by Lisa Silva

By now, everyone should know that fast fashion is not great for the environment or the people involved in harvesting resources and producing clothes. However, we can improve the fashion industry's environmental impact by changing how we buy and use clothes.

Try these five tips to make your style more sustainable:

Classic Styles

Adopting more classic styles results more sustainably because you can buy items made to last instead of trends that will be around for a season before you throw them out. For example, the classic skate shoe shape has gone virtually unchanged since the 1980s.

Look For Organic Cotton

Organic cotton farming is monitored to regulate the consumption of water, pesticide use, and other factors that could impact the environment throughout the cotton supply chain. Apparel and footwear created with organic cotton is better for our skin than traditional cotton, making it a beneficial option for both ourselves and the environment. 

Read the Labels

If a clothing brand has taken steps to improve the environmental impact of their product, they will tell you about it on the label. This will indicate if the materials were sourced responsibly, use of recycled materials, and any other steps. On the other hand, if there is no mention of eco-friendly manufacturing on the label, this usually means no special steps were taken in this regard.

Wash Less and Air Dry

Did you know that the washing and drying you do over the course of an item of clothing’s lifespan could account for as much as 80% of its environmental impact? 

Washing your clothes less often and at a lower temperature could significantly reduce the energy and water used. However, using a machine dryer also costs a lot of energy, so if possible, let your clothes dry naturally instead.

Avoid Polyester

Polyester is cheap and easy to make, which makes it a popular choice for disposable fashion brands. However, it is made from fossil fuels and has almost three times greater carbon footprint than cotton. It also contributes to pollution in other ways. 

Polyester clothing releases microfibers when washed. These microfibers will be carried out to the ocean, where they will remain for hundreds, if not thousands, of years as a threat to marine life.

If you are ever in doubt about a product's eco-friendliness, always check out their website to investigate their sustainability and sourcing policies. Also, do you have any sustainable fashion tips? Please share them in the comments below!