In our last post, we talked about the demerits of fast fashion and why we need sustainable fashion today more than ever before. However, most consumers in the current times still shop from fast fashion brands, despite knowing about all its shortcomings. The reason for this ranges over various topics, such as variety, convenience and affordability. Most consumers are under the impression that a switch towards sustainable fashion would end up compromising their style, or at least be considerably damaging to their pockets. However, this is far from the truth today. Brands these days have made it beyond possible for conscious fashion to be easy on the pocket, yet be comfortable and stylish, all while causing minimal damage to the planet and to your personal well-being too. In the current climate, it is the duty of every brand as well as individual to take steps towards adopting a more sustainable approach to fashion. But we understand that this can be a rather complicated task, considering that there are so many factors involved like style, comfort, price and last but not the least, the values of the brands you support. We at Ekkdora understand this dilemma, and have come to your rescue. Your ultimate guide to making a switch to sustainable fashion is here. Read on below to learn the simple and easy steps!

1. Buy Less and Buy Consciously

The first step in going green is to shop lesser, and cut down on unnecessary and impulse buys. Before you make a purchase, ask yourself if you really need it, and spare some thought about how the product was made. Was it made in a sweat shop by underpaid children working in unhealthy environments? Does it use synthetic fibres that are bad for your skin and the planet? Does it use toxic dyes that pollute our water bodies and ultimately pose major health risks to the one who wears this garment? If the answer to any of the above questions was yes, you should likely not buy the product. High on style but extremely cheap fashion items generally tend to be produced in a highly unethical manner, with highly damaging materials, and should be steered clear of.

2. Repair, Reuse, Repurpose

The next step after buying less, is making the best use of your already existing garments. Fast fashion culture has taught us to discard clothes at the first tiny sign of damage or even out of boredom. However, we must all learn basic sewing skills to be able to repair minor rips, sew on buttons, or even make small alterations when old clothes don’t fit us as well as before. This helps clothes to last longer, ultimately leading us to us buying less. We can also repurpose old garments into new ones by giving them a style update. The simplest example is to turn your mother’s old saree into a lehenga or kurta! Shopping from vintage stores or participating in clothes exchange programs can also ultimately help you to add variety to your wardrobe while still not creating excess textile waste.

3. Choose basic, high quality and versatile pieces.

The key to curating a high-on-style yet conscious wardrobe is investing in quality over quantity. Choose a few pieces which are high quality and long lasting, yet simple and basic enough so that they can be styled in a variety of different outfits to suit different occasions. A high-quality, versatile staple can take you a long way and soon become a special favorite. Clothes that are loved well and cared well for, ultimately make one look and feel more beautiful! Last but not the least, make sure the pieces you choose are comfortable and reflect your personal style.

4. Support Greener Brands

In our efforts to switch to a more conscious way of dressing, we must spare some time and thought to really research the brands we choose to support. It is important that the brand not only claims to be green and sustainable but is genuine on these claims. Check for the materials they use, how they source for and manufacture their products, what kind of dyes and chemicals they use and even how are their relationships with suppliers and employees. All these factors can help determine if a brand is truly authentic and transparent with its processes and values. Bonus points if they support local artisans and craft communities, helping not only age-old textile legacy to thrive but also financially support our beloved artisan communities.

Choosing conscious brands not only helps you personally to develop a greener wardrobe, it also helps the fashion system indirectly. If a few conscious brands start doing financially well, it encourages more brands to come up with greener alternatives and overall increases the share of conscious fashion products in the general market.

We hope these simple guidelines will help you to research more and finally take baby steps towards a more responsible way of dressing!