4 Sustainable Fashion Options that Won’t Break Your Wallet

Many conscious-minded people want to live as sustainably as possible, which includes wearing sustainable clothing. However, that can get a little pricey since some companies are smaller and don’t use mass production. 

For example, it costs more for small batches of sustainable t-shirts because it takes more effort and awareness to ensure sustainability throughout the entire supply chain. On the other hand, aside from prominent name brands, conventional clothing is usually priced low at department stores, outlets, and even online.

When you’re looking for sustainable clothes and don’t want to compromise, you can expect to pay a little more, but with the following tips, you won’t have to spend a fortune.

1. Look for brands that use sustainable materials

There are some brands that actively source sustainable materials. When these brands become popular and generate plenty of sales, they tend to get their raw materials for a good price, which allows them to keep their costs down. 

For example, Portland Leather makes products like leather wallets, bags, and women’s leather boots entirely from hides sourced from the U.S. beef industry. They’re a popular company and have some of the lowest prices for beautiful full-grain leather goods.

When you want sustainable clothing, search for brands that are serious about the quality of materials they use. Brands that make a conscious effort to be sustainable usually keep their prices competitive to stay ahead. They value their customers and want to provide the best quality goods.

2. Thrift store clothing

Second-hand clothes are arguably the most sustainable on the planet because they don’t use any additional resources. They already exist and can be obtained with little to no effort. At most, a person will use a little gas to drive to the thrift store to shop for some new clothes. Chances are, that person will already have plans to drive around town to run other errands, which makes the already-small impact even less.

If the last time you went to a second-hand store was more than a few years ago, you might be pleasantly surprised to find stores with a great selection. Don’t limit yourself to Goodwill and Salvation Army. The majority of people donate clothes to these companies, which is why the options can be a bit plain. If you want something more fashionable or name-brand, look for shops that specifically sell only name-brand items.

3. Source your clothes from eBay

eBay is an excellent space to find used clothing and might be better than thrift stores, depending on what you’re after. With a thrift store, you never know what you’ll find and you’ll have to get lucky to find things you want in your size. This isn’t a big deal if you don’t really have anything in mind.

When you browse eBay, you can search for specific brands or items and find them in your size. As a bonus, you can set email alerts for your searches so you’ll be notified via email when someone lists your desired item.

There are other online platforms that sell clothing, too. For instance, Etsy is a good source for vintage clothing or upcycled items.

4. Avoid organic cotton

It’s a common misconception that organic cotton is somehow more sustainable than conventional cotton. Although organic fabric is better for your health, and it creates 5x less water pollution, it’s not necessarily sustainable.

Organic cotton plants don’t yield as much fiber as conventional plants, so it takes more plants, which requires more land and more water to produce. According to the data, it takes about 290 gallons of water to grow the amount of conventional cotton required to produce a t-shirt. To grow the same amount of organic cotton requires 660 gallons of water.

Although it’s not sustainable, organic cotton is better for the environment and your body. It’s just more expensive and not that sustainable.

Second-hand clothes will usually be the cheapest

When you’re aiming to build a sustainable life, nothing beats buying previously-owned clothing. Not all used clothes are in bad shape, but if you stick to common stores like Goodwill, you’ll probably have less selection. The trick is to source your clothes from high-end boutique stores if you care about name brands.

Living a sustainable life doesn’t have to be expensive if you make the effort to search for cheaper options. If you don’t like the idea of wearing used clothes, do some research on brands said to be sustainable to see if they meet your standards. 

When you find a company you want to support with clothes you like, you can start building your sustainable wardrobe.