5 Ways You Can Shop for Affordable Ethical Clothing

With the rise of fast fashion across the world, it’s easy to find cool clothes for cheap. But what often isn’t considered is the hidden cost of those cheap items. Often, big brands use child and sweatshop labor to produce clothes in an environmentally detrimental way. They are made of synthetic and cheap fibers in pollution-causing factories. Plus, the clothes are such low quality, they often don’t even make it through a season of wear. This leads you to go back to the store, and buy more cheap clothing in a terrible cycle. 

This cycle is beginning to be disrupted.

People and companies realize that this model isn’t sustainable, and they want to change it. Because of this, there has been a rise in ethical clothing brands. These promise fairer labor standards, eco-friendly practices, and quality clothing. However, while these are great things, they also raise the cost of the clothing.

Affordable Ethical Clothing

When we talk about ethical fashion, we often include brands, such as Everlane, Patagonia, and Reformation. These brands are great for shopping ethically, but they are also expensive. Not everyone has the money.

Because of this, it can feel overwhelming trying to shop sustainably while sticking to a budget. The good news is that there are ways to shop ethically and economically. We’ve outlined a few ways below.

Thrifting

Thrifting is the ultimate ethical shopping experience. Not only are you steering away from generating any new waste, but you are also often helping charities while you shop. Most thrift stores (also called charity shops or op shops) are run by non-profits, such as the Red Cross or The Salvation Army. These stores donate money and goods back into the most vulnerable communities, which is a huge advantage. 

You can also get such good deals on brands that normally wouldn’t be affordable. After needing new work clothes recently, I went to a local thrift shop. I walked out with four high-quality tops, plus two work jackets—all for less than $50! Even though many brands you find there aren’t known for being ethical, you aren’t giving any money directly back to them, and you’re preventing those clothes from going to the landfill. 

Clothing Swaps

Clothing swaps are a fun, ethical way to get new (to you, at least) clothes. The concept is simple. You bring to an event clean, neat clothes you no longer want. Other people do the same, then everyone “shops” amongst the clothing brought. It’s a great way to switch up your closet without spending a dime. Clothing swap promotes the circular economy, socialization among like-minded people, and it’s a fun way to shop.

Many communities and bigger cities host large clothing swaps. These tend to be more organized, and have a system in place to make it fair for all. This can include limiting the number of items you can take or offering a one-for-one trade. However, if there aren’t any in your community yet, it’s easy to host your own. Grab a few friends, tell them to spread the word, bring clothes, and spend an afternoon laughing and swapping outfits in someone’s living room. It’s an easy way to save money and explore new styles, without creating unnecessary waste.

Online Shopping

Shopping online comes with its own set of pros and cons. The items might be shipped from far away or they use a significant amount of plastic packaging. But often, there are options online that can help budget-conscious shoppers save money and think ethically.

For example, certain brands offer unique online-only deals. Patagonia, for instance, has Worn Wear, which utilizes used clothes to make new ones. These clothes are a hodge-podge of looks and colors, which creates one-of-a-kind pieces. It keeps clothing out of landfills, doesn’t generate a ton of new waste, and creates a fun conversation starter. This might not be the most affordable ethical option, as some of the clothing are on par with the normal prices, but it is worth checking out.

Other stores offer similar used gear sites. REI is a good example, where they have REI used gear online. This site sells used hiking clothes, gear, and more at steeply discounted prices. This is a great way to help keep pieces out of the landfill or find your favorite ethical brands at affordable prices. 

On top of those brand-specific options, there are also several websites dedicated to selling used clothing. Poshmark and ThredUp are both sites that allow users to buy and sell clothing. You can search for specific brands, styles, types of clothes, and more. This option is a lot like thrifting, but it allows buyers to search more easily. Instead of spending hours searching through racks of clothes, you can filter and search as you need.

Renting Clothes

This might seem like an unusual option, but it can be one of the most sustainable options out there. There are tons of clothing rental sites that offer an array of styles. Some are type-specific, such as Rent the Runway or Girl Meets Dress, which specialize in formal attire. Others, such as HURR and The Devout (coming Spring 2020), have wider selections for when you just want to vary your closet a bit.

Renting clothing can be a great option for times when you need something specific, but will only wear it once. This keeps waste down, and is way more affordable than buying a formal dress at full price.

*Note: It might be harder to find ethical brands on the rental sites, and I wouldn’t recommend it for everyday clothes. However, it is a good option for one-off pieces you will never wear again. Ethical formalwear is expensive and hard to come by, so even renting non-ethical brands that would get a lot of use can often be a good alternative.

Discount Sales

This might seem like an obvious choice, but one worth mentioning. Ethical clothing companies often don’t stock as much clothing as big brands, so they’ll often need to make room for more when a new season rolls around. As such, there are often great end of season sales. If you are willing to buy off-season, this is a great option. You can find great ethically made pieces for heavily discounted prices. Plus, you can support those brands while still saving some money.

Shopping affordable ethical clothing doesn’t have to be an impossible task. With a little planning, flexibility, and thinking outside the box, it’s easy to get clothing you need at a price that is affordable. By looking for online deals and sales, renting what you don’t want to own, and shopping secondhand, you can find a variety of clothing and styles to fit all your needs.