We often think of activism in terms of our work life, board life or volunteer life but not our consumer life. When in fact, we can promote our social activism values with our wallet. How we buy is a vote for the type of world we want.
Activism in the fashion industry has often centered around boycotts (example the recent success of #grabyourwallet) but Remake’s movement is more about buycotts. Rather than just saying no to brands that conflict with our values we can also buy from brands that commit to women’s empowerment, the environment and social justice, to truly wear our values on our sleeve. Here are four easy ways to be an activist in your everyday life:
1. Say no to fast fashion
Fast fashion companies like Forever21 trap a generation of women into poverty and cause planetary destruction. A good rule of thumb is, if the t-shirt costs less than a cup of your favorite coffee, walk away.
2. Invest in ever lasting pieces
While slow fashion brands are more expensive, our community has found that brands that are built to last actually save you money over time. A Patagonia basic, Levi’s jeans, Veja sneakers are built to last.
A $5 tee is meant to fall apart in 5 washes. So consider investing in fewer, better things. Our capsule collection is a way to get you started.
3. Try Rentals
For weddings, cocktail parties, black tie events to slow down how much we are sending to landfills. Here are some of our favorite rental brands that are fashion forward.
4. Go Vintage
From clothing swaps to consignment stores, there are tons of ways to slow down the staggering amount of clothes we send to landfills, save money and still be a conscious consumer.
This article is adapted from its original appearance on Quora – the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world.
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