A Londoner’s Guide To Sustainable Fashion
Each season brings with it a deluge of new fashion advice, being eco-conscious and fashion-forward can seem impossible. Here are some tips on avoiding consumerism in spring 2018 — a Londoner’s guide to sustainable fashion!
Upcycling
When it comes to sustainable fashion, your first, best and cheapest option is to upcycle the clothes you already own. Social media is a big help when it comes to finding creative ways to remodel old clothes — search ‘upcycling’ on Google or Pinterest for inspiration. It’s amazing how you can give beloved (but dated) items of clothing a new lease of life by altering their cut.
If (like me) you’re not big into sewing, don’t let that stop you. Many sustainable fashion stores, like Lowie, run upcycling workshops with pros to show you how it’s done. If you really don’t want to do it yourself, most tailors will do alterations for a fraction of what an item would cost to buy brand new.
Buying Second-Hand
The wide shoulders, nipped-in waists, polka-dot blouses and mules of spring 2018 are deeply vintage styles, and can be picked up without a designer price tag at many second-hand shops. Don’t be seduced by the many London retailers using the popularity of vintage clothes to whack up the prices — instead head to places like East End Thrift Store, or events where you can pay for vintage clothes by weight. These can be found on Facebook and Billeto.
Your other option is of course to go online. Etsy is a vintage fashion lover’s paradise, and boasts lots of impeccably curated boutiques. Sadly, many of them are overseas. Set “Custom Location” to the UK, or make sure the shipping is free to avoid having a good bargain scuppered by £20 postage fees.
Buying From Eco-Conscious Retailers
Due to the rising demand for sustainable fashion, retailers have popped up to cater to discerning shoppers, and you stand a better chance finding them in London than almost anywhere else. Try Lowie, 69b Boutique and Here Today Here Tomorrow.
Unfortunately, many sustainable fashion shops are super-expensive — be prepared to pay a heavy price for your eco-consiousness. Unless you’re well-off enough to be able to, buying new should be the last resort for fans of sustainable fashion.
