As the dangers of climate change and global warming continue to become more apparent to people from all over the world, the fashion world has come under scrutiny as one of the world’s greatest polluters. The rise of ultrafast fashion and increasingly lower prices has made many develop an addiction to buying new items and switch perspectives so that clothes have become, for many, something that is essentially disposable. Many people discard clothing they’ve worn only once or twice, and some items end up in landfills with the tags still attached.
This is a huge problem because of the pollution that it creates, but also because it is extremely wasteful. To make a single piece of clothing, huge quantities of water are used, on top of the dyes and other chemicals used to treat the fabrics to improve their appearance and the pesticides used to grow crops such as cotton, a hugely important fabric in the fashion sector. When you throw away a garment before the end of its lifespan, you’re essentially wasting all those resources as well.
Many employees working in the fast fashion industry carry out their activities in unethical conditions, are paid very little, and are routinely exposed to potentially dangerous chemicals. In the rush to have access to very cheap clothing, consumers often forget that even if they don’t, someone else always pays the price. But what about special events such as weddings? Surely, you can’t show up at different events in the same outfit, right? If you’ve been wrestling with this dilemma, here are some things you should consider if you want to be both festive and eco-friendly.
Versatility
One of the best ways to ensure you don’t abandon your sustainable beliefs just because you must attend someone’s wedding ceremony is to choose a dress that is versatile enough to be used on a daily basis as well. When you buy a bridesmaid dress, look for designs that are not incredibly elaborate and ornate, as they are the ones that will lend themselves best to a more informal scenario as well. Asymmetric hemlines, no dramatic leg slits, scooped necklines, and A-line silhouettes work perfectly for nuptials and brunches alike and can be dressed up or down depending on the context.
Another great example is the classic slip dress, a timeless design that has remained popular with fashion lovers since the 90s. The cowl neck, delicate straps, and slinky fabrics are incredibly flattering and fit all body types. Most importantly, they look equally good with both high heels and sneakers. You probably already own a silk dress, and if it’s not a white or cream hue, you can wear it at the next wedding you attend.
When you wear something that is not specially made for a wedding and would seem over-the-top in other situations, you ensure that you get more wear out of a garment that would otherwise be discarded. Using the things you own for longer instead of getting something new every time is one of the most sustainable choices you could ever make.
Outfit repeater
Being a designated outfit repeater is enough to send shivers down the spine for many people, but when you think about how much money goes into buying something that you’ll only wear to a wedding once, you’ll begin to see that this unspoken rule doesn’t make any sense and that you probably shouldn’t follow it. In some circles, wearing the same dress for different weddings is still frowned upon, but if you want to be sustainable, this is the only way to go about it. Many gowns are worth hundreds of dollars, so wearing them for only one evening before discarding them is not only bad for the environment but for your finances as well.
Moreover, just because the dress is the same doesn’t mean your entire outfit or styling will be identical every time. You can change things up by choosing other hairstyles, doing your makeup differently, changing accessories and jewelry, and even wearing different shoes.
Sustainable brands
There are many sustainable clothing brands to choose from nowadays, so if you need to get something new, you should consider checking out these companies. However, many fashion brands have been accused of greenwashing over the years, a scenario in which enterprises make unsubstantiated and disingenuous claims about their products and services, with the aim of making them seem more sustainable in order to appeal to consumer demographics for whom sustainability is of utmost importance.
In some cases, these fashion labels have made some sustainable choices and adopted a series of eco-friendly policies, but they nonetheless continue to carry out activities that contribute to the degradation of the environment, such as overproduction, which inevitably ends up as waste. Learning about the company’s mission, the materials they use, and their source, as well as their ability to maintain their transparency regarding their practices, are some of the main indicators you need to consider.
More often than not, the smaller sellers will have the most sustainable options, and although they might be more expensive than those offered by the larger corporations, you can be certain your money doesn’t support unethical practices. There are several websites where you can get in touch with independent seamstresses who can make a dress that is perfectly customized to your taste and requirements. You’ll most often not have to spend an arm and a leg on it either, and you get the chance to support independent fashion creators, too.
With a little research, you can also find businesses that specialize in reselling formalwear and vintage dresses. Many of those styles are unique, and the garments are often of superior quality compared to the mass-produced garments you find in stores nowadays, meaning you’ll have the opportunity to wear them longer.
Sustainability is the way to go, even for garments
Finding the right dress to wear at a wedding can seem like a big enough hassle already, without getting sustainability involved in the process as well. But having this consideration in mind will definitely help in the long-term, as investing in garments that last saves you money on top of being good for the environment.
Image source: https://unsplash.com/photos/a-group-of-women-standing-next-to-each-other-holding-bouquets-NKiHrTs_u9c
