In the quest to become more sustainable with the clothes on my back, I'm aware that there's also a privilege in being able to do that. When I began seeing more and more ‘conscious’ clothing making its way to high street stores, the first thing I noticed was the increased price points – And it totally makes sense. I think as Westerners we’ve definitely become accustomed to clothing, shoes and other accessories that are A) Readily available to us and B) At affordable prices. I’ve certainly bragged many times about a bargain or sale steal, but never really understood how or why I was able to do that.
Now, sustainability doesn’t just mean shopping for clothing that’s only made from organic cotton, or shoes from recycled plastic. The most basic rules of sustainability are the good old fashioned, reduce, reuse, recycle. Reducing how much you buy, reusing the things you already own, and obviously recycling anything that you no longer need. That’s the attitude I’m adopting from now on, as I know how much I contribute to the world of fast fashion, and influencing others in that too. There’s so much information that can be overwhelming at times, especially in the year we’ve had, but I do recommend accounts like @earthbyhelena on Instagram for some effective handouts. She states some outrageous facts that I didn’t know up until a few weeks ago, just like the fashion industry producing 1.7 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions in 2015; which is more than the aviation and shipping industry combined. In terms of workforce, of course I think we’re all aware that major brands will outsource labour in countries where they can exploit people for a smaller wage, and during the pandemic, many of those brands cut ties with their contracts in those countries. This meant workers lost money and were no longer earning, as well as the existing clothing that was meant to be shipped being dumped with no purpose. Someone who wanted to fix these issues was a business called Lost Stock - @loststock_. They took that clothing, de-branded it, and sold it in mystery parcels all over the world, with the money earned going back to the people in Bangladesh specifically who made the clothing in the first place. My own parcel should arrive within the next few days, so I’ll be sure to report back when it does!
So, what about reusing the clothing we already own? That’s something I know I’ve struggled with, but when I was a teenager, I was obsessed with repurposing my clothes and designing new items. That’s why when I saw a picture of blogger Chloe Plumstead in long denim shorts, I knew I needed a pair for myself. But hey, I already owned a pair of mom-style jeans very similar to the denim in those photos. So, I took to a different type of summer shredding, and made myself a pair.
When cutting jeans into shorts I recommend wearing the jeans and marking with a pen where you want to begin, as well as beginning much longer than what you want. Think of this like cutting your hair, begin with a small cut and make your way from there. After the first cut on one leg, I folded over the jeans and used the cut as a marker for the other leg, just to make sure it was definitely even. After cutting both legs I kept trying on the shorts, judging whether I wanted them shorter or not. I eventually stopped at a length I liked, that being a longer style, and then kept the denim scraps for any future projects that I’m sure will crop up. Now, you could easily roll up the hem and have done with it, but I wanted a different style just like the ones I saw Chloe wear. If you also like raw, frayed edging on jeans, then you can begin by pulling any loose threads. You’ll then want to grab a cheese grater, but a zester or sandpaper will do the job too, and begin grating the edges (Just watch your fingers of course!) If after that you think the denim could be more distressed, then feel free to continue teasing any strands and scrunching up the ends. It took me a little less than an episode of Friends to get the effect I wanted. Et voila, I serve you my dupe of something I’m sure Weekday have sold at some point, whilst saving myself some money too.
Of course, you could even go one step further and customise the denim - Trying embroidery, natural acid rinse, or even natural tie dye which I’ve seen many people try out for themselves over lockdown. In simple terms, fall back in love with the clothing you already have, even if it means tweaking or fixing them to fit with something you’d wear now. Obviously, you might be thinking this is all well and good, but what if I don’t have any jeans to cut? To which I say, shop vintage and second hand, or even ask family and friends if they have any that they’re willing to pass on. And if perhaps the only ones you can source are too big, go to your local sewing shop or alteration service and have them tailored to your fit.
I personally love the chic style of these longer shorts, and pairing them with a simple black tank top and cardigan, creates a great summer outfit that can easily transition into autumn too. Transitional pieces can also be key in maintaining use from your clothes, finding those items that can fit all year round by styling slightly differently to fit with the climate or current trend. Small things like this can make a difference with your shopping habits, as I’m learning for myself and sharing with you here, as I’ll continue to do. If more people make small differences, then I’m sure the bigger voices in this industry will listen and hopefully right their own wrongs.
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