Shop Smart: Your Guide to Finding Eco-Friendly Clothing

Some products have been sent for inclusion. Opinions are my own.

Fast fashion is a huge problem and pollutes the planet more than we know. That’s why I make it my mission to shop more sustainably when it comes to clothing and always make sure the clothes I purchase are built to last or sourced with the planet in mind.

Contents

How to Shop on a Budget

Shopping on a budget doesn’t mean compromising on quality or style; it just requires a little planning and strategy. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your money:

Set a Budget: Before you begin shopping, decide on a clear spending limit. Knowing how much you can afford helps avoid impulse purchases and keeps your finances in check.
Make a List: Stick to buying what you need by creating a list. This helps you focus on essential items and prevents you from getting distracted by non-necessities.
Look for Sales and Discounts: Shop during sales periods like Black Friday, seasonal sales, or end-of-line clearances. Additionally, use discount codes, vouchers, and loyalty programs to save more.
Shop Secondhand: Thrift stores, online marketplaces like eBay, and apps like Depop offer great deals on gently used clothing, furniture, and gadgets.
Buy in Bulk or Multi-Packs: For household essentials and groceries, buying in bulk can save money in the long run. Look for multi-buy offers that offer better value per item.
Compare Prices: Take advantage of price comparison websites or apps to ensure you’re getting the best deal on items.
Avoid Impulse Purchases: Give yourself a waiting period before buying non-essential items. This helps you decide if you truly need the item or if it’s just a momentary temptation.

Why Shop for Eco-Friendly Clothing?

Shopping for eco-friendly clothing offers several benefits, both for the environment and for yourself. Here’s why it’s worth making the switch:

Environmental Impact: Eco-friendly clothing is made with sustainable materials like organic cotton, bamboo, or recycled fabrics, which require less water and energy to produce. It reduces the carbon footprint of the fashion industry and helps protect the planet from pollution and excessive resource consumption.
Better for Your Health: Sustainable clothing is often free from harmful chemicals, dyes, and synthetic materials that can irritate your skin. Natural fabrics like organic cotton are softer and more breathable, making them more comfortable to wear.
Ethical Production: Many eco-friendly brands ensure fair labor practices by paying workers fair wages and providing safe working conditions. By shopping sustainably, you are supporting ethical fashion practices that respect workers’ rights.
Durable and Long-Lasting: Sustainable clothing is designed to last longer than fast fashion. These higher-quality garments often have better stitching and stronger fabrics, making them more durable and less prone to wear and tear, which means you’ll save money in the long run by buying less.
Reducing Waste: Eco-friendly clothing reduces the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. Fast fashion items are often cheaply made and discarded after a short time, while sustainable garments are designed to be timeless and longer-lasting.

Places To Shop For Eco-Friendly Clothing

If you are looking to shop more sustainable when it comes to clothes shopping I have some amazing suggestions for you. Eco-friendly clothes shopping doesn’t mean you have to shop at Charity shops all the time and you can buy clothing online that is eco-friendly and helps the betterment of the planet.

Take a look at some of the places I recommend shopping below for more eco friendly choices for your clothing and for the planet.

Eco-Friendly Adults Clothing & Shoes

As you get older your clothing becomes more and more expensive and that really sucks. You’ll also find a lot of it is fast fashion and is either poor quality or made from materials that will stay in the landfill for hundreds of years. Not to mention fast fashion contributes tons of Co2 each year so it’s important to shop more eco when looking for adults clothing.

Below are some of the places I like to buy more eco-friendly adult clothing and eco-friendly footwear.

Salomon Running Shoes

Shoes have to be one of the most expensive things to buy in my opinion. Yes they look great and I have a huge collection of trainers but it’s cost me a fortune and most of the time I wear them to events or special occasions. However, if you like to workout then you’re going to need some decent shoes that won’t fall apart and that’s why I love Salomon shoes!

Salomon shoes are built to last which means you won’t be having to replace them every few months unlike other running shoes. I have a walking pad at home which I use daily and so far these running shoes have lasted weeks without any signs of breaking down and they look kind of snazzy as well!

So if you’re looking for running shoes or just snazzy trainers that last and are worth their price, Salomon have you covered. I am in love with these Salomon Vision running shoes and they are super comfortable as well!

Eco-Friendly Children’s Clothing and Shoes

The main problem with children’s clothes isn’t fast fashion but the fact that children will grow out of their clothing fast and a lot of people will just throw the old clothing in the bin. If you have children’s clothing and don’t want to just throw it away you can sell it, donate it and ensure it gets a second life.

Take a look at some of the places I find eco-friendly children’s clothing and eco children’s footwear below so that you don’t contribute to the growing issues around children’s clothing.

Kidswear Collective – Next Generation Clothing

Children’s clothes can be a nightmare to buy, they can be very expensive and half the time the child either grows out of them so fast they only get a couple of uses or by the time they go to wear it they’re already too big for it. So wouldn’t it be great to be able to stop paying big money for clothes that only get a couple of wears, well now you can with Kidswear Collective.

Kidswear Collective offer amazing children’s clothes at affordable prices. The clothes are pre loved which means they may come with slight minor defects but when mine arrived I could hardly tell! Shopping with Kidswear Collective is like shopping at a charity shop. However, this way you know you’re getting legit brand names at low prices and no hidden surprises like a huge hole under the arm!

The kind folks at Kidswear Collective sent a few bits out for me to take a look at. Of course the clothing and footwear are a little small for me but thankfully one of my family members fosters and they have been gifted some pretty amazing clothes and shoes and I can happily say they are over the moon, love their new outfits and say they are nice and comfortable.

Kidswear Collective sent two coats and two pairs of shoes for us to judge, and we found them to be better than anything you could ever find in the charity shop and a lot more affordable these days! They have everything you could possibly want on their website, and I can’t recommend them enough!

How to Shop for Eco-Friendly Clothing

Shopping for eco-friendly clothing doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are some simple steps to help you shop sustainably and make better fashion choices:

Research Brands: Look for brands that prioritise sustainability. Many ethical brands are transparent about their production processes, materials, and environmental impact. Websites like Good On You and Sustainable Jungle offer guides to help you identify eco-friendly fashion brands.
Check the Materials: Look for clothing made from natural, organic, or recycled materials. Fabrics like organic cotton, Tencel, hemp, and bamboo are more sustainable compared to synthetic fibres like polyester or nylon, which are made from fossil fuels.
Buy Less, Choose Well: Focus on quality over quantity. Instead of buying multiple cheap items, invest in a few high-quality pieces that will last longer and have a timeless style. Capsule wardrobes are a great way to reduce the number of clothes you own without sacrificing versatility.
Secondhand Shopping: Thrifting and shopping for vintage or pre-owned clothing is a sustainable way to refresh your wardrobe. You can find unique pieces at thrift stores or online platforms like ThredUp, Depop, or Vinted.
Look for Certifications: Look for sustainability certifications like Fair Trade, GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Bluesign, and OEKO-TEX labels. These certifications indicate that the clothing was made in an environmentally and socially responsible way.
Support Local and Independent Designers: Buying from small, local brands reduces the carbon footprint associated with shipping and often supports ethical production practices. Many independent designers focus on sustainability and slow fashion.
Care for Your Clothes: Prolong the life of your clothing by following care instructions carefully. Washing clothes in cold water, air drying instead of machine drying, and mending worn-out garments can reduce the environmental impact and make your clothing last longer.