Fuck Fast Fashion – 5 Tips for eco-friendly shopping

Did you know that the clothing industry emits more CO2 than all international air and sea transport combined? That sounds crazy, right? And yet, on average, we only wear our clothes 7 times. Often we wear it even less, it collects dust in our wardrobe or we throw it away because after all it doesn’t feel that comfy?!

But as a woman you want to look good, you want to be ‘in’ and at the same time you don’t want to spend too much money on clothes, because as we all know, life is expensive enough as it is, isn’t it? The mere thought of textile workers in Bangladesh earning about 55 euros a month for us to live a life of sheer waste blows my mind. 

 

An overflowing wardrobe doesn’t make you happy either, does it?

As a model, I feel deeply responsible for the fast fashion industry and I am ashamed that most clothes are produced at the cost of our planet, animals and human beings. I want to be a face of change, an advocate for slow fashion and therefore I only work with brands that are aware of their ecological footprint and have a sustainability vision that they execute. 

We are spoiled and don’t care about Mother Nature. As a model that strives for sustainability, vegan brands embrace me but fast fashion brands are like fair enough that’s innovative but we’re not that far yet. But how innovative is it really to go back to the essence? Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be? That we care about the animals and people who suffer for us because we ‘need’ new clothes every week? And let’s be honest: an overflowing wardrobe doesn’t make you happy either, does it? 

But where do you start in your journey to more sustainable items? I’ve made a list of great eco-friendly tips and tricks.

 

My top 5 eco-friendly shopping tips:

  1. Download the goodonyou app and enter your favourite brands. It shows how sustainable your brand is. It looks at working conditions, impact on environment and animal welfare. Super easy and fun!
  2. Shop sustainable brands. My favourite jeans brands are: MUD jeans and Armedangels. 
  3. The best sustainable shop: @greenupwarenhuis in the middle of Utrecht. Here you can get everything from clothes, books, food to vegan food
  4. The best sustainable clothing shop: @nukuhivafairfashion or @sophiestonefashion in Utrecht. For both women and men and you get super good personal advice. All employees know exactly where the clothes come from. 
  5. Eat more sustainably and subscribe to the vegan box from @veganbox Stop wasting food and eating animals. 

Enjoy your journey to an ethical and eco-friendly life and if you have any questions, let me know. I am happy to help. 

Lots of love, Elize Been