I haven't posted in over two months, and every time I did post this year it started with something along the lines of "long time no see", but let's skip it this time and go straight to what brought you here: how to transition your fast fashion wardrobe into an ethical one? 

For the past two years I've been a lot more conscious of what I buy, as I mentioned in my last Mindful Fashion post, Becoming Aware of the Problem, I started out by weeding out polyester & co. based fabrics from my purchases, focusing more on "natural" options. But the problem is, I was still consuming things I didn't need, buying on a "want" basis, and worst of all, I was still buying from brands I knew weren't ethical. It's not that I didn't care about what conditions people were working in to make that 2€ t-shirt I was gonna wear twice and then realise I didn't really like, it's that I thought all brands worked the same way and I didn't have any other options. Boy, was I wrong!

First and foremost, I think we all need to be clear on a few terms, I think the media really has made things more confusing than what they need to be, throwing around friendly terms making some people believe they're doing good when they're not, greenwashing is a real thing and it needs to be dealt with, and the best way to do so is by educating ourselves. To truly delve into ethical fashion, it's important to consider and really understand all of these terms, making sure to remember that we're not only thinking of the environmental impact our clothes create, but also remembering the people that make them.

Slow fashion means to deliberately buy better-quality items less often, making environmentally and ethically conscious purchases rather than trend-driven. The idea of slow fashion is getting more and more trendy, but some people forget that not all slow fashion brands are ethical, so please make sure to learn more about the brand before purchasing from them, making sure they aren’t exploiting resources or it’s employees.

• Using what you have is the most sustainable thing you can do, so learn to love what you already own, instead of adding to the ever-growing problem of textile waste try to make the pieces you own last longer, be gentle with them, store them properly, wash them less and if you're ever in the need for something new, maybe try to re-purpose your clothes into something new, like turning a dress into a two-piece outfit;
• Change the way you think, get out of that "fast" mentality, nowadays we need everything right now, not a second later, and that needs to change, we all need to slow down and control how much we consume, learn to let go of the mentality where everything is disposable and actually start to cherish what we have and make it last;
• Buy with the intention to wear, I'm not happy to say that I've bought my fair share of it's-only-2€-so-why-not-t-shirts, which resulted in an immense drawer full of t-shirts I only wear to sleep in. Buy what you need, not what you might need, and then wear it over and over again;
• Not that this is any news, but buying secondhand is a great way to get what you need without using new resources. Even though most secondhand or thrifted items you'll find will have been made by fast fashion companies, by buying secondhand you won't be supporting those companies directly, and in a way you'll be recycling, by giving those clothes a second chance at being worn you're keeping them out of landfills;
• Do your research, the whole ethical and sustainable topic is getting really popular in the mainstream and greenwashing is a real thing to be aware of. Brands will do anything to make you think they're ethical when they're not, a great way to know what's real and what's not is by reading Good on You, which not only has very interesting articles about all things sustainable and ethical fashion, but helps you "discover the very best fashion from around the world and learn everything you need to know about ethical and sustainable fashion.";
• Forget trends. Get out of the vicious circle and buy timeless, well-made and good quality pieces that will last for years and years;
• Set yourself some realistic goals. My first goal was to stop buying clothes made with synthetic fabrics; for my second year I decided to buy most of my clothes secondhand, except underwear and basics such as tank tops that I couldn't find otherwise; as we're going into my third year my new goal is to start making my own pieces when I can, and stop buying from fast fashion, no matter how many "sustainable collections" that brand might come out with. Realistically, I'm not in a financial situation in which I can purchase from ethical fashion brands, but that is something I can work towards, by wearing all my clothes, understanding what I actually need and want in my wardrobe and if I can't find it secondhand, save up to buy it ethically. Your goals might be totally different to mine, but if you set realistic goals to fit your own needs and your life, it will push you to do better.