The Impact of Shopping Ethically and Sustainably

An Ode to Imperfection

There are A LOT of issues worth caring about in society today, which makes it impossible to be perfect, engaged, or even passionate about all of them. It can feel overwhelming to engage when the bar is perfection - but when we keep our hands open to be educated, and decide not to feel pushed out of doing better just because we can’t do something perfectly- that’s when change happens.

A million people doing things imperfectly is far more impactful than a few people doing things perfectly.

This topic is one that we all engage with to some extent, so I hope this post makes you feel empowered to make even one small shift in the way you shop, as we all move the needle in a million tiny ways towards a better tomorrow.

Does it really matter?

“Ethical and Sustainable” have become trendy buzz words…
But what does it actually mean?
And should we care?

About a year ago Stephen and I started learning more about the ethics of consumerism and realized that it was a really important part of living in alignment with our core values and honoring the earth God gave us to steward, and the people in it.

We have quite a ways to go, but we’ve been making small shifts since the beginning of 2020 and it’s completely changed our mindset around purchases. In later posts I’ll share more about how we shop this way on a budget, and some of my favorite companies and products. But first - The Why… because trendy slogans come and go, but when we become informed and commit to small changes, we become a part of the ripple effect impacting a greater good.

Why shop ethical?

The clothing industry is primarily made of “fast fashion” - companies that produce mass quantities of new items every year, at as little expense as possible, selling at low wallet cost. The items are often disposed of or passed off within a few years due to low quality or changing trends, and consumers then cycle back to purchase more.

Fast fashion includes the majority of large clothing companies today (H&M, Victoria’s Secret, Urban Outfitters, Guess, Old Navy, and countless others). A lot of my previous favorite stores made the list…so disappointing and tempting to turn a blind eye to! After all, it’s easy to replace clothes as they wear out and it’s of little/no importance to stay up with trends, so why not just stick with cheap quick fixes?….. because there’s more to the story.

In order to keep production cost low and sell that pair of jeans for $15, fast fashion companies outsource production to factories in developing countries where the employees are forced to work for wages far below their needs, in horrid and dangerous working conditions, and often in environments where abuse becomes normalized and human rights are sacrificed. In 2013, 1,000 workers were killed in the clothing factory collapse in Bangladesh, which shed a light on the dark corners of the industry. This was far from the only incident of devastating norms in the industry.

There ARE companies that outsource and employ individuals in developing countries with proper wages and good working conditions, benefiting the individuals and the economy - THOSE are worth supporting for sure. But they won’t be found among the fast fashion brands.

Unethical companies bid us to raise the question - “What is the ACTUAL cost behind that $5 shirt we bought?”

Why shop sustainable?

I believe that God has given us the blessing and responsibility to steward the earth we live on. There are a lot of ways to do that and everyone is called uniquely. We may not be able/choose to shop fully sustainably, but every small step we take makes a difference in the global wellness of people and the planet.

Second to agriculture, the fashion industry is one of the largest polluters of clean water globally. Toxic chemicals used for dyes seep into the oceans, killing off life that is crucial for the health of humans, creatures, and the planet. Think of ALL of the colors in a large clothing store - the effects they have when shed into oceans are massive.

Aside from toxic chemicals, synthetic fabrics like polyester sheds plastic fibers when washed. These fibers leach into the waterways and degrade critical marine life.

Outside of oceans, “disposable” clothing hugely overruns landfills, becoming non-biodegradable waste that affects soil health. This in turn compromises the crops that nourish us.

Unsustainable companies bid us to raise the questions - “Is the impact that this makes on my closet worth the impact it makes on the planet?”

Creating an Ethical and Sustainable Wardrobe

Since shopping ethically and sustainably is more of an investment, the outcome is often having fewer but high-qualify pieces that withstand time and trend and diminish waste (often referred to as a capsule wardrobe - a smaller collection of versatile clothing pieces). Now when we purchase clothing, it’s an expense that we save up for, so we make sure it’s something we truly love, which has in turn actually started to save us money because we’re much more mindful about purchases as investments rather than quick wardrobe fixes.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when investing in ethical and sustainable pieces:
-Does the company stand for ethical and sustainable practices (a quick google or brand website search is often telling)
-Is it worth the investment I’ll be making based on the following criteria:
-Is it quality/made to last?
-Is it well tailored to feel good on my body?
-Will it be versatile in my wardrobe?
-Does it fit my personal style in a more classic way that I won’t tire of?

When I go through this checklist and the answer is yes, then we plan for the purchase by setting aside a little money each week/month until we can invest in it. The result is a smaller wardrobe that I really enjoy, fits well, is versatile, last for years, and has a more positive impact on people and the planet.

Now What?

There’s a quote that says, “It doesn’t take someone doing everything, it takes everyone doing something.” Like any global or local issue, it’s not about one person changing everything, it’s about every person making small shifts in ways that are reasonable for them personally. It’s about a lot of people adding rather than detracting. Small impacts lead to change.

You might be thinking…what now? How can I shop ethically and sustainably in a way that is reasonable for me?
In upcoming blogs I’ll be sharing more about these topics!
-Some of our favorite ethical sustainable shops
-Pieces that I really love
-How we shop this way on a budget
-How to identify your personal style so that you’re sure to invest in pieces that you truly love

For now, I’ll link a few of my favorite shops below -
Pact - great for organic cotton basics
Everlane - beautiful timeless pieces
Boody - undergarments and basics
Etsy - thousands of small businesses creating hand-made goods. Naturechicstore and LinenSea are two of my personal favorites.
Thrift shops - a great way to get pieces that could otherwise go to the landfill, without adding your dollars to the fast-fashion industry.

Do you have any ethical sustainable shops that you love? I’d love to know in the comments below :)