With fast fashion giant Boohoo – among others – hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently, it’s clear that the world’s environmental consciousness is starting to branch out beyond concerns over plastic bottles and straws.
With this in mind, today, we’re bringing you some money saving tips – so that you can enjoy sustainable fashion on a budget and do your bit for the planet.
Scour charity shops
A great place to start your foray into the world of sustainable fashion, charity shops can be clothing goldmines – if you have the patience to put in the groundwork. Here you’ll find pre-worn items that still have plenty of wear left in them, and sometimes items even still have the labels on!
By turning your Saturday shopping trip to your favourite fashion retailers into a visit to your local charity shops, you can enjoy hours of browsing and trying on clothes – all while knowing you won’t be faced with a hefty price tag when you fall in love with something. By adding to your wardrobe with charity shop items, you can bag yourself some vintage clothing bargains, top up your savings pot, help the planet and support a local charity – what’s not to love about that?
Swap garments with friends
If you’re serious about finding out how to budget for your clothing but also want to do your bit for the planet, one of the best things you can do is stop buying from corporate retailers who mass-produce their clothing. So, rather than buying brand new clothes every time you want or need to, why not start by considering clothes swaps with friends?
You could turn this into an occasion every couple of months or even once a year, when your group of friends get together and showcase their pre-loved items. If everyone brings a handful of garments that they’re no longer interested in keeping, you should find that each person can leave with at least the makings of a new outfit – and it won’t have cost you or the environment a single thing!
Learn to repair your clothes
An age-old, tried and tested method of making your clothes last longer is simply to repair them yourself – and while you might think handmade alterations are a lost art, stats show that almost 1 million people have taken up sewing in recent years. If you’re tired of spending money on garments that don’t last as long as you think they should, this could be a great way to tighten the purse strings.
By learning to patch up your jeans, mend your jumper or turn your dresses into t-shirts, you can not only ensure your clothing lasts longer, but also adapt it to the style of the season without spending a penny. This also means fewer trips to the high street – meaning your bank balance will be benefiting from your new skills, and you can rest assured you’re having a welcome effect on Mother Nature, too.
If you want to take steps to reduce your fashion footprint, these tips are a great place to start – and the more people you can get on board with your savvy and sustainable way of living, the greater the impact you can have.
For more handy hints, budgeting tips and money saving advice, check out the Jolly Good Loans blog – where you’ll find regular posts that are designed to help you build a more stable financial future.