how to change the way we consume?

It's a proven fact: fashion is one of the most polluting industries on the planet. But today, ecological awareness is awakening and more and more of us want to buy clothes in a more ethical and responsible way.

What is "fast fashion"?

Each season brings with it its share of fashion trends. To meet consumers' desires for novelty, ready-to-wear brands regularly offer pieces at unbeatable prices. The collections are linked at lightning speed to encourage us to buy more and more: this is the phenomenon of "fast fashion". But by renewing their products at a breakneck pace, the big chains that we know very well in France such as Zara and H&M are actually generating enormous waste. When stocks don't flow, unsold items are thrown away or burned. Besides that, our consumption of clothes continues to increase every year …

Fast fashion, what impact on the planet?

According to figures from ADEME (Environment and Energy Management Agency), 100 billion items of clothing are sold each year around the world. To produce as much and at a lower cost, fast fashion brands exploit workers in the most disadvantaged countries and produce their collections using processes that are extremely polluting for the planet. With 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted each year, more than international flights and maritime traffic combined, the textile industry is now the second most polluting industry in the world after oil. It is also the third water consuming sector, after the cultivation of wheat and rice. 4% of the drinking water available in the world is used to produce our clothes.

How can we change the way we consume?

How to succeed in consuming in a more ethical way when fashion has accustomed us and pushed us for years to renew our wardrobe every season? It must be said that there is something to be tempted! With trendy collections at low prices, we can't help but fall for it. But the problem is, these are not clothes that we keep over time. Most are in fact made with materials at low cost and therefore not very strong and qualitative. Fortunately, ecological consciousness is slowly but surely starting to awaken. More and more brands are evolving by turning to a responsible approach that appeals to consumers.

"It seems that our society is finally keen to take a more mature approach to what and how we consume it. I'm happy to see that more and more people are taking responsibility for the clothes they own. This means that they have started to have an overview, to ask themselves questions about the origin of products, how they are made, their impact on the environment, etc."said Milda Mitkute, founder of Vinted, the online resale specialist for second-hand clothing.

Stop fast fashion: the alternatives

  • Give your clothes a second life with upcycling

Why throw away your clothes when they can have a second life? Recently, the concept of upcycling – or upcycling in the French language – has gained ground and is of increasing interest to French people. This trend, which is simply to make new and beautiful with old, helps bring unused objects and clothes back to life. Result: by recycling the end of stocks and the scraps of fabrics intended to end up in the trash, the fashion industry generates less waste and thus limits its impact on the environment. And contrary to popular belief, recycling does not mean old-fashioned! On the contrary, brands have understood how to turn waste into a trendy creation. With upcycling, all the pieces are unique and that's probably what makes this concept even more interesting.

I believe that the second hand could significantly change fashion

  • Buy used as often as possible

To consume more responsibly and limit their ecological impact, some women decide to stop buying new clothes. Precisely, if you like the idea of ​​perpetuating a garment that already has a history, consider buying second-hand! French women in fact buy less and less clothing for ecological reasons and like to find good opportunities online.

"Today there are ways to consume much more responsibly. The second hand is one of them and could have a huge and positive impact on the fashion industry.", confides Milda Mitkute. It is precisely from this observation that the Vinted platform was born. It goes against the grain of fast-fashion by offering its users to sell, buy, and to exchange second-hand clothes and accessories For those who are passionate about vintage fashion, you can also turn to thrift stores.These shops offer second-hand clothes at very reasonable prices.

  • Switch to clothing rental

For those who wish to reduce their ecological impact or who simply want to stop over-consuming, renting clothes can be a good solution. A wedding planned? A birthday party organized next month? Rather than buying an outfit that you won't necessarily be giving back, rent it! Today, more and more platforms offer this service, for example Un robe un soir, Le Closet or Les Cachotières.

  • Turn to ethical brands

If you want a sustainable wardrobe, we recommend that you avoid compulsive shopping and now think before you buy. Invest for example in quality basics that will survive the years without going out of fashion and without deteriorating. Obviously, favor ethical fashion brands. Generally, these favor production in France and on a small scale. Organic cotton, piñatex, cork leather … They also use organic or recycled materials, which allows consumers not to feel guilty when thinking about the ecological impact of their clothes.

See also: The fashion trends you'll love to wear this fall-winter

Video by Juliette Le Peillet