Are you looking for alternatives to fast fashion to save money? There are SO many benefits to buying secondhand that can impact the people who make our clothes, the earth, and our wallets.
Regardless of your reason for shopping secondhand, you will walk away from this post with ways to buy fashionable clothing (not just thrifting!) at a lower price and shop based on your ethics.
This post is all about the best alternatives to fast fashion.
What is the definition of fast fashion?
Fast fashion is the process of quickly producing low-quality clothing to follow ever-changing fashion trends. Rather than the fashion industry following the four seasons, fast fashion amplifies that process to create new styles and micro trends almost every week!
To manufacture these clothes, companies rely on cheap labor. Garment workers who make these clothes aren’t paid a fair living wage and work in unsafe working conditions.
Lastly, many of these companies use harmful chemicals to produce these clothes. These chemicals can run off into the surrounding area, affecting local communities and the habitats of nearby animals. The environmental impact of these factories expands to greenhouse gas emissions since tons of clothes require lots of energy to produce. Then there are all of the carbon emissions that come from shipping this clothing all over the world.
When did fast fashion start?
Fast fashion began to ramp up in the 90s when stores began to sell more and more products online. It made it so much easier to buy mass amounts of clothing which led to the overconsumption issues that we have today.
Aside from the human rights issues and the initial environmental impact of fast fashion factories, we then have to look at textile waste. Once consumers buy all of these clothes and are done with them, where do they go? Many times these cheap materials end of lives is landfills.
We will explore some ways we can make the fashion industry a bit more cyclical and less wasteful. As you can see it is much more complicated than consumers buying less.
There are many interacting industries that are at fault as well. As consumers, we can vote with our dollar and say that we no longer support the way the fashion industry is currently running. Below you will find some actionable ways to do so.
How to Avoid Fast Fashion and More Sustainable Alternatives
1. Start with what you already own
Before you head out to buy anything new, be sure to go through the clothes you already have. Do an audit to see if you can flip any pieces that you already own and reimagine them in a new way.
Try to clean out anything that you never wear, items that are torn or stained.
You may realize that with a less cluttered wardrobe, you have pieces you really love and can restyle in new ways. Having a core capsule wardrobe can help you to feel at ease, which for some, may lessen the yearn to buy more.
2. Thrift and buy secondhand from vintage stores, thrift stores or flea markets
Sometimes there is a stigma surrounding buying clothes from thrift stores but there really shouldn’t be!
Instead of paying for brand new clothes, you get a guaranteed discount when you buy used.
There truly is so much clothing here on earth so we may as well use it. Buying second-hand gives clothing new life and keeps it out of the landfill.
The bigger thrift stores are places like Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Savers. Try to ask around and see if you have any local thrift stores, vintage shops, or flea markets that sell clothes as well. You may be able to find a more curated selection at those places.
3. Trade or borrow clothes with friends or family
When we are kids, getting hand-me-downs is completely normal. Especially if you are the youngest sibling or cousin. But once we become adults it becomes a little taboo.
There is no reason for this! As long as your clothes are in good condition, there’s nothing wrong with swapping or borrowing clothing.
Why not host a clothing swap in your friend group or neighborhood where everyone brings a few pieces and then everyone leaves with a few pieces? It’s a great way to freshen up your wardrobe and support your loved ones as well.
4. Use thrifting apps like Poshmark or Depop to buy and sell used clothes
If you despise rummaging through racks and racks of clothing at the thrift store then you will love thrifting online!
With apps and websites, you can narrow down exactly what you are looking for. You can choose the brand, size, color etc.
The only downside to this is that you can’t try on the clothes. The way I get around this is by trying on the item in-store and then buying it online.
{RECOMMENDED POST: 10 Popular Places You Can Thrift Clothes Online}
5. Buy and sell clothes on Facebook Marketplace
This is a great option if you have something specific in mind such as seasonal clothing.
If you are looking for something specific like a ski jacket, you will have good luck on Facebook Marketplace!
6. Rent outfits for formal events
A very wasteful section of fashion is clothing for formal events.
You may only get one or two wears out of a dress that you wear to a wedding. With the rise of social media, there is a lot of pressure to never wear outfits more than once.
Here are a few online rental services you can look into:
- Rent the runway
- Nully
- Armoire
Every company is different but the idea is that you either choose one item or a subscription (with a few items) and they mail it to your home. Some companies don’t require you to dry clean it so it is super convenient. One less thing to worry about before the big day!
7. Balance your wardrobe with trendy clothes and basics
There has to be a solid balance between super high fashion items and everyday items in your wardrobe.
It is much easier to thrift items like t-shirts, jeans, and dresses. Maybe you can’t commit to thrifting your whole wardrobe but even thifting the basics is a great start!
8. Garage sales, community events etc.
Garage sales are a really great way to support your neighbors and walk away with some cute outfits.
If you don’t like how stuffy thrift stores can be you may enjoy a more open space like a garage sale to find your new favorite outfit!
If you have a local zero waste store, they may hold events like clothing swaps as well so keep an eye out for local events that cater towards sustainable fashion.
9. Skip the latest trends and define your unique personal style
There’s a difference between fashion and style. Fashion is what society defines as “in” or “out” and style is your creative view of how textures and colors of clothing blend. It is what is true to you.
Find clothing that fits you well and is flattering. Find pieces that match your unique wardrobe and feel good on your body.
Don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing. It will help you to feel at peace with the clothing you already own and not chase after the next trend.
10. Learn to sew and mend your clothing
Skip the fast fashion supply chain altogether and make your own clothing! This tip is definitely not for everyone but if you have ever had an interest in sewing, this is your sign to follow that.
Depending on the fabric you choose, this is a great way to source affordable clothing.
Again, maybe you don’t make ALL of your clothing but even making a few pieces for yourself and loved ones is a great start.
Even learning just the basics of mending can go a long way. This is an important skill that can keep your clothing in use and out of the landfill.
11. Buy quality items that will not wear out and that can be worn many times
One downside to fast fashion is that the clothing is often cheaply made and can wear out very fast.
One way to combat this is to invest in high-quality pieces that won’t need to be replaced very often.
This cuts down on your budget and the amount of clothing that goes through your wardrobe.
12. Minimize buying from fast fashion rather than cutting it out completely
This tip may be controversial in the sustainable living world but it is better to do what you can rather than do nothing at all.
There are many reasons people rely on fast fashion (read more about this below!) and it is unrealistic for some people to buy all of their clothes from pricey ethical brands or make all of their own clothing.
I hope this list gave you some unique ways to buy clothing ethically, but don’t be too hard on yourself if you are not perfect with it.
{RECOMMENDED POST: How to Extend the Life of Your Clothes? Care For Your Clothes With These 9 Simple Tips}
What are some examples of fast fashion brands?
Unfortunately, tons of clothing brands fall into the fast fashion industry.
Here are a few popular clothing brands that are considered fast fashion:
- Shein
- Zara
- Hollister
- Fashion Nova
- Princess Polly
- Artitzia
- Forever 21
- Urban Outfitters
Things to consider with slow fashion
You may have wondered what some of the pros of fast fashion are. It is a major industry for a reason.
So why is it so popular and what are some downsides to slow fashion?
Considering the flip side may help us to be more empathetic to those who still participate in fast fashion due to necessity. I wish thrifting could fix the whole issue but of course, sustainability is more complicated than that.
- Fast fashion is affordable since companies are making clothes very cheaply. Of course, it comes at the expense of harming workers and the environment but it is affordable for the consumer. If you have a low income, fast fashion is a way to buy what you need.
- Plus-size clothing options can be difficult to find secondhand. Unfortunately, fast fashion companies do offer a broader range of clothing sizes (not always, but some do). It can be tricky to find a variety of sizes second-hand or even from slow fashion brands.
- Thrifting is time-consuming. I love it but you really have to search. There are ways to speed up this process (some of the other tips above!) but if you are short on time and money, you may prefer to just buy from a fast fashion store.
- There is still a stigma around wearing second-hand clothing. Some people see it as not as clean or fear judgment from others. All clothing is kind of dirty though. It sits in factories, gets shipped all over the world, goes through lots of hands etc. Whether you buy your clothes brand new or second hand it needs to be washed.
Sustainable Fashion Brands
So these brands are not going to fall under the ‘affordable fast fashion alternative brands’ category but I can’t leave this post without some options for places to shop if you are looking for new-to-you clothes.
Maybe you want to buy clothing for a gift or you truly can’t find what you need secondhand.
To make these shops a bit more affordable you can:
- Shop their sales (Black Friday, Earth Month etc.)
- Only buy a few clothing items from these brands and then buy secondhand for the rest of your wardrobe
- Only buy for special occasions
- Get on their email list so you know when sales are!
Here are some examples of slow fashion brands:
- Reformation
- Girlfriend Collective
- Pact
- Indigo Luna
- Everlane
- Eileen Fisher
- There are new ethical brands popping up all the time but this is just a starting place!
How to find other sustainable clothing brands
Here are some things to look for on clothing company’s websites when trying to decide if a brand is fast fashion:
- Natural materials like organic cotton
- Fair trade certified
- Made in small batches
- B Corp Certification
- Factories that use renewable energy
- Carbon offset
- Some small businesses (but you have to double check. Just because it is a small business doesn’t mean they are using ethical practices)
- There are other certifications and things to consider. Let me know if I missed anything in the comments below!
Where should you bring your old clothes and how to sustainably transition to a more sustainable wardrobe?
If you are new to learning about fast fashion, you may feel the urge to get rid of any trace of fast fashion in your home. Not so fast! We don’t want to further the issue by turning our old clothes into textile waste.
Many of the stores and online shops listed above are great places to donate or sell your old clothes. Because of overconsumption, some thrift stores are being overwhelmed and sending clothes to places abroad which can negatively impact their communities.
What are some other options for disposing of old clothes responsibly?
- Wear your clothing until it is completely worn out. Transition it from your day-to-day clothing to your pajamas and then your yardwork clothing. Lastly, you can use it as cleaning rags.
- Don’t just drop anything off at the thrift store. No one wants stained, ripped, or pilled clothing. Instead, you can recycle your clothes at a local recycling center or mail it to a company called Terracycle where they will recycle your clothing.
What are some of the ways you avoid fast fashion or cut down on clothing costs? Let us know in the comments below! It’s always nice to hear other people’s ways of navigating this complicated topic.
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Stay well,
Maggie
This post was all about alternatives to fast fashion.
Other posts you may like:
5 Helpful Reminders for Finding Sustainable Kids Clothing
5 Incredible Zero Waste Laundry Detergents You Need To Try
6 Best Sustainable Yoga Brands For Ethically Made Yoga Clothes and Props For Every Budget
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