Becoming a Sustainable Shopper
Is there such a thing as being an Eco-friendly shopper? How about a sustainable fashionista?
Is it hard to be one? Or is there a way we can be environmentally friendly while also keeping true to our fashion style?
Although we might actively engage in ‘green’ activities such as recycling more, being more mindful of energy usage, or lowering our water consumption, as normal human beings, we tend not to keep up with these important tasks. This is because it is easier to add a habit than to take one away. If you think about it, it might be easier to donate a number of clothes every season than to stop shopping for six months in a row.
But, why donate/recycle or use second-hand clothing at all? Although there is no such thing as 100% sustainability in fashion, we can still minimize the toll on the environment by recycling or donating as well as using second-hand clothing. You want to make sure that you are prioritizing three things by doing this:
The environment
Your community
Yourself
Why these three? The environment is already being affected by the production as well as the wastage of clothing. In fact, most new fabrics are made up of about 64% of plastic. Ocean Wise created an interesting “Break of plastic pattern” Video which goes into detail of how much microfibers fill up our ocean given its lack of decomposition. We end up with approximately 13 million tonnes of plastic every year floating in our oceans. If these clothes can be donated or recycled we would be looking at lower amounts of plastic in the oceans, less plastic in sea-food and, ultimately, less plastic in our bodies.
We live in a cyclical world were everything depends on one another, so we need to create a community-based approach where we look after each other, especially during these times.
So, what are our options?
WANT A CONSCIOUS STYLE? SECOND-HAND SHOPPING!
These stores are currently selling second-hand products online given the current situation. As mentioned previously, the three thing you need to prioritize when becoming a sustainable shopper is the environment, your community, and yourself. Help local stores while helping the environment when looking for clothes.
Hunter & Hare is a women’s consignment store that carries good quality and stylish pieces that are well priced. They are all for the recycling process while also matching their customer’s styles. They are currently not accepting drop-offs but they are selling through their online store.
F&C began in 1993 in a small shop on Main Street, Vancouver. They began selling consignment clothing, antiques, and jewelry to its customers. Now, it has continued to maintain its value while also growing its business to being widely known in the city.They are currently not accepting drop-offs but they are selling through their online store.
M&Y is an on-trend luxury Fashion Resale + Designer Consignment Store in Vancouver. They sell luxury fashion that is in like-new condition that allows you to treat yourself while helping the environment. They are currently not accepting drop-offs but they are selling through their online store.
Other Online Second-Hand Stores
Cleaning out your closet and want to donate? Given the current COVID-19 situation, thrift stores around BC are not accepting donations. Hang on to your clothes for now and be ready to donate when the time is right!.
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