Ethical Beaded Maxi Dress by Adili
Ethical fashion is all the rage at the minute with everyone suddenly getting a fashion conscience and worrying about fair trade, sweatshops and fashion miles. But buying clothes from the new ethical labels can be pricey and a bit limiting.
Female First look at how we can all become more caring with our fashion without hurting our purses.....
Charity Shops
It's not just old women and smelly knitted jumpers- these days charity shops are cool fashion treasure troves full of lots of amazing bargains.
Buying clothes second hand is a great way to be ethical. Not only are you recycling clothes and stopping them from clogging up landfill sites but it also reduces the 'fashion miles' that build up from transporting new clothes from factories abroad to stores in the UK. This in turn reduces the amount of petrol used and hence the amount of ozone -layer-destroying emissions. And don't forget you're also donating money to charity which is bound to make you feel good.
On the surface some charity shops might look like they are full of flourescent tracksuits, hideous nylon dresses and battered old shoes but if you take the time to dig a little deeper you can find some great steals.
The key is to open your mind to the power of potential. A charity shop isn't going to have rails and rails of the latest trends but if you do your research and swot up on key shapes and prints for the season ahead you can find some unique items that no one else will have.
Also think about accessories. You might find a fab flowery dress which is a tad too big but if you add a waist belt you could have yourself a trendy new outfit.
Check the quality of items by feeling the weight, thread and general feel of the material they are made from. And if you want a real bargain then get to know you labels and don't be scared to have a look at the tags in the back of things.
Finally if you want to find the best designer bargains head out of town to charity shops in upmarket areas. Why not make a day of it and fill the car with some bargain-loving friends and head on a charity shop tour.
Customisation
We've all got things in our wardrobe that we don't wear anymore but can't bear to throw out or that favourite tshirt that's looking a bit shabby these days. So why not give them a new lease of life with a bit of customisation.We're not talking a full cut and re-design job- just a bit of dye and sequins can totally revive an old favourite.
This summer tie dye is set to be huge and customisation doesn't come much easier than this. Check out Female First Guide to Tie Dye
Another great way to funk up an old tshirt or pair of shorts for summer is by adding embellishment. Applique, frills and ruffles were all over the catwalks for this season so head down to your local dressmaking shop or market stall and grab some pretty lace, unique buttons or cool patches and get creative.
Clothes Swap Party
Sales shopping is brill but we always end up with those impulse buys that never see the light of day . However one woman's trash is another woman's treasure and clothes swapping parties are the latest thing for fashion loving girls.
It's easy to organise and is much cheaper than a night on the town. Just round up a few girly mates and tell them to come with a bottle of wine and all their unwanted clothes. Then you can spend all night having a giggle as you all try on each others wardrobe cast offs.
We are all different shapes and sizes and each have our own tastes when it comes to clothes so the chances are you will all get a fab new outfit for free- and of course we're cutting down on those fashion miles too.
Plan Your Season Wardrobe
One of the biggest ethical issues in fashion is the origins of the cheap fast fashion we all love to buy. It's so easy to nip into a high street store and see something that is bang on the catwalk trends but costs just a few pounds. We've all been there and it's tempting to just buy something because it's so cheap that it doesn't really matter if we ever wear it.
Well someone always has to pay when something is so cheap and usually it's the workers in sweatshops in Asia. Female First have reported before about how factory workers are paid a ridiculously low wage in order to keep costs to a minimum and hence allow factory owners to sell their products to UK retail buyers for pennies and in turn they can sell them to us for bargain prices.
By doing your research and checking out what will be the key items for the upcoming season you can create a capsule wardrobe of a few items that will keep you looking great for months. By buying one quality party dress which can be dressed up and down with accessories you will not only be doing your bit for fair trade but you also save money- all those cheap throw away items add up in the end.
Cheap fashion tends to be low quality and fades, stretches and goes bobbly after a few washes. This means you throw things away more often therefore resulting in more waste. By planning exactly what you need to create a few diffent outfits and spending a little more on those items you will know you have a reliable wardrobe.
We're all for ethical fashion at Female First so would love to hear your top tips on guilt-free style. Let us know below......
Caz Moss- Female First