Earth Day Pledge: Invest In Our Planet By Becoming A Conscious Shopper
Circa 2019- I don’t have anything to wear! I screamed while staring at my wardrobe full of clothes.
Before embracing the minimalist mindset, staying on trend and scrolling the internet to buy what I thought I wanted was my favorite pass time.
And the credit goes to FAST FASHION!
In the early 2000s, a concept called Fast Fashion took the industry by storm to instantly take runway fashion to consumers. The plan was simple, shortlist the best pieces from the collection, replicate the designs in-house, and sell them to the end consumer.
I let this narrative take over my life until 2020, never bothering about the effects of overproduction on our planet.
When the world went into lockdown! I finally realized how awful my overconsumption habits were.
Do I need this many clothes? What made me think that I don’t have enough? Then it struck me!
I was conditioned to shop mindlessly and without intention. Social media, influencer culture, advertising, and FOMO was the driving force for my overconsumption.
Thus began my journey of being a conscious consumer.
Being guilty of consuming mindlessly, I went full throttle to learn about sustainability and conscious consumption. I enrolled in courses, watched heartbreaking documentaries, and read books to grasp reality.
So, this Earth Day, I’ve pledged to invest in our planet by creating awareness around conscious consumption! I’ll highlight our unhealthy shopping habits and reveal how bad the fashion industry is for our environment!
How are our Shopping Habits?
Our shopping habits are concerning to the extent that it’s severely damaging our environment!
Don’t believe me?
- It takes about 2,720 liters of water to produce just one cotton shirt – equivalent to what an average person drinks over three years. (EJF)
- Nearly 60% of all clothing produced ends up in landfills within a year of being made. (McKinsey 2016)
- 100 BILLION Items of clothing are produced each year.
- It takes about 10,000 liters of water to grow enough cotton for a pair of jeans. (WRAP 2011)
I told you! It was scary!
Can you become a conscious shopper?
Absolutely! Anyone can!
The best thing is to educate yourself about fast fashion and its effects on our environment!
Below are some free resources that may help:
Documentary:
- The True Cost: Who Pays the Real Price for YOUR Clothes
- Fast fashion – The shady world of cheap clothing
- The Environmental Disaster that is Fuelled by Used Clothes and Fast Fashion
Courses:
- Fashion and the Climate Crisis: An Introduction to Sustainability
- The Here and Now of Sustainable Fashion
- Fashion’s Future: The Sustainable Development Goals
10 EASY TIPS TO BECOME A CONSCIOUS CONSUMER:
These tips may look small, but when practiced can help you consume mindfully.
- START SMALL:
Conscious consumption can get overwhelming, and it’s better to start small with one habit and master it.
2. CHOOSE QUALITY OVER QUANTITY:
Remember quality over quantity. Buy a few pieces of premium quality that will last.
3. READ LABELS:
Like food labels, learn about fabrics that are good for the environment.
4. AVOID IMPULSE PURCHASES:
Avoid giving in to your impulses and buying unnecessarily. These items sit in the closet for years or land in landfills.
5. RESEARCH THE BRANDS:
Always research the brands before investing. Read the about us page to get the details of their products.
6. REPAIR OLD CLOTHES:
Found a tear or lost a button in your clothes? Mend before tossing it!
7. RECYCLE ITEMS:
Giving your clothes a second life is a beautiful way of caring for the environment.
8. REPEAT OUTFITS:
Be a proud outfit repeater! The best gift you can give our planet is to repeat your clothes!
9. INVEST IN TIMELESS PIECES:
Jumping onto the bandwagon of every latest trend is slowly losing its charm. Instead, buy timeless pieces.
10. EDUCATE YOURSELF:
You can only become a conscious shopper if you educate yourself with the facts.
So This Earth Day, Get Inspired. Take Action. Be a part of the green revolution.
This blog is in collaboration with EARTHDAY.ORG. Their mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide. It’s the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet.