Your Guide to Mindful Purchasing

To mindfully purchase is to stop and think before we buy. As fashion consumers and connoisseurs, we must take into consideration where and how our clothes are being produced and sourced. It’s easy to never contemplate the impact your shopping habit has yet clothing is one of the largest waste contributors in the world. So, by considering the working conditions, fast fashion qualities and mass consumption of the products you purchase, you can help our environment, economy, and international impact of the fashion industry.

Environmentally Sustainable Choices

Buy less. Re-wearing pieces from years prior lessens that donate pile and reduces waste. Selling clothes from years prior is also a great way to keep the cycle of fashion in good hands and not in the dumpster. Selling on apps such as Depop and Poshmark goes a long way. When it is time to refresh your wardrobe choose to buy from brands that recycle materials and have long-lasting quality.

Environmentally Sustainable Brands

Here is a list of our favorite, easily accessible and affordable sustainable clothing brands fighting the battle against fast fashion. This also includes brands with ethical working conditions and compensation.

1.     Uncle Studios

Uncle Studios is a small Canadian brand started by fashion influencer Allegra Shaw. Her pieces are created as a part of the carbon project and every component of the

2.     Eileen Fisher

A mature brand found in larger department stores, Eileen Fisher sells staples that are perfect for building an evergreen winter wardrobe. Her transparency when it comes to factories, supply chain and fabrics is admirable and important to consider

3.     Patagonia

An athletic outdoorsy staple, Patagonia supports companies working towards building biodiversity and making our natural world a better place.

4.     Reformation

Reformation has always been a fan favorite when it comes to statement and sustainable fashion for special events and show-stopping occasions. They work in partnership with the Fair Labor Association to promise safe, healthy, and fair working environments.

5.     Levi’s

Levi’s are an American classic and the perfect pair of jeans as a wardrobe must-have. They promote secondhand purchasing in their mission statement saying “If everybody bought one used item this year, instead of buying new, it would save 449 million pounds of waste.”

Clothing from large mainstream brands such as Shien, Forever 21 and H&M lack fair working conditions in mass factories internationally and the quality of their product is not sturdy for years of trend cycles. 

We hope you take this into mind the next time you build your wish list! Tag us @theedgemag if you purchase from any of these incredible brands.