Shifting Focus + Sustainability

It’s been several years since I first landed on the True Cost documentary while on the couch browsing Netflix. It focused on highlighting the “true cost” of the fashion industry, the conditions of the overseas factories our favorite brands are produced in, as well as the poverty stricken areas and dangerous conditions its workers deal with daily. Like most watchers of eye-opening docs, I was instantly impacted and vowed to change my lifestyle. And like most, I eventually went back to my regular ways of shopping at Zara, H&M and other “fast-fashion” stores.

But unlike week-long vegan diets or keto trials, ethical clothing and sustainable fashion have lingered in the back of my mind since. I could easily see the quality difference when I purchased clothing during my “ethical kick” vs cheap fashion. I still have every Everlane tee hanging in my closet, in excellent condition no matter how many days they are my default to throw on. Meanwhile, cheap clothes are worn once or twice before plagued with loose buttons and threads and wasting space in my closet. 

So, knowing that I actually care, what is it that holds me back the most? Well, cost. When fair wages are paid, naturally, the cost of clothing goes up. But honestly, you’d be surprised how many brands use low-quality materials, unethical practices, and underpaid workers — yet still, charge a ton. And if I would’ve taken this journey a little more seriously back then, I would’ve easily stumbled across a few more affordable alternatives – not only in affordable ethical clothing brands, but in some old favorite hobbies as well.

Did you know that shopping at thrift stores or even buying secondhand clothing is a form of sustainable fashion? Even if you purchase a brand that doesn’t use sustainable processes in production, by not being the initial purchaser and giving it a second-life instead of it being thrown in a a landfill, you’re helping. Double feel good points if its from a thrift store that gives back to a special cause. I’ve always loved thrifting for vintage, and now realize that I was subconsciously skipping over things that are new with tags. 

Either way it goes – this is my official announcement of my lifestyle change – as well as the focus of this blog. There will still be plenty of lifestyle things and business advice, as well as a lot of highlights of sustainable and ethical brands. I want all of my readers to not only be more conscious about their shopping – but I want everyone to be so successful that our personal finances and budgets are never so limited that we give ourselves a “pass” to support companies that are putting their workers in harms way with shotty factories and horrible practices.

consciously,

Lindsey