If we keep buying they will keep creating

Introduction

The fashion industry has a serious sustainability problem. If you’re not familiar with the term, here's a quick rundown: In recent years, there has been an explosion of so-called “fast fashion” retailers that sell trendy clothing at extremely low prices. This model is appealing because people like having new clothes, and it also makes it easy to buy in bulk and resell items that don't fit or look as good as expected—or even just aren't worn at all. Unfortunately for the environment, this model results in tons of waste—not just from discarded items but also from dyes and chemicals used in manufacturing processes. It’s estimated that more than 80 percent of clothing bought in the United States ends up being thrown away within one year of purchase

What is fast fashion?

In the past, clothes were made for specific purposes and worn for several years. Nowadays, we wear clothes for a couple of months before discarding them in favor of the latest styles. Fast fashion is a term used to describe this process: it's when companies produce and sell clothing quickly to meet consumer demand for cheap, trendy clothing.

However, fast fashion isn't sustainable or good for the environment—and it's also not good for you!

Fashion with a cause

I’ve been thinking about charity and activism a lot lately. Not only because of this movement, but also because of the current political climate and how it has affected me personally.

I started thinking about the difference between charity and sustainability not just in terms of how brands treat their workers, but also how we as consumers can vote with our dollars by supporting brands that use sustainable practices in other areas as well. For example, if you love J Crew but hate their environmental policies, try checking out Everlane for clothes that are ethically made at a lower cost point (and thus more accessible to you). Or if you want to support small businesses that care about their employees and animal welfare (but aren't vegan or vegetarian), check out Aritzia or Topshop!

Shopping for sustainability

As a responsible shopper, you need to be aware of the issues. You need to know which brands are doing good things, and which ones aren't. You should also be aware of the potential for ethical conflicts within a brand's supply chain. After all, if everyone buys from brands with only 12% recycled materials in their packaging (like Unilever), those companies will continue producing product wrapped in mountains of non-recyclable plastic and paperboard packaging that sits out in landfills for years upon years before it's recycled. That would be unfortunate!

You must also consider buying local whenever possible. Supporting your local economy helps keep jobs in your community—which means less pollution from shipping finished products across oceans or continents—and it encourages businesses to pay higher wages because they can't just outsource labor costs overseas like bigger companies can do easily when they want cheaper labor costs or more flexibility in hiring practices (for example).

Finally, think about where exactly on Earth your purchase came from: how far did this thing have to travel? If it was made by someone working under terrible conditions somewhere else around the globe without proper health care coverage or other basic necessities like access to clean drinking water... well then maybe reconsider whether or not buying something really matters at all considering everything else involved with getting something made into being available at all times everywhere around us throughout our lives regardless if we actually want one right now today tomorrow next year sometime later down road etcetera etcetera forever until end times arrives."

Sustainable businesses

Sustainable businesses are businesses that promote sustainable practices. Sustainable practices include the use of renewable energy, recycling and composting waste, reducing water usage, creating a positive impact on the environment and society by donating to charities, etc.

Sustainable businesses are also socially conscious. This means they care about their employees, customers and society as a whole. They understand that if you take care of your employees then they will take care of your customers who will then come back in the future to buy from you again!

Sustainable business owners have ethics too. They don't cheat or lie because those things aren't good for anyone involved in any way--including themselves!

You can vote with your dollars, and the choice to do so is yours.

As an active consumer, it's your duty to vote with your dollars. It also happens to be one of the most effective ways of showing that you're not okay with what's happening in the world right now.

You have power! Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. No matter how small or large your purchasing power is, if everyone made their purchases count for something meaningful, we could change the world for good.

Here are some things to consider when shopping:

• Shop local - When we shop at local businesses, we help create jobs and support our community. If people want their town to thrive and grow, spending money with those who give back is vital!

• Buy secondhand - There are so many amazing thrift shops popping up everywhere these days! Buying used clothing can help reduce waste while also supporting other people who might need some extra cash (or just want a new wardrobe). You can even find designer labels at thrift stores for a fraction of their retail price!

• Support small businesses - If there are independent stores near where you live (like coffee shops), try shopping there instead of chains like Starbucks or McDonalds next time you need something from them! Supporting mom-and-pop shops keeps money within your own neighborhood rather than having it go overseas where people might treat workers poorly or use dangerous chemicals on crops which pollute our air quality here at home

Conclusion

In closing, I want to say that we must be conscious of our spending. Money is not the only thing we have to spend; we also have time, effort, and other resources that can affect the world in positive or negative ways. The fashion industry is a prime example of this idea: what you buy today will determine whether it can be sustainably produced tomorrow. So think about your purchases next time you go shopping!