Here are our top five tips on how to stay true to your values and shop for ethical fashion while actually saving money in the long run!
The number one problem most people face when it comes to ethical clothing is affordability. When you’re used to buying cheap $10 t-shirts, of course a $50 organic cotton, ethically-made tee is going to seem pricey in comparison. Shopping for ethical fashion doesn’t always need to be expensive. With a few of the following tips and tricks up your sleeve, you can have your cake and eat it too.
#1 – Look out for sales
Sign up to the newsletters of your favourite ethical brands. This way you can be the first to know about sales and special offers. Most brands also offer a one-time discount for first time customers.
#2 – Choose well, buy less
At Good On You we’re firm believers in the idea that less is more. Though cheap, poorly-made clothes may seem like a bargain at the time, often they fall apart after a few wears, are forgotten at the back of your wardrobe, or even end up in landfill.
When buying new clothes, it’s worth considering the cost-per-wear of the garment. For example, if you wear a pair of $95 Etiko sneakers three times a week over the course of a year, the cost-per-wear comes to around 60 cents per wear. A pair of sparkly stilettos that you bought for $30 and wore once are expensive in comparison! Investing in a small number of high-quality, ethically made pieces rather than a mountain of poorly-made, cheap clothes is not only better for the environment, garment workers and animals – in the long run, it’s great for your wallet as well!
#3 – Buy second-hand instead of new
Next time you need to fill in a gap in your wardrobe or are craving a bit of retail therapy, why not give the mall a miss and visit your local thrift store, charity shop or vintage markets to grab a second-hand bargain for a fraction of the original price. You can also find gorgeous second-hand pieces for sale on websites such as eBay, Gumtree and the Facebook Marketplace.
Clothes swapping is another sustainable way to source pre-loved fashion, and it can be pretty fun too! You can organise a swap yourself, or if you’re not the most organised fashionista, you can keep an eye on local community pages or check out meetup.com, a site that helps facilitate swaps around the world!
#4 – Shop your own wardrobe
Did you know that most women only use about 40% of the clothes in their wardrobe? The next time you catch yourself looking at your overstuffed wardrobe thinking that you have absolutely nothing to wear, a good clean-out might unearth some treasures that you forgot you had! Every season, go through your wardrobe and sort out clothes into 4 piles. Ones you want to keep, ones to donate, ones to tailor, and ones to sell. Save your profits or use them to invest in high-quality, ethical pieces that will last you a lifetime.
Need some guidance? Check out the KonMari method which revolves around the idea that the items you own should bring you joy, and if they no longer serve this purpose, they should be discarded from your life.
#5 – Get the Good On You app
The free Good On You app is your go-to for exclusive offers and discounts on ethical brands. Just download the app and check out the ‘Offers’ tab!
So, there you have it – five fantastic tips on how to be kind on your bank account while buying ethically! Do you have any tips to save money while shopping for ethical fashion? Let us know in the comments below!
