4 Reasons Why Sustainable Fashion Has Made Me Feel More Fashionable

Photos by @vessmess_create on Instagram.

When I first discovered the sustainable fashion movement, I rejected it because I felt like there wasn’t a place for me and what I wanted. I thought that my style would suffer, or I’d have to give it up completely. Starting last July, I came to realise that the opposite is true, and I feel like I have never been more fashionable than I am now.

I know more about my clothing.

Fashionable people are expected to know a lot about fashion, and while some people might be able to go on and on about the trademarks and key pieces of a particular brand or designer, they often don’t know or care enough to know about the supply chains behind their garments. I feel like knowing who made my clothes, what they’re made from, and what impact my clothes have on the planet gives me more credibility as a fashion enthusiast. “This one-of-a-kind dress was handmade from up-cycled fabric scraps by an aspiring designer from Perth” or “These dungarees were made from organic cotton and low impact dyes by a small tailoring business in India, where everyone is earning above living wage.” That says an awful lot about the fashion industry if I feel like products that are asking a fair price for their labor are somehow more “prestigious", but knowing about the supply chains behind your garments does make you sound like a fashion expert.

I search for inspiration in new places.

Sometimes when we feel stuck in our style, it’s because it’s all that surrounds us. For so long I only took inspiration from within the kawaii community, but as I’m searching for sustainable alternatives that I actually enjoy, I find myself branching out into new territory. The upcycled clothing and fabric trend has me absolutely hooked! I love the vibrant, patchy aesthetic of the upcycled garments that you’d find at Zero Waste Daniel, Kimbralou, and CLEAN. It’s inspired me to upcycle my own vest and invest in two lovely pieces from CLEAN, which is now my favourite brand.

I’ve also been taking more inspiration from the gender non-conforming people of the LGBTQIA+ community. I have been inspired by them since before starting my sustainable fashion journey, but somehow sustainable fashion has had me leaning further towards androgyny. Perhaps it's because a lot of my favourite sustainable fashion brands are unisex, or perhaps it's just another way to rebel against the highly-gendered fast fashion industry. 

I am more selective of what goes into my wardrobe.

Until about a year ago, I collected nearly anything and everything that I vaguely liked and could afford at the time. My wardrobe became a confusing mess of larme kei, fairy kei, decora, party kei, lolita, bittersweet, and who knows what else. It was not easy to mix and match, and I owned several items that matched nearly nothing. Some items I barely wore, some I wore when there was nothing better to wear, and some I never wore. After a brutal Konmari process, I discovered how few of my items sparked joy and I was left with a sliver of my former wardrobe. This was a chance for rebirth; a chance to build upon the sparks of joy that remained. Every purchase since then has been carefully considered, and I’m finding myself with a wardrobe full of pieces that are great quality, suit my style perfectly, and match a large portion of my wardrobe.

My style feels more personal and unique.

When you limit your options on where and how much you shop, it forces you to be more creative. When you plan on keeping for longevity as well, you’re less likely to be swept up by short-lived trends. I could shop on Taobao or Youvimi or DollsKill like everyone else, but I can find great things on Depop or ethical fashion websites like Lucy & Yak or Grump Online. That’s not to say that my style is somehow “superior” to people who do shop Youvimi, Taobao, or DollsKill, but I know that for me, decluttering my wardrobe and shopping to my values has resulted in me curating a wardrobe that is unique to my style, while still drawing inspiration from the Harajuku fashion community. For example, I still dress in fairy kei sometimes, but rather than wearing 80s motifs and other nostalgic themes, I replace them with neutral or abstract patterns while staying true to the colours and silhouette. I’ve also done some DIYs and I’ve worn certain items in unconventional ways like my signature hair clip bowtie that I’m sure you’ve seen a thousand times by now. 

At a glance, it's easy to dismiss sustainable fashion as boring and unbefitting of the alternative fashion lover, but hopefully now you understand why knowledge of sustainable fashion is not only important, but beneficial to our perspectives on fashion and alternative style. I am no expert and I'm still learning, but if you are also interested in learning with me, you can refer to this resource list or join the Alternative Fashion Lovers for Sustainability Facebook group.

What do you think makes an individual fashionable?

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