Own a Wardrobe Must-Have in a Sustainable Fashion
Jeans are considered a staple in everyone’s wardrobe. As the world continues to progress the dialogue on sustainability in fashion, our opinion towards this topic remains largely unchanged. Whether you are shopping for a pair of jeans at fast fashion outlets such as H&M and Zara, or mid-level luxury labels such as Calvin Klein and 7 For All Mankind, or luxury labels such as Balenciaga and Bottega Veneta, it is important for us to:
- Be conscious when it comes to making the decision to buy a new pair
- Care for our garments after we purchase them so they last more than a year
- Consider upcycling or recycling when the pair reaches the end of its product lifecycle
A point we want to make is that canceling fast fashion is not the only way to make fashion sustainable. As consumers, we should also bear the responsibility too. We should learn to become conscious consumers and make conscious decisions. Pointing fingers at retailers such as H&M and Zara will not solve the problem. After all, all retailers operate on a supply-demand model. It is a basic economic principle.
Making Conscious Decision to Shop
We acknowledge that not everyone receives a big fat pay cheque every fortnight and every month, so we encourage readers and consumers to be smart with their money. If you have gone through your wardrobe and realised that your existing pairs do not fit anymore or have reached the end of their lifecycle, then you can consider replacing them with one brand-new pair. As you browse through the Internet for options, consider buying a pair of blue jeans that is classic and a versatile style that you can easily pull off year round, whether it is the weekend or at work. You can also consider supporting businesses such as RE/DONE which upcycles old jeans into gives them a new life.
Caring for Your Garments
To ensure your pair of jeans last as long as it can, make sure you follow the instructions provided such as washing with cold water. Jeans are incredibly durable and they do not need to be washed after every wear. I love wearing jeans in cooler weather because they are easy to pull off and easy to care for. By eliminating the need to wash them after every wear, we can be saving our precious water sources and water bills. The extra money saved could easily go towards your weekly grocery bills, your next retail therapy, or your preferred charity.
Considering Upcycling or Recycling
When your pair of jeans has reached the end of its lifecycle (whether it does not fit you anymore or wear and tear), consider donating it to your local charity (if there are no wear and tear) or giving it back to retailers such as H&M and Zara. I have been giving my old garments to H&M for the past few years, so H&M can upcycle or recycle the garments. In this way, we can reduce the need to source raw materials to manufacture a new pair of jeans – a similar concept to why we recycle papers, so we can avoid chopping down trees in the forest to manufacture new papers.
FABULOUS RED 