Fast fashion is a guilty pleasure for many of us. Every fashionista must know what I mean. You just feel the need to buy new clothes every month or even every week to stay in the trend. These clothes are fast, trendy, and inexpensive. But at what cost? Lately, I have been studying the impact of fast fashion on the world. And let me tell you, it's not worth it. That's why I've moved on to sustainable fashion.

In this article, I will tell you why you should rethink before going to a fast fashion store. Afterward, I will tell you some of my favorite affordable sustainable clothing brands that you'll love as well. Hopefully, you will learn the differences and advantages of sustainable fashion.

Reasons to Rethink Fast Fashion

Fast fashion refers to the practice of producing garments as quickly, frequently, and as cheaply as possible. Since the production cost for fast fashion is very low, retailers can sell them at a low price. This causes consumers to buy clothing more frequently than they would otherwise. Here are some of the main problems with fast fashion.

Wasteful

Did you know that it takes 2,700 liters of water to make one cotton T-shirt? That's how wasteful fast fashion is. Moreover, fast fashion clothes tend to be low quality, so they have a short life cycle, forcing you to throw away clothes to the landfill every season.

Environmentally disastrous

Dyes and chemicals used in producing fast fashion are dangerous for water sources around the factories. These factories also contribute to the growing gas emission around the world, affecting our planet. In fact, the fast fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world, just after the oil industry.

Workers exploitation

Business practices in the fast fashion industry are incredibly shady. Fast fashion brands purposefully outsource their production processes to third world countries to exploit vulnerable and cheap workers, especially women. The workers are underpaid and forced to work under dangerous conditions.

Fast fashion encourages you to spend more

Once upon a time, there were only two fashion seasons, spring/summer and fall/winter. But to encourage consumers to buy more clothes, fast fashion companies created 52 micro seasons (for each week in the year). You feel forced to buy clothes to stay fashionable. Sure, their items are cheap, but you also buy clothes more frequently, causing you to spend more.

There are more resources you could learn from, but I hope my concise explanation and disadvantages of fast fashion has encouraged you to move toward sustainable fashion. By buying from ethical clothing brands, we also help save the environment and boycott the shady business practices of fast fashion brands.

You may have heard the notion that sustainable fashion is only for the rich, that ethical garments are expensive. I'm here to tell you that notion is not true at all! Ethical fashion doesn't have to be pricey. In the text below some of my favorite sustainable clothing brands are presented. They're not only trendy and ethical but also affordable.

Made Trade

Made Trade is the perfect place to start if you want to shop consciously. This brand curates sustainably sourced and ethically made goods from small businesses and independent artisans from all around the world. I love how Made Trade ensures each product on their website covers at least one (or more) of these values: sustainable, fair trade, heritage, and vegan.

Made Trade offers all sorts of clothing as well as shoes, bags, and accessories for both men and women. The best part of it all? Most of their pieces cost under $150, so you can say for certain that the clothes from this brand are affordable.

Pact

If you're looking for affordable basic clothes for the whole family, look no further than Pact. This brand sells super soft organic clothes that are not only comfy but also ethically made. This brand is basically my go-to as an environmentalist and a fashionista. I'm constantly looking forward to their new releases.

The clothes are very well-made and flattering for everyone and they come in all sizes. Each item is made from organic cotton that is sourced sustainably. Plus, they also encourage fair trade and make sure their workers get a fair, living wage. Better yet, most Pact items cost under $100. This is really a great bargain for such high-quality clothes!

Boody

Lately, I've been obsessed with bamboo fabric. It's sustainable, soft, hypoallergenic, comfortable, and extremely breathable. For that reason, Boody is one of my favorite ethical clothing brands. This brand offers high-quality basics and underwear made out of bamboo fabric.

Boody only uses organic, naturally grown bamboo. They also take extra measures to keep the whole production and delivery process ethical. In fact, they're also open about all the positive impacts they have brought to the planet since the brand was founded in 2016. Boody items are also very affordable, as most are under $80. Plus, they also offer free delivery services so you can save more bucks!

Kool and Konscious

I love the quirkiness of this brand. Reflected by the name, Kool and Konscious is a brand that offers a wide range of cool and trendy clothes as well as shoes and accessories for men and women. Kool and Konscious products are made from regenerated ocean plastic with no water waste. Moreover, they also maintain a CO2 neutral operation in an attempt to reduce pollution.

Kool and Konscious is an online-based brand. The website features a lot of different styles, from basic casuals to fancy dresses. Compared to other brands in this list, Kool and Konscious offer a wider range of price points. You're guaranteed to find something you'll love and can afford.

Closing Thoughts

If you care about the future of our planet, then sustainable fashion is truly the way in which you could make a change. Before, you may have been afraid to move towards sustainable fashion due to the price tag. But as I've listed, affordable ethical clothing brands truly exist. So, you can save the world without risking your style or your wallet. I hope you can join me so we can all save the planet in style.