TLDR

Too long didn't read

• Understanding Responsible Consumerism: Exploring the concept of responsible consumerism, I discuss the importance of aligning purchasing decisions with personal values, particularly in relation to environmental consciousness, fair labor practices, and social impact.

• Challenges in Finding Responsible Brands: Acknowledging the challenges consumers face in identifying businesses that uphold ethical standards, I share my own experience of searching for environmentally conscious and socially responsible clothing brands.

• Criteria for Responsible Brands: Highlighting key criteria for evaluating responsible brands, including environmental certifications, fair labor practices, and transparency in the supply chain, I emphasize the importance of thorough research before making purchasing decisions.

• Recommendations for Conscious Shopping: Providing recommendations for environmentally conscious and socially responsible clothing brands, such as For Days, Proclaim, Pact, and Boody, I discuss their commitments to sustainability, fair labor, and ethical production practices.

• Cautions and Considerations: Offering cautions and considerations for consumers, I address potential limitations or drawbacks of certain brands, such as the lack of supply chain audits or specific product features, to encourage informed decision-making.

• Acknowledgment of Diversity in Consumer Choices: Recognizing the diversity of consumer preferences and budget constraints, I emphasize that responsible consumerism is a personal choice and may not always be feasible for everyone, advocating for incremental steps towards sustainability and ethical consumption.

• Additional Resources and Recommendations: Providing a list of additional resources and recommendations for conscious shopping, including thrift stores and online platforms, I encourage readers to explore various options for supporting responsible businesses and reducing environmental impact.

Give Me The Deets!

Give Me The Juicy Details

You might be wondering, “What is a responsible consumer?” The answer really differs from person to person based on what you care about. It can be time consuming to find businesses who reflect your own personal views or support issues you really care about. Recently I’ve been looking for clothing companies who are environmentally conscious and human-centered- which I discovered can really take time. To help others in their search I thought I would share a few of these that I’ve found. 

If you have to buy pants for work, wouldn’t it be cool to know you are supporting fair labor practices or that the pants you buy won’t add to (or as much) environmental waste as another pair that are also the same price? Or that you are simultaneously supporting small business owners who are gender-inclusive or are people of color? Most importantly, that your money isn’t adding to the suffering of humans in the world? I know what you are thinking; “ Astrid, environmentally conscious clothing brands are expensive and not as good looking or convenient as my usual go-to clothing options!” Well, I am here to supply you with nicely priced and very good looking options. As for convenience - we are all shopping online these days - so exchanging and returning is as simple as it is for any other brand.

What I found when researching is that many companies are rated or known for their “environmentally conscious” reputation, but LIES! In reality they did not meet the standard. If companies do not audit their production facilities in other countries, they cannot guarantee they do not inadvertently support slave labor. Another mentionable - some of the clothing lines I found were very basic in selection and almost interchangeable from other brands. I tried to pick brands with standout quality. Lastly, if your budget is limitless (or just bigger than mine) there are many very high fashion Eco-friendly brands out there. Check out Good On You as they do a lot of heavy lifting for the consumer. The certifications I mention below were reported on the “Good On You” search engine or on the company website. 

One last preface; shopping consciously, just like eating consciously, can feel elitist. This isn’t about judgement or someone telling you what you should or shouldn’t be doing. This is your business and no one else’s. I personally don’t prefer to spend a lot of money on my clothes. I prefer to use my money to travel (when it isn’t COVID season). There are numerous sustainable options that are not doable for large portions of the population because the price is too high. I am one of those people. In this way, shopping sustainably can seem like an unrealistic, far-fetched possibility. For people who can’t, I completely get it. Or if you don’t want to, that is your business. This post is especially for the thrifty frugal souls who’ve realized other people’s definition of “affordable” doesn’t match their own, but they still want to try - little by little - to be a Responsible Consumer. I had to scour sites to find these gems, SO without further ado:

FOR DAYS

For general basics - I really love For Days. <3 The cool thing about this company is that you can recycle or trade in clothes you no longer want for store credit. This is extra cool, because lots of people don’t know that the world produces 92 million tons of textile waste a year. That’s a lot, right!? Buying from companies like For Days helps reduce textile waste. The only con I found is that they do not audit their supply chain to ensure their employees are getting paid and fairly treated. It would also be nice to know without a doubt that they are taking all the measures they can to ensure all people in their company are being treated humanely. This isn’t to say there is a definite problem but without a verification, there is no sure way to know.

PROCLAIM

For undies, I found Proclaim, a lingerie line that was started by Shobha Philips because she could not find a perfect nude bra for her beautiful brown skin. These decently priced undies are made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Besides being great for the environment, they are fair labor certified - so we know their employees are being treated and paid fairly. One important note, my friends would like me to include, these bras are not padded and don’t contain underwire. Some ladies definitely need more support, so these might work better as a sports bra depending on your preferences.

PACT

Another good option for casual wear, though slightly more expensive, is Pact. They have an overall better score than For Days because they are a member of Fair Trade USA and are Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) certified. We know they have a great score with the environment, fair treatment and pay of employees. Also, they don’t use animal products in their clothing. If, like me, you find some of their regular items a bit too pricey, you can head to their clearance page. It is FIRE.

Boody

If you are looking for active-wear that is environmentally sustainable, definitely check out Boody. They have a lovely selection of active, sleep, and lounge-wear. They do not have a sale page, but their “bundle” option can save a bit of money. They also have a good rating in environmentally conscious practices and are even better with their fair treatment of employees. They do not use animal products.

Okay, these are my top pics. I should also add, I definitely like shopping at thrift stores. Oftentimes I can’t believe what other people throw out, but lucky me, right? 

There are many more wonderful businesses to buy from and some of them can be found below:

I hope you enjoyed this exploration. Please let me know if you have a favorite Eco-friendly brand or business you support.

<3 Until Next Time <3

Astrid