Mumzine is off to the first International Day of Swishing in London tomorrow. In honour of this day here are our top things you can do to love fashion with a clear conscience.
1. If you love the high street, spend a little bit of time researching the ethics of the companies. There are some brands doing great stuff to produce their garments ethically. New Look was recently praised in the Good Guide and Ethical Consumer is an excellent place to start if you want to do some digging. Many of the high street brands do organic and fair trade lines as well as committing not to use child labour (we all remember that Primark expose).
2. Shop in Charity/Vintage Shops. Vintage clothes not only look more unique but they’re also often higher quality than mass produced high street clothes. Wherever you live, if you go to second hand shops in salubrious areas you will be amazed at the finds up for grabs. The Notting Hill Oxfam is notorious for designer picks .
3. Get swishing – there are now swishing events everywhere, and if you cant make an event you can swish online or host your own swish. Its fun and a great way to update your wardrobe without spending money.
4. Upcycling. Hot on the heals of the swishing trend is upcycling. From ETSY to Stich n Bitch, crafting is everywhere. Instead of recycling your clothes, give them a face lift. All you need are a few safety pins, a bit of lace, a few sequins or anything else that takes your fancy. If you are lacking in confidence there are many courses available to help you get comfortable with sewing.
Marge Douglas
Michele
To this list of ways to get into ethical shopping, can also add taking a loot at EthicsGirls.co.uk? It’s an online ethical shopping site – and I know there are loads of those around now – but its main difference is that it’s also a co-operative, where the ethical producers whose products it sells have the opportunity to be part of the sales process, and as well as that consumers can also join the co-operative to get a share in the profits and the opportunity to help shape the decision-making processes, the co-ops ethical decisions and which great ethical suppliers it supports in future.