Do Sustainable Fashion Brands Cost More?
There is a misconception that organic sustainable clothing costs more. It does per item, but if you build a capsule wardrobe of a few quality mix-and-match items, it will cost less long-term.
A few items contain recycled polyester or elastane. If bought, launder in a microfibre filter (or just buy the 100% natural fabrics, far simpler!)
Most good eco fashion stores offer regular sale discounts. And garments tend to last longer (as fibres have not been treated by chemicals).
And most truly ethical affordable brands tend to make less profit, in order to do some good. So the higher prices you are paying are usually due to paying farmers well.
Also to avoid fast fashion, it pays to gradually build a capsule wardrobe. So rather than buy 10 different cheap men’s shirts, just invest in a couple of neutral colours.
Then mix and match with a couple of pairs of trousers, a couple of jumpers and a good coat. This together will likely cost less over a year, then buying cheap high-street items anyway.
Why is Organic or Recycled Cotton Better?
Because the cotton industry (the fabric from which most everyday clothes are made) is responsible for most of the world’s pesticide use, and this is bad for the planet, wildlife and farmers.
Although not local, cotton is usually the fabric used for sustainable fashion (there is more locally-grown hemp and linen which is from the flax plant, but crumples easily).
Tencel is also popular, but it’s from flammable eucalyptus trees, and planting en-masse can cause wildfires (Spain and Portugal have already banned new plantations).
Popular ‘eco-fabrics’ not to use for sustainable fashion are recycled polyester or recycled plastic bottles. This is because despite ‘using up waste’, they release microplastics in the washing machine when laundered, which send the plastic straight back out to sea.
