Sustainability is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. You might have heard some distressing news about the next bad turn that the environment has taken, or simply been introduced to the horrible conditions that many fast fashion companies put people through. The good news is that you’re already making great strides in living a better, eco-friendly life.

Of course, the problem with making better buying decisions (voting with your dollar, so-to-speak) is that you first need to learn how to understand the difference between truly sustainable production, and greenwashing.

Sustainable Production vs Greenwashing: The Difference

Being sustainable is certainly trending, so you’ll hear a lot of different companies try to show you their newest sustainable collection. Some might boast things like “vegan leather” or “made with recycled polyester”.

These are claims you need to be very wary of. For example, while some true vegan leather exists (it’s typically made out of food scraps like orange peels or even mushrooms) the vegan leather you’ll come across in your day to day is simply plastic. All plastics, regardless of whether they’re recycled or not, shed and lead to the growing microplastics problem that’s worked its way so far up the food chain we eat approximately one credit card’s worth of it in a year.

What to Look For When Shopping

Your options when it comes to sustainable shopping are not just second-hand or high-end. There are many middle-ground retailers like Carve Designs that offer pesticide-free organic cotton products that were ethically manufactured. These products cost the same, if not less, compared to other brands you likely already shop at.

Limiting Your Consumption

Buying less and buying better is the best way to be sustainable. This means that the goal is to buy fewer items throughout the year, but when you do, putting more emphasis on their quality. Look at the seams, the material, the manufacturing, and then once you deem it’s of high quality (a trait that’s becoming harder to find these days) then consider how it works in your wardrobe.

A great, easy way to lower your consumption is to simply wait. If you see a product you like online, make a mental note and leave it for 48 hours. If you still can’t wait to buy it and imagine so many different outfits you can make with it, then feel free to add it to your closet. If you barely manage to remember you even made a mental note, then you simply let yourself forget about it.

Invest in Clothes Care

Maintaining your existing clothes and knowing how to take better care of anything you buy in the future is how you keep your closet looking amazing. A good place to start is to actually be more mindful of what you put in the dryer. Cotton tends to soften in the dryer, for example, so if you want that crisp new shirt to stay crisp and sharp, wash on delicate only and hang up to dry.

It's also a good idea to invest in the right soap, learn to hand wash certain delicates and wools, and get a drying rack. Doing all this can help extend the life and beauty of your clothes, and is good practice for sustainable living.