5 Sustainable Tips for Decora Fashion

 

 

At a glance, the bold and busy aesthetic of decora fashion can seem in direct conflict with the values of sustainable fashion and minimalism. I’m here to state that this doesn’t have to be the case. It’s easy to feel excluded by movements that voice the value of simplicity if you or your style appear to be anything but simple, but I’m here to show you how you can marry decora fashion with sustainability and minimalism, so that you can enjoy the benefits of all three! In this article I will give you practical advice that has worked for me to help you engage with this awesome style in a way that has a reduced impact on people and the planet.

 

Disclaimer: These tips are intended to be implemented with other, more general, sustainable fashion advice, and they will not help you achieve a completely sustainable, waste-free decora lifestyle. Many of the items used in the examples also do not come from sustainable origin. This list focuses on incremental change and using what I already had prior to beginning my sustainable fashion journey. Please do not assume anything is sustainable or secondhand unless it is stated otherwise.

 

 

These aren't reusable craft gems but they were given to me by someone who had no use for them. Secondhand, unused stickers are rare but they're still more sustainable than buying brand new.

1. Use craft gems instead of stickers.

One of the best ways to be sustainable is to find reusable replacements for single use items, and that includes the stickers we often put on our faces. This is why I recommend using craft gems like the stars in the example picture. They’re easy to apply and remove with some eyelash glue, and you can always rely on them looking great each time you use them. Alternatively, instead of craft gems, you can also try using novelty beads or fabric flowers or miniature bows but I’m not entirely sure how easy it would be to remove the eyelash glue, or if it leaves any marks behind. As a bonus tip for this tip though, if you want to add some extra sparkle to your looks, you should definitely research biodegradable glitter. It can be pricey, but it’s worth saving the planet for, and you can show all your decora-loving peers that your sparkly make-up looks can be achieved with minimal impact on the environment. 

 

 

2. Repeat outfits, but accessorise them in vastly different ways.

We live in a world that glorifies consuming more than you need, and the decora community is especially prone to this bug due to the style being characterised by its crowded aesthetic. I won’t delve into the arguments of why overconsumption of clothing is problematic here, but you should know that even if you wear decora often, you really don’t need a large wardrobe to always churn out new and exciting looks. This is because a decora outfit is made by its accessories, so you could wear the same outfit over and over, but if you’re accessorising it in different ways, no one is going to notice or care. All anyone is going to care about is that you’re wearing an awesome OTT look that makes you feel so so amazing and cool! I love how decora can make the same items look so different. I have some of my own examples as pictured, but if you want to learn from the pros, look at Junnyan! Just scroll through his Instagram and count how many times you notice the same item in an outfit. rainbow jumper, chunky orange sneakers, pink kilt, fluffy leg warmers, monster hats, rainbow cloud cardigan, and the list could go on. Junnyan proves just how easy and exciting it is to repeat the same items over and over again in decora fashion.

 

 

Bows from Sweet Tea Eclectics.

3. Support local accessory crafters.

I know that especially for those of you who are starting out, it can be tempting to hit your local Claire’s or Cosmetics Plus to load up on cheap accessories, but I implore you to explore your local small business options first. Not only can you be sure that locally made accessories were constructed ethically (at least in the final stage of production), but it’s also a great way to get to know your local alternative fashion community. A local crafter will treasure your patronage far more than any large corporation ever will. There’s also the issue of fast fashion companies taking over niche fashion cultures by watering it down for a mainstream audience, copying smaller brands’ designs, and/or making it difficult for smaller brands to compete. When you think about it though, what does a fast fashion company offer that a small business hasn’t done better, other than convenience? Are the pieces well-made with love and care? Are the designs as beautiful and cute? Can you connect a real person to them? Decora is a relatively small subculture, so support small creators. They are what help the subculture thrive.

 

 

Only the denim vest, pink cardigan, rainbow top, rainbow skirt, sprinkles dress, and rainbow shoes are secondhand.

4. Shop at secondhand markets.

Not everyone can afford brands like 6%DOKIDOKI and while ACDC RAG seems like the perfect alternative, I don’t plan on purchasing from either brand until they tell us more about their supply chains. This isn’t even mentioning the environmental shipping cost of an order from Japan travelling to your front door (assuming that you aren’t living in Japan, that is). Wait, then how can you have cheap, local, and sustainable clothing that works for decora? Well, aside from the obvious suggestion that is thrifting/op shops, my favourite place to find cute and colourful clothes for kawaii fashion is secondhand markets. My favourite by far is my Brisbane’s Suitcase Rummage events, where secondhand sellers, vintage vendors, and crafty creators all come together with suitcases stuffed with goodies. Here are some of my favourite finds that I love using in decora! (Pictured above.)

• Onomatapya skirt

• Hot pink cardigan

• Purple denim jacket

If you happen to live in a remote area where your options are limited, my next best option would be the Depop app where I was able to find the following gems, though not all of them were from within my own country.

• LO rainbow top

• Rainbow shoes

• Chrissa Sparkles dress 

 

The small heart beads used to attach the larger hearts to the hook before I removed them.

5. Learn basic jewellery-making techniques.

Whether you’re wearing or storing a lot of accessories together, your accessories are going to break at some point. A chain snaps, or slips of a jump ring. Maybe a bow needs to be re-glued onto a hairlip, or a broach to its pin. Maybe you’re a little tired of these accessories, and are tempted to get more that are similar to what you already own. Whatever the reason, you should learn how to make and/or repair jewellery. All you’ll need most of the time is a pair of pliers, some spare parts, and some strong glue. That’s it, that’s your kit. Did the pendant fall off your favourite necklace? You can fix it in under a minute. Don’t want the necklace anymore, but you still like the charm? Get the glue and a ring base from the jewellery making store. Repairing what you love or transforming something you used to love into something new is a great way to save money and the environment by keeping your easily fixable items from landfill.

Decora is one of those styles that can sometimes seem anti-minimalism or anti-sustainability at a glance, but my goal for this post is to show how decora and other styles can benefit from these revolutionary ideas. Like I’ve discussed before, there are many sustainable aspects of alternative fashion, but also many aspects that hold alternative fashion back. By following tips like these and continuously improving, we can create a better fashion future for our fashion subcultures.  

Enjoyed this article? You might also enjoy '5 Reasons Why Alternative Fashion IS Sustainable'.

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Question of the Week: What are some of your favourite sustainable fashion tips specific to alternative fashion?