sustainable outfit ideas

Your mind can be overflowing with questions when you first enter the world of ethics and sustainability; in fact, it will probably stay that way for the foreseeable future and for a good reason. Having issues close to your heart and being sparked by curiosity is what helps move us forward, so, to help aid this – I’m answering some of your questions in an easy Q&A format…

WHAT I WORE: Denim Jacket (G-STAR RAW)* // White Rollneck Sweater (Charity shop) // Pink Tartan Kilt (Charity shop) // White Sneakers (YATAY)*

How do you spot greenwashing?

If you’re unsure what the term ‘greenwashing’ means, it’s essentially when sustainable or environmental concerns get glossed over by small (or even false) attempts at being sustainably conscious, intentionally or not.

If you take a look through my archives, I’ve answered this question previously and explained in more detail about what greenwashing really is. Some of my tips included looking at whether a brand is shouting about ethics or not; looking at what information is easily accessible and finding out what progress a brand is making.

For example, if a fashion brand launches a new ‘sustainable collection’, try and find out exactly what sustainable means and whether sustainable principles go into every detail. If that ‘sustainable collection’ is based on using recycled materials, that’s a great step in the right direction, however – if the garment workers who manufacture that collection are still being underpaid, you do have to ask where the brand’s priorities really lay.

I personally always pay attention to what the brand is shouting about or what its overall brand ethos is; trust your gut and work from there. Obviously, it is important to appreciate minor steps a brand makes in becoming more sustainable but in a time where we have an 11-year countdown clock until irreversible effects of climate change could occur, I think we need much bigger commitments and fast.

Do you have any advice on encouraging other people to buy less fast-fashion without seeming rude or demanding?

I’m sure many people can relate to this frustration. Trust me, I’ve been there having conversations over the dinner table which have ended up heated and alive with passion. It’s not fun to have the principles close to your heart, seemingly attacked, or to have people become defensive and offended because they think you’re implying that they, a single individual, are the reason behind bad working conditions in clothing factories and the toxic dyes and chemicals being poured into rivers.

I believe consistency and subtlety are key. Be consistent by making it obvious it’s something you care about but be subtle in how you approach it – it could be by explaining why you would rather pop into a charity shop than a high-street store when out shopping with a friend, or it could be suggesting a really great documentary you watched (like The True Cost), when somebody asks you what they should watch on Netflix.

You could also gift educational books if you want people to understand why you care about a certain issue so much. Not only will this provide them with the tools to shift their mindset themselves but it will also enable them to learn more about you. 

This can apply to a lot of sensitive topics, not just the topic of conscious consumption and buying less fast-fashion.

Top tips for buying ethical clothing on a budget?

This is always a common question, understandably. I have three different answers. Firstly – shop second-hand if you’re able to. I understand that second-hand shops aren’t always accessible to everyone and that depending on where you look, thrifting isn’t always size-inclusive. However, it’s always the most affordable and sustainable option.

You don’t even really have to think about ethics because you’re not buying new (you might just want to understand where your money goes if it’s a charity shop or part of a chain of thrift-stores).

Secondly – shop the sales of ethically-focused brands. They do have them and it’s a great way to support brands who align with your values when your budget is limited.

Lastly – shift your mindset! This is the ‘alternative’ answer because it takes time to fully grasp a hold of. The more you learn, the more you’ll end up caring and for me, that looked like drastically cutting down on what I was buying, leaving me more room to save up and spend on investment purchases.

What sort of things should I be investigating when trying to find out how ethical a fashion brand is?

My greenwashing piece is also a great one to read for this, as it breaks down the Fashion Revolution Transparency Index and the different types of commitments major brands are starting to make. It might also be helpful to make sure you know the difference between ‘ethical’ and ‘sustainable’ because those lines can become blurred, making it harder to work out what brands are the right fit for you.

Luckily for you, I have a whole post dedicated to the definitions of ‘ethical fashion’ and ‘sustainable fashion’.

How do you stay motivated? I often feel very discouraged and like it’s not worth it.

I’d heard this dozens of times in the past and it always made a little defensive because I had reasons as to why I wasn’t but… getting out there really helps. I’ve only just started taking my activism work out into the real world (i.e off of the internet) but experiencing it in more tangible ways, has already made a huge impact in how I view the work that I’m doing and what I’m doing it for.

It has also made me feel less alone because seeing faces on a screen is so different from having flowing conversations and debates, face-to-face. One of my favourite experiences so far was attending one of the Youth Climate Strikes in London; there were 20,000 other young people marching alongside me and for once, having hope didn’t feel quite so naive.

If you’re under 25, I suggest following Extinction Rebellion’s Youth group to see how you can get involved with their protests and campaigns.

Have any more questions? Leave them as a comment and I’ll see how I can help!

(All items marked with an asterisk* were gifted to me within the past year)

Let’s talk denim, whether that’s in the form of fabric, a dress, a jacket or most commonly, a pair of jeans. It’s a fabric found in the majority of our wardrobes yet like with most of our clothes, we know little about how its made or what that can mean for the environment.

WHAT I WORE: D-Staq Deconstructed Denim Jacket £150.00 (G-STAR RAW)* // Mom Jeans (Pull & Bear – Old) // White Blouse (Stradivarius – Old) // Reina Upcycled Rubber Handbag  (Paguro Upcycle)* // Dr Martens (Jumble Sale)

Originally, denim was produced for workwear, designed to be practical, durable and to age naturally over years of consistent wearing. It’s been almost 150 years since denim was first introduced to the world and since then, the manufacturing process and the styles of denim available to individual wearers have changed extraordinarily. 

Denim isn’t built for hard-working use anymore, it’s produced in styles which are seemingly pointless (see: Vetements infamous ‘zipper butt jeans’) and it’s being sold in different shapes and sizes for just £10 on the high-street.

In the US, 96% of consumers own at least one pair of denim jeans, with the average number of pairs found in women’s wardrobes women being 7 per person – and that’s just jeans alone.

As with the rest of the fashion industry, ethics and sustainability have been abandoned for low prices, higher profit and an endless supply of choice for consumers. The biggest victim of denim? The world’s rivers and water systems. 

With documentaries such as River Blue allowing us to open our eyes to the damaging side-effects of denim production, we’re more easily able to comprehend the consequences of this mass-produced, highly appreciated fabric.

The reason that denim plays such a big part in the pollution of water isn’t just down to our constant love and addiction to the stuff. It’s down to the toxic process of creating it and using indigo dying processes. 

Enter G-STAR RAW (who answered questions throughout this post) – a brand you may already be familiar with and may never have assumed were thinking sustainably. Admittedly, I tend to stay far away from big name brands when discussing these sorts of issues in a positive light, mainly to avoid what is usually, inevitable greenwashing. However, when I heard the news that G-STAR RAW was producing the “Most Sustainable Jeans Ever” it was hard to step away. 

Now that I own the Deconstructed Denim Jacket from the range, it’s safe to say that I’m fairly impressed, especially due to the fact that the new sustainable range is Cradle to Cradle Certified, which if you read my post on Cradle to Cradle recently, you’ll understand is a substantial feat and certification for a brand to withhold.

The collection being Cradle to Cradle certified means that it is 98% recyclable as well as being technically biodegradable seeing as the denim is also produced with Organic cotton. The dying process uses 70% less chemicals than your average denim dying process which means that if the fabric were to eventually break down, less toxins would be released into the earth, along with less toxins being released into water systems in the first place.

But the potential and positives of this collection don’t just stop there, as G-STAR RAW have committed to keeping this eco-friendly denim production process as open source, meaning that the rest of the denim and fashion industry can take from it as they wish and apply it elsewhere.

Although I don’t want to necessarily jump to agreeing with G-STAR that this is the “Most Sustainable Denim Ever” – vintage and second-hand denim is possibly the most sustainable option if you want to invest in it – I do truly appreciate what they’re doing in terms of starting to implement these ideals and ways of manufacturing across the board. 

The more brands that step up to the plate and put their best foot forward in certain areas, the more effective change we will see occurring, even more so when it’s collaborative and is all with the intention of cleaning up the industry’s act.

The jacket is now one of my favourite’s style wise, which doesn’t hurt either.

You can learn more about G-STAR RAW’s new sustainable range here.

What do you think of the collection? Do you own any G-STAR denim? Let me know in the comments!

(This post is not sponsored. I was gifted a denim jacket from G-STAR RAW but was not obligied to review the collection. You can read my full PR disclaimer here.)

Some blog posts are too good not to attempt again so as part of my end-of-year content, I’m back with another illustrated round-up of my annual outfits. You can take a gander at my 2016 selection if you’re in need of even more sartorial inspiration…

~ RECYCLED & DIY DENIM ~

This blouse was most definitely a most-warn item for me during the warmer months; it was perfect with skirts or trousers and made for a great layering piece in the early autumn. However, I wouldn’t have worn it as much if it hadn’t had been for my Yours Again recycled denim chokers which tied it all together.

The lesson from this outfit? Sometimes the clothes we um-and-ah over can become the clothes we most adore. Although, of course, I am an advocate for my considered shopping choices, sometimes it’s nice to take a risk, especially when what you’re buying is secondhand.

~ JUMP TO IT // LOST SHAPES X TOLLY DOLLY POSH ~

My pink cashmere jumper may now be a beret but that doesn’t stop me from looking back on this outfit fondly and appreciating the amount of wear I got out of this People Tree jumpsuit.

I do understand that People Tree’s prices aren’t accessible to everyone at all times but wearing it made me realise how much of a luxurious investment their pieces are and I had quite a few compliments on it, too!

I couldn’t look back on this year without highlighting an outfit which included my very own ethical t-shirts, could I? I styled up my Lost Shapes collaborative tees very simply for the lookbook but since wearing them over the course of the past few months, I’ve managed to discover lots of different ways of doing so…

You can also now pick up a Limited Edition “Keep on Asking” sweatshirt – it might not be around for long so I’d take a look at it now before it’s too late!

~ TESTING MY COMFORT ZONES ~

An outfit that you – my readers – seemed to love just as much as me, involved this two-piece from Mayamiko. Sadly, those killer blue lens sunglasses are no more (why did I have to stand on them?) but I’m glad I was able to capture them in all their glory and immortalise them in some way.

Since the hot days have faded, I’ve worn the crop-top underneath my navy satin suit and am now longing to wear it all over again

Which is your favourite? What have you been wearing this year? Let me know in the comments!

Happy holidays… 🎁❄️