Sustainable Fashion Primer

All the basics to help you shop responsibly.

Image courtesy of Unsplash.

What makes fashion sustainable? Nine times out of ten, the conversation focuses on factors of production - specifically, materials and labor practices. Are dyes and fabrics environmentally friendly? Are production methods and facilities minimizing environmental impact? Are laborers treated fairly - supported with sustainable living wages and benefits? For an introductory overview of sustainable fashion, I recommend Green Strategy’s primer.

But sustainable practices don’t exist in a vacuum. If garments are produced using sustainable processes - but subsequently not priced or sized for everyday consumers - sustainable fashion won’t achieve the level of accessibility necessary to reach critical mass and tip the scales. That’s why here at Sustainably Sized, I’m interested in the intersection of environmental impact, labor ethics, body respect, and budget reality. And I’m going to keep shopping until I find brands that check ALL the big brown boxes.

I’ll conduct shopping experiments that explore different factors of sustainability, including:

Environmental. The environmental impact of a garment or brand - everything from natural and organic dyes, to organic fabrics, and beyond.

Labor. The human impact of a brand’s production practices, whether made in the USA or abroad.

Pricing. Sure, a brand can do everything right with regard to labor practices and environmental impact. But can you buy one of their garments and still make rent? Sustainable products are only as good as their sustainable price point.

Sizing. Every body should have access to sustainable fashion. I’m not just looking for brands that fit an ethical or environmental code, I’m looking for brands that fit my body, which can vary between sizes 10-18 depending on the garment, brand, and season. I want to support brands that understand that sustainability shouldn’t stop at labor and materials - it should extend to sizing strategy.

Recycled. Finally, a word on vintage and recycled clothing - it may as well be the holy grail of sustainable fashion. Why? Because the environmental and labor impact to produce the garment has already been expended. Whether we realize it or not, if we can find vintage items that meet our needs and fit our bodies, that may be the most responsible choice we can make as consumers.

Happy shopping, my babies.