How I Broke Up With Fast Fashion

It was mid summer when I got the urge to be parting ways with my former flame. Maybe it was the sights of warmer weather drawing to an end or the cliché of finding myself in solo in Europe on a beach somewhere? Whatever the reason I chose to give fast fashion a good old dose of ghosting and haven’t looked back since, not even for a classic ‘What u up 2?’ text at 2pm on a Saturday before a rendezvous or two.

Let me be frank, I was very guilty of scrolling the net days prior to a birthday/gig/date/supermarket shop desperate to score something new to wear, because how could I be seen in the same outfit twice?!

And you know what? Every. Single. Time I would not be 100% happy with the purchase, it would be a short hit of confidence that I was lacking for a pretty long period. A dopamine hit you could say, just like when your not so secret crush sends a heart react to a story. So here are little tricks and tips so you can continue to enjoy getting dressed without that niggling guilty voice in our heads to do our bit for the planet.

Just a few factors made the break up easier than expected:

Give Yourself The ICK

A very simple yet effective method of moving the f on and realising you can do way better. I am not saying break down their hinge profile pictures or stalk their following on instagram, I mean do some research before buying from a big brand. By Googling a large fashion chain it is very easy to gain any data and information on what they contribute to landfill per year which is enough to give you the ICK trust me. Much like when you open your eyes to a partner you were ignoring others for, only to be ignored back; you are embarrassed to re-live that chapter. Just like me with Missguided purchases...Gross.

Invest In A Long Distance Relationship

The kind of committed love that you know will always be there for you, no matter what. I'm talking investment pieces that you will wear over and over again and still feel that spark years later after the first date. For example you are a slip dress queen that feels amazing wearing one at any hour of the day , or if knitted vests and pearls make you feel like you can do anything go treat yourself to ones that are made ethically and from a smaller business which may be on the pricier side but if you continue to date for years to come there will be no heartbreak on the agenda trust me. Well maybe you will break some hearts looking that goooooood!

Make Charity Shops Your New Crush

I have always had a love hate relationship with charity shopping, sometimes I scored big but most of the time I had as much luck as anyone escaping Joe's perspex box.

The affair blossomed when I started shopping precisely for items I needed not wanted making it easier to scope down your search! Shopping aimlessly is a recipe for supporting fast fashion as we can be swayed into purchases that we want but probably do not need for the long haul. Plus extra brownie points for supporting a charity, whilst incorporating reuse and recycling of garments. All I can add is too always wash before you wear, my most recent purchase a gorg little black dress with beading after a hand wash resulted in very black water in my sink. Not cute.

Don't Text Your Ex

When I say text, I mean don't sign up for marketing emails or texts from brands to enable temptation. Sounds so silly and insignificant but boy I have had some over the festive period that made me want to purchase outfits for the next month of events, which I wouldn't have even text back the next day..

See Other People

Buying from brands that are not only taking sustainability seriously but also can be a benefit for you. Instead of purchasing for one of wear re use over and over. Then the element of spend per wear comes into play! For example Re-Done are a denim brand made from recycled Levis jeans, you pay $200 for a pair and you wear them around 50 times a year which equals $4 per wear. But as we all know, denim gets better with age ;)

Have a geez for yourself here

Ganni have introduced a take back scheme where you can send them any type of unwanted garments and they will transform them into new pieces. They also have a new service called Ganni repeat which is a rental service enabling you to rent any clothing from past and current seasons to assist in the sustainable fashion movement. All you need to know and more is here

Reformation is another brand that makes all their garments out of eco- friendly fibers, as 2/3 of sustainable impact happens at the raw materials stage ( before clothes are made ) . They are so passionate about their mission that they have created categories for standards of their garments, A - E which works the same as good old school assessment.

https://www.thereformation.com/pages/our-stuff

It may not be completely avoidable but just the little changes we are all doing can seriously make shit change for the better. Filter out the little swaps that are realistic and as we know from little things big things grow!

I am not in the slightest saying I am the sustainable queen of the fashion world, I just have learnt so much that has helped me and I hope it does even a teeny bit for you lot too.

Muchos love always.

Maisie xx