The Busy Person’s Guide to Sustainable, Ethical Fashion

Issues around ethical production and pollution can feel incredibly complicated — here are some simple ways to shop better

Photo: Arturo Rey via Unsplash

There’s a reason “voting with your dollar” is a popular expression. Companies pay attention to what customers do with their money, and they can change their practices quickly when they start losing money or see an opportunity to make more of it. Though your own individual buying choices aren’t likely to quickly change the fundamental exploitation and pollution that global corporations bring to the planet, thoughtlessly supporting the worst practices is a guarantee that things will never change.

But you are also a very busy person with a lot going on: work, life, a global pandemic, and an array of everyday ethical conundrums. The world of sustainable and ethical fashion can be full of misinformation and confusing guidelines. Who has time to sort out what’s right? That’s where I come in.

This is the busy person’s guide to easier sustainable and ethical fashion.

This is not a 100% in-depth or foolproof guide. This will not ensure “perfect” ethical and sustainable purchases, or that you never accidentally buy a t-shirt that was made in a sweatshop again. But it will give you a…