demand transparency and are making more efforts to shop sustainably. But don’t take our word for it! Here are some local boutique owners that are seeing the change everyday.
Sustainability in Second-Hand
Anela Selkowitz, owner and curator of Stash Vintage in Harrisburg, says becoming a sustainable brand was already in their blood, detailing, “Our focus was to present vintage as a staple that could seamlessly and affordably blend into any closet—with the underlying bonus of sustainability. Sustainability and character are the current focal points of my brand.”
Shopping second-hand is one of the best ways to shop sustainably. Not only are you taking a piece of fashion history home with you, but you’re also saving a garment from a landfill. Plus, consignment and thrifting seem to be having a moment right now as social media has given way for consumers to easily find unique curated pieces to fulfill their current aesthetic. Anela says, “I feel like vintage shopping has had several moments since the 90s, coming and going in popularity mostly based on trends, which elements of, seem to resurface every 20 years or so.” We know it’s difficult to see some of the trends we grew up with become ‘vintage’, but it may not be such a bad thing for the environment, although it may hurt our pride a little.
While we may have plenty of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces now, Anela warns that clothing made in the 2000s may actually not be able to stand the test of time. "I see the vintage trend kind of ending entirely, easily within my lifetime, unless we begin consciously producing quality clothing in the country as a basic standard again.” While this may have sounded a bit harsh, the consequences of fast fashion are quickly approaching.
The Susquehanna Valley is teeming with consignment and thrift boutiques of all styles and eras, meaning you don’t have to go that far to help make a big impact on the environment. When you shop vintage, you’re giving new life to a garment that may have been living for decades. If that’s not worth exploring, then we don’t know what is.
Anela’s Tips for Shopping Sustainably:
1. Unsubscribe to email lists of brands known for not having the best practices―it takes away the temptation to shop from them.
2. Look for items made with natural fibers like cotton, rayon, silk, linen, and double stitched pieces.
3. Try searching for the latest trends at thrift stores or upcycling thrift store items to match present day trends.
Shopping New Goods Sustainably
We’ve talked about how second-hand shopping is sustainable, but what if you’re someone who likes that brand-new feeling? Kristin Snyder, owner of Sophie Stargazer in Lancaster, set out to grant that sustainable experience for local consumers.
Her brand was built on eco-friendly fabrics and USA-made products, but her real eye opener came when the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed in 2013. The tragedy inspired Kristen to find more ways to feature products that will make a positive global impact.
One of her go-to’s before she introduces a new line in her store is to do tons of research. She says, “We follow the guidelines set by the United Nations to help us vet which brands we bring into the shop. We also look for factory certifications, audits, and if we can’t seem to find information on their wholesale websites, we take it a step further and ask directly for their press packets.” While Kristin agrees that doing research is a ton of work, it’s worth knowing that each item in her store has been vetted and that customers can shop without having to question themselves.
Finding indie brands and shops that use sustainable practices has never been easier than it is in the digital age. There are websites like Good on You, where all you have to do is type in the name of a brand to instantly get an inside look at its business practices. While some big brands have gotten into hot water for their methods, Kristin believes that sustainable and ethical practices are here to stay because of the demand for sustainability. “[Big brands] have to adapt if they want to stay or be left behind in this new renaissance.”
Kristin’s Tips for Shopping Sustainably:
1. Thinking of throwing something away? Try swapping with your friends! It’s much more fun, and you’re saving a piece from the landfill.
2. Look for brand transparency―you can usually find these details on a company's homepage.
3. Google is your best friend! Use it to help you research.
Shopping Colorful, Yet Sustainable
Sustainable clothing has a stereotype for leaning more towards neutral tones. Victoria Kageni-Woodward, owner and designer of Gusa by Victoria, is proving that the world of sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be so black and white.
This Fall, Victoria plans on releasing her new line that is made with bamboo and sustainable materials. One of the biggest inspirations for it was the pandemic, “[My new line] was a result of the global health crisis we were all experiencing. The need for people to return to sustainable living meant that people were becoming more mindful about how they spent their dollars. Even though social distancing measures were implemented across the board,consumer behavior began to change drastically into a more holistic existence.”
As a designer, Victoria is able to control every part of her business. She found that by reducing the amount of items available to her consumers, she was able to limit the amount of outsourcing she had to do and was able to decrease her textile waste, amajor source of pollution. The demand foreco-friendly practices continues to grows, and Victoria weighedin on how the fashion industry might change, “My belief isthat it will take time for bigger companies to restructure and retrofit manufacturing plants to accommodate genuine equal friendly practices.” In other words, fast fashion may not be able to compete with sustainability practices of more mindful brands.
Victoria’s Tips for Shopping Sustainably:
1. Do your research! Take the time to see if your favorite brands are dedicated to sustainable practices.
2. If a company claims to use small artisans, be sure they’re being compensated fairly.
3. Check your fabrics. Plant-based fabrics are often better for the environment.
4. Check the packaging. Are they using biodegradable or reusable packaging?
Whether it’s checking out your local consignment shop in-store or online, shopping locally, or supporting countries oceans away—as consumers we can make the conscious effort to live more sustainably. As humans, we’re not always going to be perfect (we too, are guilty of having multiple packages waiting for us when we get home), but by taking these small steps, we can help make changes that will reward us for generations to come.
