3 Positive Responses to Ethical Fashion

There are many different responses one can have to learning about ethical fashion. And with Fashion Revolution Week here, it's the perfect time to address some of the positive responses we can have towards the responsible industry - and how to avoid the negative ones.

In my time blogging, I have heard countless negative responses towards learning more about what's going on in the fashion industry - facts about child labor, poor pay, unsafe working conditions and pollution. This influx of information can be overwhelming to hear or read all at once and I have to admit, I've felt these heavy emotions and reactions as well.

Some of these responses I have heard have been - "I feel like the worst person in the world" // "I'm just one person, how can I make an impact?" // "Ethical fashion is too much money." // "There's too many problems in the world for me to focus on." // "I don't know how to make a change."

I believe we do need some of these convictions and although all of these are valid feelings, the movement and campaign focused on responsible fashion industry is not meant to be driven by guilt. It's meant to be guided by passion and with knowledge that the industry must be better because the people and eco-systems around the world deserve better, sustainable lifestyles. So we take our convictions and turn them into action. Lucky for all of us, there are dozens of resources, responses and ways we can create small change for big impacts.

1. Do some research on your own

A key component on understanding the ethical fashion industry is researching brands and transparency on your own. Although time consuming (all good things are, aren't they?), this can be done through online blogs like The Good Wear or through other resources like books, podcasts or discovering your favorite brands and what they're doing for sustainability and ethics.

Here are some recommendations -

Sites : MOCHNI.com // Eco Warrior Princess // Eco Cult

Reads : Wear No Evil // Overdressed // Slave to Fashion // Slow Fashion

Podcasts : Check out a list here.

Apps : Done Good // Good on You

2. Choose at least 1 ethical brand to shop this season

An easy way to take small steps is to choose one brand or item that you want to purchase ethically this season. This will help get your toes in the water on what it looks like to determine the style you need for your wardrobe, how much you can spend and what the brand does to ensure they are pursuing ethical standards within their company and production.

And if you decide you don't want to shop new, another easy, impactful and affordable option towards shopping ethically is to purchase an item vintage or second hand. This can be done locally or through online sites that specialize in bringing these loved items to you.

Try : Everlane for their transparency conversation // ABLE for their stylish product // Nisolo for ethically made shoes // Reformation for sustainable style

3. Continue to be curious

An easy takeaway is to continue to be curious about the industry. Continue to be curious about your convictions and reevaluate your own personal shopping habits. Because with your voice and decisions, you will be able to impact those around you.

Follow along with some brands, sustainable bloggers and larger companies (like @fash_rev) on social media to stay up to date on what's going on in fashion. With this easy and accessible tool, you can get quick information, recommendations and connections to continue your journey towards ethical style.

The industry is moving in a positive direction with the rising awareness of the environmental and human impact across the globe. We need more passionate people to continue to explore what it looks like to be a responsible consumer and dive into deeper conversations on how we can make this happen. With Fashion Revolution Week here, there will be many new ethical fashion researchers. And there are some tens of thousands of people around the world asking #whomademyclothes, demanding more transparency from the brands we know and love and changing personal consumer habits. Here's to a revolution that will change the world - not just the fashion industry!