Brighton Sustainable Fashion and Local Choices
The price of staying fashionable is more than just what’s on the price tag.
The fashion industry is considered to be the second most polluting industry in the world. This not only puts a huge amount of pressure on our planet but also the garment workers that are creating our clothes. The textile industry relies mostly on non-renewable resources – an estimated 98 million tonnes a year- including oil to produce synthetic fibres, fertilisers to grow cotton and harmful chemicals to produce, dye and finish fibres and textiles. If the fashion industry carries on using these resources the way they are currently, by 2050 the fashion industry could use more than 26% of the carbon budget associated with the 2°C global warming limit.
In 2013, the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed killing 1,138 people and injuring 2,500. The Rana Plaza building had five different factories inside, all manufacturing garments for large global fashion brands. The majority of people who make clothes for the big fashion brands you see on the high-street live in poverty and are unable to buy basic necessities for themselves or their families. 80% of these workers are women, who are subject to exploitation, verbal and physical abuse and extremely poor working conditions with very little pay.
What sustainable fashion choices can I make?
The first thing we can do is to shop second hand. Charity shops, car boot sales, vintage stores… there are so many places we can go to find fashion. There are some real gems out there ready to be re-loved! If you find something in a charity shop, not only will you be helping the planet you’ll also be helping the charity you’ve chosen to shop at.
For September, Oxfam have been running a campaign called #SecondHandSeptember. Pledge not to buy anything ‘new’ for 30 days, send in your finds on social media and join in with the movement!
Here are some local Brighton sustainable fashion choices to get you started on your second-hand journey…
· Cancer Research UK (Western Road) – they have a great vintage section too!
· Martlets Hospice Charity Shop
Another way to help is to re-look at your current wardrobe. Do you really need to buy something new? Many of us have items of clothing in our wardrobes that still have the tags in. Consider why this is… if you know you’ll never wear it - sell it! There are many platforms out there now where you can sell your clothes, so why not make some money whilst having a clear out?
Here are a few places we recommend for selling your clothes. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure after all!
· Depop
· Ebay
· Vinted
· Facebook Marketplace
· Or ask your friends – maybe they’ve had their eye on something of yours!
If there are clothes in your wardrobe that don’t fit anymore, or you haven’t worn them in a while donate them to a charity of your choice. There will be someone out there who will be thankful for your old pair of jeans or jacket! If you have something that looks a little worse for wear, consider a second use for it. Could it be cut up and used as a cleaning cloth? Could someone use it for arts and crafts? There are so many possibilities – and if you’re still stuck of what to do with your old worn and torn clothes recycle them in a textile recycling bank! Find textile recycling points local to Brighton & Hove here.
Local Brighton sustainable fashion choices
If you do need to buy something new consider buying from brands that are not only doing great things for the environment but also supporting the people that are creating their garments. Here are a few brands local to Brighton and Hove who are doing fantastic things…
· Zola Amour – they create everyday essential clothing out of high-quality organic fibres. Each garment will decompose naturally and not harm the earth in the process! All the garments are made in Warwickshire and each employee is paid the Living Wage as a minimum. They currently have a pop-up shop in Dukes Lane, Brighton!
· The Emperor’s Old Clothes – working exclusively with vintage and end-of-roll fabric The Emperor’s Old Clothes create one of a kind garments that are almost never re-produced. Everything is made in Brighton and every member of their team is paid the Living Wage. All scraps are kept and made into accessories and garments can be altered to make sure they fit perfectly and can be worn time and time again.
· Unoa - they source ethical and certified sustainable organic cotton and create soft and versatile leisure and active wear. Aamena, the creator of Unoa works closely with a factory in Pakistan where women are encouraged to take on fairly paid leadership roles supported by the United Nations Development Programme.
Hopefully we have inspired you to make some small but impactful changes to the way you think about fashion and what alternatives there are out there for you to do ‘your bit’! Brighton is full of various eco-friendly and sustainable brands and with a multitude of vintage shops around – it’s one of the best places to help you make more conscious decisions when shopping for clothes.
Do you feel strongly about having a positive impact in your community or environment around you? There are so many ways you can get involved with great projects in your area. Check out how you can become A Bloomer.