Next to our quest for a 100% clean beauty offer by brands that care, we’ve also been following fashion & lifestyle brands that are making big steps toward accountability, both environmentally and socially. Whether it’s by actively embracing the use of sustainable and organic materials, ensuring that workers are fairly compensated, or insisting on responsible sourcing of raw materials, these brands are making a conscious effort to pay attention to what goes on behind the seams.
More and more brands are holding themselves accountable. From small-batch tees to recycled jewelry and cruelty-free clothing, and no longer just reserved for hippies or tree huggers. Nowadays you don’t have to sacrifice personal style to start shopping more mindfully. But where do you start? And how do you know whether a brand actually cares?
Here are a few ground rules that can help:
- Buy high quality things that will last long
- Buy second hand & vintage from local shops
- Use apps such as good on you to assess how brands score on sustainability and social responsibility
- For every purchase you do, think about these three things (shared in a podcast by Livia Firth):
- If the price is too low, the odds are you are supporting a brand running a sweatshop in Bangladesh or the like,
- Are you buying natural material and
- Will you wear this item at least 30 times?
- Donate your old clothes or they’ll end up in landfill. You can check out Sympany or contact your local council for textile recycling
- Lastly, if you haven’t already seen it, watch The True Cost on Netflix – this is a true eye opener if you’re interested in learning more about the dark side of the fashion industry.
Written by our very own SCOON Co-founder, Guusje Wentrup.
