shop, but in a way that will not be as detrimental to the planet

Introduction

Shopping is one of my favorite things to do. It's a great way to de-stress and find yourself something new, but it can also be pretty bad for the planet if you aren't careful. I'm not here to tell you that we should stop shopping entirely, but I do think that it is important that we think about how we shop and what kinds of clothes are best for our environment. In this post I will give some tips on how to make sure your shopping habits don't do more harm than good!

RENT YOUR CLOTHES

Renting your clothes instead of owning them can save you money, make you look awesome, and help the environment. There are a few different ways to go about this. If you want to rent a specific outfit for an event, try sites like Rent the Runway or Poshmark. For something a little more casual, check out local stores that rent designer clothing (we like Chico’s) or sites like ThredUp that sell secondhand items but also allow users to send in their old clothes for others to buy.

THRIFT YOUR CLOTHES

Shopping at a thrift store can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are some helpful tips for shopping at a thrift store:

Shop with a friend.

If you shop alone, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable in such an unfamiliar environment. Having someone else there for moral support will help you feel more confident about what you’re looking for and show up with. Plus, if one of you spots something great on the rack then both of you can get excited about it!

Look for quality clothes that are in good condition and in season. It may seem like common sense but many people forget this important step when shopping at thrift stores because they assume everything is old or damaged by previous owners so they don't take care of their clothing properly before donating them. Don't let yourself fall into this trap; make sure all your items are clean (washed) before wearing them! Also check out some stores' websites beforehand so that when people ask where did I get those awesome shoes they notice right away: "Oh yeah these were from J Crew Factory!"

INVEST IN QUALITY

Invest in quality.

When you purchase clothing that is made well, it will last longer and be more comfortable. This extends the life of your wardrobe, which means you can buy less clothing overall (and therefore less waste). And as we all know, buying less is always good for your wallet—and for the planet as a whole.

If you’re in the market for a new wardrobe, consider buying clothes that are made well. This will not only save you money but also help prevent waste.

THINK ABOUT THE MAKER

Think about the maker.
Think about where the clothes were made.
Think about how it was made.
Think about what was used to make it and how much energy was used in making it.
Think about how much waste was produced during its creation and transportation, as well as after you’ve finished with your purchase.

PERSONAL SHOPPING (VINTAGE)

In the age of fast fashion and mass production, many of us have become accustomed to shopping in chain stores. However, there are many benefits to shopping vintage that go beyond the environmental impact of your clothing choices. The next time you're looking for something special, or just want to step outside your comfort zone with a new look, consider these options:

Benefit #1: The quality is better. When clothes were made by hand rather than machine-sewn in factories (not always an option for vintage pieces), they were often constructed with higher quality materials and craftsmanship than we see today in modern clothing. This makes them more durable!
Benefit #2: You can find "one-of-a-kind" styles—or at least unique versions of trends that look like no one else's style! Everyone wants their own personal style; this is a great way to build it through clothing choices instead of relying on just what's available on store racks today—and who knows what will be trending tomorrow?
Benefit #3: It's cheaper! Buying secondhand often means getting more bang for your buck because there's no middleman taking commission off every sale like you'd pay at an online retailer or department store (and even thrift stores). In fact, when I was working as a personal shopper at an upscale boutique in New York City during college some years ago my clients loved getting great deals from me because I would often suggest buying something secondhand instead of brand new if it looked similar enough but cost half as much money."

The suggestions I have given below are some of the easiest ways that I know of still being able to shop, but in a way that will not be as detrimental to the planet as it may have been before. I use these methods myself and I have found that they have helped me immensely, I hope that they can do the same for you.

Shopping is a part of life for us all. Whether it be buying clothes or food, we all have to do some amount of shopping in order to survive. This can be a very hard thing for those of us who feel like their environment is the most important thing in their lives, as it seems that everything we buy today has an impact on our environment and its future generations.

Here are some tips on how you can keep your purchases sustainable:

Buy second-hand clothing and furniture – Goodwill and thrift stores often carry items that would otherwise be thrown away by other people, but may still be useful! And if they're not useful enough, they make great donations! Also consider donating old clothes when possible; this will help reduce waste in landfills while providing new wardrobes for other people who might need them more than you do (or perhaps there's even someone out there who could use them right now). If you don't want anything else but something specific from Goodwill/thrift stores – such as an old armchair – then go ahead! Just try not buying anything new unless absolutely necessary (and if so then try using coupons).

Conclusion

In the end, it is all about doing what you can to be more environmentally conscious. And I hope that these suggestions will help you get started on your own journey towards being a better steward of this planet.