I've loved clothes and style and fashion for as long as I can remember. In grade school, I would beg my mom for subscriptions to Glamour, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Seventeen. I would spend what little allowance I had to buy the latest trends - from necklaces at Claire's to mini skirts at Hollister (I'm cringing as I write this). In my lifetime, I've spent an embarrassing amount of money on clothes at Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, H&M, Zara, American Eagle, Abercrombie, Gap, the list goes on. Clothes I've worn once, clothes I've never worn, and occassionally clothes I still wear.
When I started to learn more about sustainability and conservation, I began to realize that each purchase I make impacts the environment somehow. I became more aware of what I was buying, how I was buying, and where I was buying from. I discovered that clothes, shoes, and accessories are some of the toughest things to buy sustainably, especially when our society is obsessed with fast fashion.
“Buy less, choose well, make it last.
– Vivienne Westwood”
Now, I try to only buy secondhand or buy clothes from brands I know are doing their best to be as sustainable as possible. And, I try to only buy what I need and what I know I'll wear over and over again. Some of my favorite sustainable brands are:
These black jean shorts from Reformation are made from surplus denim. I live in them during the summer.