Alternatives to Fast Fashion
Alternatives to Fast Fashion and Sustainable Fashion Brands You’ll Love
Fast fashion is becoming increasingly unpopular with consumers due to its negative environmental effects and unethical practices. It therefore could be assumed that the new and growing sustainable fashion brands are the perfect alternative. They make clothing with the environment in mind, using sustainable materials and methods, and do not produce the vast quantity of items a day that fast fashion brands do.
However, while these brands are better for the environment and made for the ethical consumer, they are often not very accessible. The environmental and ethical benefits come with a price. These clothes are usually very expensive, at a price point that is vastly higher than that of fast fashion online retailers and even more than most high street brands. This is therefore not the perfect alternative to fast fashion, because the majority of us don’t have £100 to spend on a single item of clothing. While the idea that these garments are of higher quality and should last a lifetime in your wardrobe does stands up, the price point is simply not realistic for many of us, even if we wish to shop more ethically.
In addition to this, sadly, many sustainable fashion brands only cater to certain sizes, with “plus” or “curve” sizes rarely available. Size inclusivity is missing in sustainable fashion despite there being an obvious market for all shapes and sizes. Perhaps, over time as the demand for inclusivity in all aspects grows, sustainable fashion brands will be able to expand their ranges. Hopefully, a continued decrease in the desire for fast fashion and an increase in the notion of sustainable fashion will allow brands to lower their prices (while still maintaining environmental and ethical integrity) and to become more diverse.
So until that happens, what’s the best alternative to fast fashion for those of us who wish to shop consciously but can’t shop at sustainable fashion brands regularly? While there may not be an absolutely “perfect” option, here are some great alternatives to help us become the conscious shoppers we want to be:
Options besides fast fashion:
It may seem like an obvious one, and perhaps it is something many of us already do, but buying second hand clothing and donating or selling your own clothes you no longer want is a great way to avoid them ending up in landfill. Shopping in vintage stores or charity shops is a fantastic way to find cool and often original clothes for low prices. Charity shop prices are very low and occasionally you can even find unworn pieces with the tags still on! A tip for shopping in charity shops is to find ones in more affluent areas because they often have interesting items, sometimes even by luxury brands, at much more affordable prices. In vintage stores you will find a curated array of pre-loved clothing, some of which might have been reworked to give them a second chance. Just like fashion brands, vintage stores often have their own aesthetics so browse a few until you find one that suits your style.
Another way to find great pre-worn clothing is to buy and sell online with sites such as Ebay, Vinted, and the extremely popular Depop. If you want to make some money on old pieces you no longer wear, selling them online and giving them a new home is a great idea – again saving them from landfill! It is also a really easy way to browse for affordable second hand clothing and allows you to search for a specific item, with filters, in a way that is easier and more accessible than in a charity or vintage shop. (This is a particularly good way to shop online during the Covid-19 pandemic while still avoiding online fast fashion brands.)
A great sustainable option is to use clothing rental services. While this might not seem appealing straight away, there are many high quality companies that provide amazing fashion items to rent. This is a really great alternative to buying an outfit for an event that you’ll never wear again. Instead rent the item for a day, or however long you wish, at a much lower cost. HURR has many great events worthy pieces to rent online and you can also visit them in person at Selfridges. ByRotation is another great company allowing you to rent and lend fashionable pieces in a sustainable way. This growing trend of renting high quality clothing garments is perfect if you’re someone who likes to switch up your look often, but doesn’t want to keep buying and storing clothes.
Clothing is often thrown out if it doesn’t quite fit or something tears or becomes damaged. If you can alter and repair the item yourself, then great - if not, alteration services are a must! Find local stores that will fix or alter your clothing so you can continue to love and wear it and avoid throwing it out. If you can’t find somewhere local, there are online alteration services appearing such as Sojo App. Sojo describes itself as the “deliveroo” for clothing alterations and repairs making the process of fixing your clothes easy.
Awesome Instagram accounts to follow for sustainable fashion inspiration:
Venetia La Manna - @venetialamanna
Broadcaster and host of the “Talking Tastebuds” podcast and slow fashion campaigner
Aditi Mayer - @aditimayer
Journalist and speaker on sustainability, style and social justice
Lauren Bravo - @laurenbravo
Author of “How To Break Up With Fast Fashion”
Fashion Revolution - @fash_rev
Global movement for a fashion industry that values garment workers and the environment over profits
Melanin & Sustainable Style - @melaninass
A digital interview magazine brining MELANIN to the forefront of sustainable fashion, natural beauty, wellness and agriculture
Remember Who Made Them - @rememberwhomadethem
An initiative to remember those who make our clothing and to make sure they are treated and paid fairly
Good On You App - @goodonyou_app
Source of trusted brand ratings, articles and expertise on ethical and sustainable fashion
Sojo - @sojo_app
Sojo describes itself as the “deliveroo” for clothing alterations and repairs
Sarah McDermott Brown is a graduate of the University of Birmingham with a BA degree in History of Art and a MA degree in History of Art and Curating.