How to shop ethically
How to shop ethically? As shops reopened after lockdown this week, social media lit up. You may have seen all the comments about people queuing around the block around Primark on day one. Really, people sneered, you really need to come out of lockdown to buy a cheap t-shirt made in Bangladeshi sweat shops? No such comments for the people queuing up around Selfridges who are doing the same. Did people honestly believe that lockdown was going to result in a wholesale shift to slow fashion and eco living?
Slow fashion and shopping ethically from sustainable fashion brands is something that we can all strive to do but it is not going to be achieved by judging people for their cheap purchases. The Covid-19 pandemic affected all of us but many people lost any sense of financial stability. And, we all know the thrill of wearing something new.
At Pop London we try to encourage people to buy ethically sourced and sustainable clothes or replace clothes once needed. We have tried really hard to make Pop as affordable as possible but we appreciate that affordability is relative. Hopefully when our customers see that our clothes can last forever then they will realise what a great value for money purchase it was. We are still wearing clothes and samples we produced years ago and they still look fabulous.
It is all about cognitive dissonance - the older we became, the harder it was to buy a cheap top for a night out without thinking of the people that may have stitched it. Becoming older was also not unconnected to having more money to make considered purchases.
How to shop ethically? Try to think about your purchases, think of the people and resources being used in the supply change. You may need to pay a little extra for a higher quality product. And, if you slip and indulge in cheap fast fashion don’t feel too bad about it. Try to buy a garment made with natural fibres as it is likely to last longer. Natural fibres are also better if you have sensitive skin or allergies. Be creative and wear your clothes for a while - you don’t always have to wear that top with those jeans. And finally, pass your clothes on to family and friends, charity shops or go to a clothes swaps. There is always someone out there that will love and enjoy your clothes when you no longer do.