Sustainable fashion: how to shop with a conscience without compromising on style
Whether you're a fully-fledged environmental warrior or you've only recently made the transition towards shopping more sustainably, plenty of us are thinking more carefully about the impact that we have on our planet.
Sustainable fashion needn't be as complicated as it sounds, don't worry – no one's expecting you to hand weave your own fabric and knock up an outfit on the sewing machine over the course of an afternoon.
Examples of sustainable fashion
Even celebrities are getting in on the action – in recent years we have seen many famous faces making a concerted effort to promote sustainable style by wearing eco-friendly looks. Just over two weeks ago, Billie Eilish showed up to fashion's biggest night of the year, the annual Met Gala, wearing a completely upcycled custom Gucci gown.
Billie looks incredible in an upcycled custom Gucci gown
Creative director Alessandro Michele had created a stunning look for the bad guy singer, featuring a mint-coloured boned corset and voluminous bustle – very in keeping with the ball's theme of 'Gilded Glamour'.
MORE: Best charity shops in London for designer buys
Comedian Aisling Bea in Preen by Thornton Bregazzi
Plus Irish comedian Aisling Bea is a huge advocate for sustainable fashion, sharing her one-off finds and go-to designers to her fans over on Instagram.
Facts about sustainable fashion
The UK Sustainable Fashion report revealed that 66% of all British consumers have either bought or are interested in buying second-hand fashion items in the last year, with 69% having sold or being interested in selling unwanted fashion items. Clearly consumer habits are changing – great news for planet Earth!
READ: Vintage designer clothing: 5 items that never go out of style
How to shop for sustainable fashion
There are plenty of ways to master sustainable style, and Hello! Fashion is on hand to help you nail it:
Sustainable designers
What better way to get some style inspiration than to look to the designers that are leading the way.
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney has been committed to sustainable practices since it launched back in 2001, and the British designer has never used feathers, fur, leather or skin in her collections. Plus in recent years they've stopped using angora and virgin cashmere, having replaced these with other suitable fabrics. Also who could forget when the brand created the first handbag made from Bold Thread's Mylo™ mushroom leather. Now that's what we call thinking outside the box.
Harris Reed
The British-American designer Harris Reed has caught the attention of none other than Harry Styles with his creations. Speaking about a new initiative that he has set up with Klarna encouraging young designers to create ethically-focused looks, he said: "My vision is that inclusivity and sustainability will become central to the future of fashion." Past collections have upcycled deadstock and we're excited to see what's next for the label.
Ahluwalia
We absolutely love what designer Priya Ahluwalia is doing at the moment, breathing new life into existing vintage and surplus garments, transforming them into thoughtfully-placed colourful patches. The label is inspired by the designer's Indian-Nigerian heritage and it has even partnered recently with cult-brand Ganni to release a joint line.
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Buying vintage and shopping second hand
Shopping at second hand is a brilliant way to lower your carbon footprint and track down that one piece that is completely unique. There are plenty of great UK charity shops to get you started, but if you're planning to shop from home, we absolutely love Depop, Vestiaire Collective and Etsy – which are also great places to scope out vintage items.
Rental apps
Okay, so you're not technically shopping with this one, but you are spending some money, albeit far less than you would if you were buying a piece outright. Designer rental apps are all the rage at the moment, perfect for those special occasions to save you splurging one special piece. Some of our favourites include Hurr, ByRotation and Cocoon.
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