The Three R's of Fashion
The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world (just behind oil, of course). As a girl who loves Mother Earth just as much as she loves a Marc Jacobs handbag, I felt conflicted learning this information.
One of my friends informed me of an online shop called The Reformation, which uses sustainable fabrics and practices to produce limited-edition collections. I was excited to finally find a way I could create an eco-friendly wardrobe for myself. But as I scrolled through the website, every single garment was far out of my price range. Over $100 for a pair of jeans? And dresses that cost over $300? Why should going green cost so much green? Immediately I was frustrated. Yes, The Reformation’s goals are admirable and their work certainly will aid the planet, but buying their clothes is a privileged way of helping the earth, a privilege many environmentalist like myself can’t afford.
Environmentally conscious fashion has already been advertised by celebrities like Emma Watson, who has worn dresses made out of recyclable materials to events like the Met Gala and the Beauty and the Beast premiere. In addition, Watson has launched a website called feelgoodstyle.com with tips on how to be more environmentally conscious when it comes to fashion and beauty. Celebrities like Watson are certainly making a powerful and effective statement, yet the average shopper cannot achieve a sustainable wardrobe in the same way that she can.
So is having a “green” wardrobe unattainable for the average fashion lover? Absolutely not. Remember the three R’s you learned about in elementary school? Reduce, reuse, recycle? Turns out they can actually apply to your wardrobe.
Reduce
Being a shopaholic is not only damaging to your credit card, it can also be damaging to the environment. Agricultural production, processing, trade and consumption comprise up to 40% of the world’s emissions and cotton production contributes to between 0.3% and 1% of this. Growing cotton is just the beginning of the process, for afterwards, the cotton is shipped on oil polluting ships, and taken to factories powered by coal and gas where the piece of clothing is finished. The biggest criminals of this pollution are “fast fashion” shops like Forever 21 and Zara. It’s hard to resist a $5 tee, but the clothes are cheap for a reason. Instead of supporting the fast fashion industry, invest in a smaller wardrobe that will last longer. Reduce the amount of clothes you buy especially from stores known to be large polluters.
Reuse
Kate Middleton is known for re-wearing pieces of clothing to events. If a duchess can wear the same dress twice, you can too. Instead of buying something new, rework your old wardrobe to match the newest trends. Turn your ugly flannel into a new trend by doing a DIY project. Trends are always changing, but the dress that you bought last summer will still be fine for this year’s formal. Buying more leads to more pollution and throwing away old clothes leads to pollution within landfills. I know what you’re thinking… that someone will call you an “outfit repeater” just like in “The Lizzie McGuire Movie.” But I promise, no one is paying attention and it will save you bucks while saving the planet, as well.
Recycle
Recycling is not limited to paper, plastic and glass. Your old clothes do not need to be thrown away, and the clothes you buy do not need to be brand new. Macklemore sang about thrift shops for a reason; there are often amazing finds for an extremely reasonable price. Thrift shopping is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and keep clothes away from polluting landfills. If the low price and low environmental impact aren’t enough to convince you, thrift shopping also gives your closet a cool vintage vibe. Why dress like everyone else when you can find something one-of-a-kind? And lucky for us Northwestern students, Crossroads is steps away from campus in downtown Evanston.
Shopping at stores like The Reformation is a great way to help the environment, but you don’t need to buy hundred dollar jeans to make your wardrobe more eco-friendly. The smallest change can make the biggest difference. 2017 was the second hottest year on record… climate change is real, and it’s time to take action and make a difference.