Back to basics

Imagine a world where you can wander into any clothing store to shop and know right away exactly how your purchases will affect the environment, workers, and animals alike. You could browse through the collections with a light heart, knowing that a lucky find would benefit people and the planet instead of harming them. This is the ultimate goal that drives the ethical and sustainable fashion movement.

We all know this is a utopian scenario, but the industry is making significant progress. Initiatives like Good On You exist to help you find out which brands behave like our ideal clothing store and which ones don’t.

Ready to learn about ethical and sustainable fashion and why you should join the cause? Then read on.

What is sustainable fashion?

Sustainable fashion builds on the concept of sustainable development, which the UN defined in 1987 as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

The intended meaning of the term “sustainable fashion” is often noble. When campaigners and experts use it (and related terms like ethical fashion, green fashion, and eco fashion), they’re advocating for a fashion industry that manages its environmental impacts within planetary boundaries and ensures the wellbeing of people and other animals throughout the supply chain. In this view, meaningful sustainability requires a fundamental shift away from the business models that drive overproduction, overconsumption, waste, worker exploitation, and the climate emergency. Many experts will use terms like degrowth and the circular economy to describe the systemic changes needed to achieve a more sustainable fashion industry.

But due to its vagueness and the perceived lack of progress towards these goals, sustainable fashion is a term that many designers, activists, and policymakers now have mixed feelings about.

In recent years, terms like “sustainable” and “ethical” have been frequently co-opted in greenwashing and corporate sustainability spin. When the brands that are responsible for the majority of fashion’s overproduction, environmental impacts, and worker exploitation claim to be sustainable, the term begins to lose its meaning. And while a brand can be “more sustainable” and consumers can make “more sustainable choices”, the current reality is that no brand or choice is fully sustainable. This means the term is often limited and loses its potency.

A brand can be 'more sustainable' and consumers can make 'more sustainable choices', the current reality is that no brand or choice is fully sustainable. This means the term is often limited and loses its potency.

To combat greenwashing, policymakers everywhere, from New York to the European Union, are working on legislating how a brand can use these terms in their marketing, leading to a rise in alternative ways of describing the initial goals behind the term itself.

For example, The New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman has argued the term “sustainable fashion” is itself an oxymoron: “‘Sustainable,’ after all, implies ‘able to continue over a period of time,’ […] ‘Fashion,’ on the other hand, implies change over time. To reconcile the two is impossible.” Friedman has resolved to use the term “responsible fashion” instead. More and more, retailers and brands are gravitating toward other labels like “conscious fashion” with similar intentions.

And what about ethical fashion?

… for most purposes, it’s exactly the same thing. Ethical and sustainable fashion are often used interchangeably. For some, ethical fashion focuses more on the social impact of the fashion industry and what is “morally right”.

Ethical fashion goes beyond your local labour laws and covers a wide range of issues such as living wages, working conditions, animal welfare, and vegan fashion.

Ethical fashion tends to call out everything from living wages and healthy working conditions to animal welfare and vegan fashion—but ignoring the ethical dimensions of catastrophic environmental challenges, like the impact of climate change or the destruction of freshwater sources on humans and animals wouldn't really make sense!

But ignoring the ethical dimensions of catastrophic environmental challenges like the impact of climate change or the destruction of freshwater sources on humans and animals wouldn’t really make sense.

How Good On You helps you build a more sustainable wardrobe

Good On You is the most comprehensive and widely trusted brand ratings system for fashion. Millions of consumers rely on our transparent sustainability data and robust ratings to make better shopping choices and drive industry change.

We’ve done the research and spoken to the experts, the campaigners, and the brands to develop simple yet comprehensive ratings for how each label impacts the three key areas of people, planet, and animals. We score each brand on these issues and give an overall rating from “We Avoid” and “Not Good Enough”, through “It’s a Start”, to “Good” and “Great”—search your favourite brands over on our directory or in the app. For more information on our ratings system and processes, head over to our How We Rate page.

Good On You is here to give you, our users, easy-to-understand information so that you can look good and feel good about the clothes you wear. We also work to change the fashion industry by celebrating the brands that make ethics and sustainability part of their identity.

Now, to those key areas.

Good on the planet

Fashion is a dirty industry. Every day, month, and year, fast fashion industries pollute our air with gigantic CO2 emissions, waste thousands of gallons of our most precious natural resource—water—and infuse our oceans and groundwater with toxic chemicals and microplastics. And, unfortunately, it doesn’t end there. When looking at the environmental destruction by the current fashion industry, we have to take the entire cycle into account—production, consumption, and waste disposal. All of these three stages still look quite devastating when scrutinised. For instance, the United Nations estimates that the fashion industry contributes a massive 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

But not all hope is lost—due to its massive impact on our environment and planet, shifting from fast to slow, making the most of what you already have, prioritising second hand, and supporting better fashion brands can help minimise your carbon footprint.

When it comes to more sustainable fashion brands, pioneers in the industry prioritise the planet in a few ways. They keep the whole cycle of a fashion item in mind, focusing on lower-impact production methods that save resources and energy and waste reduction inspired by the concept of a circular economy.

As we can see, the vast majority of the fashion industry is still contributing to environmental pollution, toxic emissions, and waste production, and thus to the biggest challenge of our generation—climate change. But we always like to look on the bright side—this all means that we, as consumers, can be part of the solution with the simple decision to reduce our consumption. And when we do need new, to buy our clothes from future-oriented, more sustainable, and mindful brands. That’s an empowering thought, right?

Good on people

Speaking of empowering, this should undeniably include our fellow humans, as well. Unfortunately, incredibly long supply chains, dangerous working conditions, and more than insufficient wages currently make life needlessly challenging for most people producing the clothes we wear. Yet, without their work, we would be lost. More ethical brands are aware of this fact and treat the people involved in the production process of their collections accordingly—as partners.

Good On You values and supports brands focussed on fair and transparent management that give you an insight into their entire supply chain and even introduce those contributing to the final piece you can buy from them. Many more ethical brands are trying to pave the way for transparent and fair supply chains on a global scale, making sure that every person involved in the production process of fashion is treated with respect, paid accordingly to their workforce, and gets to work in a safe environment.

Moreover, fair labour conditions is a highly feminist matter. As the campaign Labour Behind The Label reveals, the majority of the millions of garment workers worldwide are women. Fair labour conditions are also a matter of children’s rights, given that a significant part of illegal child labour takes place in domains of the fashion industry, such as the production of conventional cotton. As a consumer, you can actively look out for brands accredited by Fairtrade that fight to eradicate the worst forms of child labour.

Good on animals

In the past few years, a whole host of fashion brands have heeded the call from animal lovers and gone fur-free. But there are other things to look for when considering animal welfare in the fashion industry, which is sadly still rife with animal cruelty. This is why Good On You has an eye on animal welfare as one of the three key components when rating a brand. We identify the use of fur, angora, down feather, shearling, karakul, and exotic animal skin and hair for our animal ratings. We also consider if wool has been produced using “mulesing” and whether and how the brand uses leather. The ethical impacts of a lot of these animal materials are at once obvious and overlooked, and an essential part of our mission is highlighting brands that are doing right by the sentient beings we share our home with and calling out the ones that aren’t.

Thankfully, many innovative businesses share our concern for animal welfare and the environmental impact of animal products in the fashion industry. Vegan brands lead the way by introducing cruelty-free and lower-impact materials that can compete with leather. They prove that dressing in style without wearing exotic animal skin or hair is not only possible but easy and fun—the way fashion should be.

Don’t mistake everyday animal products such as leather to be mere by-products of other industries, either. As long as they are in high demand, animals will continue to suffer for the fleeting pleasure of a woollen coat or leather bag. And if you don’t feel ready to completely switch to vegan materials yet, switch to second hand in the meantime. It’s not only far more ethical but also more sustainable as the products will tend to last you much longer. And why should any living creature continue to suffer for our favourite outfits?

Good on you

Ethical fashion brands are already doing an unbelievable job paving the way for a more humane industry in which everyone looks out for each other, on eye level. However, they can’t do it alone…

… they need you to discover the power within you that is your choice of buying from some brands and turning others down. Or your choice to buy less and reuse and repair, or re- and upcycle instead. You can help to raise awareness of customers’ power in demanding this sustainable and fair transition of the industry and its mechanisms.

The best part is that there will be more and more positive outcomes and effects of seeing the rise and success of better fashion brands. Often, they simultaneously support many other critical topics. They fight stereotypes, stigma, and prejudice across society. They choose to stand in against racism and support and promote diversity of all kinds instead. They choose to celebrate women—all of them. They think of the future instead of living in the past. And they want to shape it in a way that everyone, everywhere, can lead a life in dignity and full of opportunities, taking care of the planet we live on and the beings we share it with—looking fabulous all the way, of course.

The sustainable fashion movement is driven by conscious choices being made when clothes shopping, with questioning and boycotting fast fashion, and by choosing the purchase you know you can feel good about.

With joint forces, we can combat mindless consumerism and fast fashion and the destructive impact they have on our communities, our planet, and all the creatures living on it.

And now you know about the way ethical fashion choices can create good, or at least avoid some of the harm caused by our clothing purchases, you’re probably wondering how to find the clothes that meet your needs and values. Of course, the first step is only to buy what you need—Good On You firmly supports “Reduce, Rewear, Recycle, Repair, Resell”, as well as buying second hand. But when you do need to shop, why not support the more ethical brands working to change this industry for the better?

See also

• What Is Fast Fashion?
• What Is Slow Fashion?
• How to Find Sustainable Fashion Brands
• Ethical Taste on a Fast Fashion Budget
• Starting Simply: A Guide to Sustainable Basics
• Capsule Wardrobes: How to Build a Sustainable Closet for Life

The post What Is Ethical and Sustainable Fashion? appeared first on Good On You.

Sustainable fashion books you might want to add to your reading list

To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World? – Lucy Siegle

With Lucy Siegle being an ethical columnist at The Guardian and a passionate journalist on environmental topics, it’s no surprise that one of the most straightforward pieces of literature on this list comes from her pen. To Die For aims to shed light on the reality of workers in countries such as Bangladesh, Cambodia, and Uzbekistan, who are still struggling every day under the pressure of the fast fashion industry. Based on dense and intense research and fieldwork, this book will make you want to have a deep look into your wardrobe—moral dilemma intended.

Want more? Enjoy some of her work for the Guardian here or follow her around on Instagram.

How to Break Up With Fast Fashion – Lauren Bravo

London-based journalist Lauren Bravo strives to make issues of sustainability and ethics accessible to a mainstream, fashion-loving audience. In her book, she tells the story of her search for a slower, saner way of dressing, and helps you do the same. How To Break Up With Fast Fashion will help you to change your mindset, fall back in love with your wardrobe, and embrace more sustainable ways of shopping.

You can read Bravo’s article on traceability for Good On You, and follow her on Twitter or Instagram.

Consumed: The Need for Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism – Aja Barber

Aja Barber is a writer and sustainable and ethical fashion consultant. She does an incredible job of educating people on race, ethics, intersectional feminism and how systems of power affect our buying habits. Consumed is a call to action for consumers everywhere, that asks us to look at how and why we buy what we buy, how it’s created, who it benefits, and how we can solve the problems created by a wasteful system.

You can follow Aja on Instagram or subscribe to her Patreon.

Unraveled: The Life and Death of a Garment – Maxine Bédat

Denim production can have serious social and environmental consequences. From high water usage, sludge-ridden rivers, and serious labour concerns, denim costs can be pretty hefty. In Unraveled, entrepreneur, researcher, and advocate Maxine Bédat follows the life of a pair of jeans, from the Texan cotton farm all the way to the sewing floors in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, before ending up in the Amazon warehouse where the jeans will ship out from.

The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet – Leah Thomas

Written by Leah Thomas, a 2022 TIME100 Next honouree and the activist who coined the term “Intersectional Environmentalism,” The Intersectional Environmentalist is a call to action and a guide that examines the inextricable link between environmentalism, racism, and privilege, and promotes awareness of the fundamental truth that we cannot save the planet without uplifting the voices of its people, especially those most often unheard.

Follow Leah over on Instagram to keep up with her fantastic work.

How Veganism Can Save Us – Emma Hakansson

Can veganism really save us? Founder of the non-profit Collective Fashion Justice, Emma Hakansson, says yes. Emma has made it her mission to spread the word about collective liberation in the fashion industry—mainly focusing on the rights of non-human animals. Hakansson’s new book How Veganism Can Save Us takes a wide-angle look at the world of veganism—a growing movement that both abstains from animal products across food, fashion, and entertainment, and rejects the commodity status of animals.

Read Emma’s interview with Good On You, check out her articles, and follow her on Instagram.

It’s Not That Radical (Preorder) – Mikaela Loach

Activist Mikaela Loach broke up with fast fashion several years ago. Since first learning about the industry’s harms by watching “The True Cost” documentary, she’s earned a reputation for speaking out about the big brands’ lack of urgency to address their impacts on people and the planet. But that’s only where her activism begins. A medical student based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Loach is one of the most prolific young voices in the broader fight for climate justice. In her first book coming in April 2023, It’s Not That Radical, Mikaela Loach offers a fresh and radical perspective for real climate action that could drastically change the world as we know it for the benefit of us all.

You can read Mikaela’s Q&A and follow her on Instagram.

Made On Earth – Wolfgang Korn

How exactly does a piece of clothing end up hanging in your wardrobe? How far did it travel, whose hands were fabricating it, whose lives did it touch? This is not only a book on the inner workings of the fast fashion industry but also on the role globalisation is playing in the industry’s mechanisms. Wolfgang Korn, a German journalist and author, uncovers some hard facts that everyone should know. Made On Earth is an honest piece of literature tackling important topics well worth exploring.

Wardrobe Crisis – Clare Press

A list of ethical fashion books wouldn’t be complete without Clare Press. Press is a podcaster, author, consultant, and speaker working in the sustainable fashion space. Her book Wardrobe Crisis: How We Went From Sunday Best to Fast Fashion was named one of the best books of 2016 and is an eye-opening look at the state of the fashion industry—it should be compulsory reading for anyone interested in fashion. Diving deep into the history and ethics behind what we wear, Press puts her insider knowledge to good use, and we highly recommend taking a look.

Check out her other book we love, and follow Clare on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Loved Clothes Last – Orsola de Castro

Loved Clothes Last is the ultimate guide from Fashion Revolution activist Orsola de Castro on how to love, mend, and repair your clothes in the fight against fast fashion. Learn simple tips and tricks to help you breathe new life into your wardrobe and fall back in love with the clothes you already own—the most sustainable thing you can do with your fashion choices.

Follow her over on Instagram to keep up with her fantastic work, and check out Fashion Revolution while you’re there.

The Conscious Closet – Elizabeth L. Cline

Journalist, fashionista, and clothing resale expert Elizabeth L. Cline’s book The Conscious Closet: The Revolutionary Guide to Looking Good While Doing Good is a definitive guide to building an ethical, sustainable wardrobe you’ll love. This book is full of valuable tools you’ll need to revolutionise your relationship with fashion, but it’s also a call to action to transform one of the most polluting industries on earth into a force for good.

Keep up to date with her over on her Instagram.

This is a Good Guide – Marieke Eyskoot

To put it simply, this is a good guide for a sustainable lifestyle (as the title suggests). Author Marieke Eyskoot is a sustainable fashion and lifestyle expert, speaker, and presenter. Her book is full of practical and positive tips that make your transition to green living fun and easy. What more could you ask for?

Follow her over on Instagram for more helpful sustainability content.

Stitched Up: The Anti-Capitalist Book of Fashion – Tansy E. Hoskins

As a freelance journalist writing about labour rights and the fashion industry in The Guardian and Al Jazeera, Tansy Hoskins’ work has taken her to places like Bangladesh, Morocco, and the domestic Topshop warehouses. Her book explores consumerism and how phenomena such as ‘size zero’ toxify the relationship with our bodies and the planet. Moving between Karl Lagerfeld and Karl Marx, Hoskins reveals fundamental answers to some of the most urgent questions on fast fashion and capitalism. Reading this will not only educate you on the urge for sustainable and ecological decisions regarding fashion but also on body positivity and the use of clothing to resist.

By the way, her Twitter content is just as impressive: @TansyHoskins.

A Life Less Throwaway: The Lost Art of Buying for Life – Tara Button

Instead of surrounding ourselves with throwaway stuff and appliances with built-in obsolescence, Button advocates a life that celebrates what lasts, what is classic, and what really suits a person. Check this one out to discover the ten steps to master mindful curation, which will see you leading a happier and healthier life that saves the planet, too.

Button is the founder of the minimalist eco webshop Buy Me Once.

Naked Fashion and Slow Fashion – Safia Minney

People Tree is one of Good On You’s ‘Great’ brands, so it comes as no surprise that one of its founders and former CEO, Safia Minney, happens to be the author of two excellent ethical fashion books on the workings of sustainable fashion brands. We love that she is tackling the critical topic of the consumers’ power to support sustainable fashion by making a conscious choice when purchasing new clothing. Just like our ambassador Emma Watson put it: “As consumers, we have so much power to change the world just by being careful with what we buy.” What we love even more is that Minney is not only sharing her knowledge on the topic but also concrete ideas. She gives insight into the workings and concepts of eco-friendly stores in her second book Slow Fashion.

If that is still not enough for you, follow her on Twitter @safiaminney for even more inspirational content.

Wear No Evil – Greta Eagan

Looking good while doing good? Of course it’s possible. Just like we are trying to make your shopping easier by rating as many brands as we can, Greta Eagan shows you how to navigate both fashion and ethics. The makeup artist and beauty professional underlines that personal style and sense of self are far from being incompatible with an ecological approach to fashion. Quite the contrary, Eagan argues that style and sustainability can live in harmony—a statement we couldn’t agree with more. Get your hands on this empowering book and learn about more progressive and ecological answers to the age-old question: “What should I wear today?”

If you would like to hear more from Greta Eagan, have a look at her website. 

Hungry for more? Check out our article on inspirational podcasts, or have a look at our list of must-watch documentaries

The post 17 Must-Read Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Books appeared first on Good On You.

Fast fashion exploits garment workers

Many of us have seen media coverage of the shocking incidents in fast fashion factories over the years. Most notably, the collapse of Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh, in April 2013 had a ripple effect and marked a worldwide wake-up call. It sparked questions: How can these huge and wealthy fashion companies let their garment workers endure such unsafe work environments? Why do staggering numbers of mainly women and girls continue to suffer poor working conditions, wages, and treatment in these factories? And whose responsibility is it to fix?

The suffering of garment workers usually boils down to one thing: money. Fast fashion retailers are motivated by how much profit they can turn, and by paying so little in wages, not only is the profit margin increased, the workers are also trapped in a cycle of poverty. Remake said it best: “In short, I hate the question—Aren’t sweatshop jobs better than no jobs? Because we owe the makers of our clothes and our planet more than that.”

Read on to discover why so many women land in these jobs, whether boycotting is the way to go, and what else we can do to support the transition to a just fashion system for all.

Outsourced production

It should come as no surprise that fast fashion companies are highly profit-oriented and that a quick turnaround time from concept to customer is built into the business. But did you know it’s not unusual for them to have 52 fashion seasons a year?

This means fast fashion brands are constantly looking for ways to produce tremendous amounts of clothing with the least possible effort and expense. They mostly turn to so-called ‘low- and middle-income countries’ like Bangladesh and Vietnam, where it is much easier to neglect minimum wage and work security. In fact, according to the Oxfam Report “What She Makes”, 99-100% of fast fashion workers in countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam work for less than a living wage.

By outsourcing their production, these giant, often Western companies can make huge profits by denying their garment workers on the other side of the world the most basic human rights.

The gender wage gap

There are millions of garment workers globally, and the majority of them are women and girls.

Many don’t have much choice when it comes to taking these jobs, which then often trap them in cycles of poverty. Women garment workers are frequently systematically excluded from and discriminated against in many types of work. Take agriculture, for example: Although it is the primary working sector for women in many recently industrialised countries, it remains male-dominated. UN Women states that:

Women farmers have significantly less access to, control over, and ownership of land and other productive assets compared to their male counterparts.

Also, when contemplating why so many women and girls work in the fast fashion industry, the unpaid care-work many do every day of the year must be considered. Taking care of children, grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning are just a few of the tasks women around the globe, especially in impoverished countries, are never paid for. But these tasks dominate the daily life of millions of women and girls. Due to unpaid care-work, women are also much less likely to organise themselves in unions to fight collectively against insufficient payment and work security, as they tend to have much less after-work time than men.

Fast fashion companies are often well aware of these facts. They know that flexible contracts as garment workers represent one of the few possibilities for women to make an economic contribution to the family. So they provide these jobs, and the cycle continues.

The cycle of the female fast fashion workforce

Working in a fast fashion factory is seldom a good job. Beyond rarely ensuring a living wage, fast fashion factories fail to provide countless other crucial things: Safe working conditions and a harassment-free work environment, for instance.

But instead of ensuring these fundamental rights for their female workers, the fast fashion industry takes advantage of women’s already unequal position in society. Women are also paid significantly less than men for the same work and are more likely to engage in unprotected work, often owing to their lower education levels in developing nations.

The truth is, fast fashion factories remain one of the most significant sectors exploiting women and girls. As a result, female fast fashion workers do not possess a financial safety net to search for labour elsewhere. It also tends to be very hard for women and girls in impoverished nations to change jobs because other professions such as housemaids or mine workers often hold an equally high or even higher probability of dangerous working conditions and harassment.

This reality leads to millions of women being stuck in unsafe jobs and forces many of them to bring in their daughters as fast fashion workers as well to provide more than one salary for the family. Hence the cycle of oppression and exploitation comes full circle—and the fast fashion industry ensures it goes on and on.

Making changes in the industry

Huge fast fashion companies are responsible for perpetuating these human rights abuses. But we also have the power to use our choices and advocacy to push for justice for women and girls working in garment factories.

While election day might not be around the corner for all of us, election day in the fashion industry is every single day of the year. As consumers, it is also our responsibility to look out and stand up for the people who produce our clothes. Systemic change and supply and demand are intricately linked, so we all need to do our part.

A word on boycotting

Boycotting is one step many take when they learn of the atrocious impacts of fast fashion. But it may not be the simple answer we wish it were. As reiterated by sustainable fashion advocate Nada Elbarshoumi:

For many women living in poverty-stricken countries, a job in the textile industry is the best of a bad situation.

That means we need to make sure our advocacy extends beyond simply boycotting. On a planet with less than a decade to avoid the worst of the climate emergency, we need to drastically shift our consumption to one that looks after the people who make our clothes, the environment we all rely on, and the animals who share it with us.

The latest progress

Since the signing of The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh by hundreds of apparel corporations in response to Rana Plaza in 2013, “more than 38,000 inspections have been carried out…and nearly 200 factories have lost their contracts owing to poor safety standards.” And while the original agreement is due to expire at the end of August, campaigners have recently hailed a renewed agreement, valid until October 2023, that will be managed by the Ready-Made Garments Sustainability Council (RSC). This new agreement will expand on the first and include things like general health and safety, human rights along supply chains, and extend to include a second country. With the likes of H&M and Inditex set to sign, this shows that our advocacy can lead to meaningful change.

So what can we do?

In the fight for all garment workers to receive a living wage, be treated respectfully at their workplace, and not suffer from harassment and sexual abuse, we all need to advocate for their rights daily in whatever way we can. Only then can the fashion industry become an environment that empowers and enables women to thrive instead of exploiting them.

Spread the word

Raising awareness with as many people as you can is a great first step. Even by doing something as simple as encouraging them to check out pages like Fashion Revolution, Clean Clothes—and yes, Good On You—and sharing your favourite sustainable fashion influencers, you are planting seeds. These organisations and people work to hold fast fashion retailers accountable and call for an overhaul of working conditions and wages through their activism.

Donate when you can

If and when you can, donate to emergency relief funds and ongoing charities. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, billions of dollars worth of orders were cancelled by fashion brands, leaving factories and workers high and dry. Funds were set up in response, and the crucial money raised, while a temporary solution for a long term problem, provided immediate help to those who need it most.

Support brands supporting workers

Another simple way to fight back is to support ethical brands leading the charge and advocating for female fast fashion workers. When the fast fashion industry sees the consumer turning towards brands slowing fashion down and producing mindfully, they will have to realise it’s time to step up or get left behind.

Here are some of our favourite ethical brands who are spearheading the movement and leading by example in all the fantastic work that they do:

The post How Fast Fashion Factories Trap Women and Girls in Poverty (And How We Can Help) appeared first on Good On You.

Movement become mantra

Body positivity is deeply rooted in the fat liberation movement that started in the 1960s. The aim was to begin celebrating fat bodies, especially of women, and thereby smashing the stigma around fatness. The movement, which boldly called attention to the medical industry’s fatphobia, was largely driven by exceptional organising from feminist and queer groups. Many positive aspects of fair fashion brands endorsing and promoting body positivity are owed to political activists’ work pushing back against the oppression of marginalised groups. Since then, many have rightfully mentioned that #bopo has lost some of its radical nature and nowadays often misses the mark to continue the fight. Rather than simply focusing on fatness vs thinness, the movement ought to include people of all shapes, sizes, genders, colours, and abilities.

Below you can find some of the fair fashion brands inspiring us by celebrating diversity in fashion with consistent representation, not just tokenisation. These brands are leading the charge on body positivity and  inclusivity in fashion.

Brands celebrating diversity

The post Why We Need Radical Body Positivity and Diversity in Fashion and Beyond appeared first on Good On You.

Cotton shirts to makeup removing pads

Have some cotton shirts that you just aren’t wearing anymore? Don’t throw them away! There’s an easy way they can replace single-use cotton pads in your daily beauty routine. Just cut same-sized rounds or squares out of old cotton fabric you find, and sew them together on the outer edges. It doesn’t need to look nice or be precise—as long as the stitching can endure the washing machine. There are tons of easy tutorials to be found online. After use, you can simply pop them into your next load of washing alongside your towels and bed sheets, and use them again and again and…

Old clothes to reusable food wraps

Foil? Plastic wrap? They are so yesterday. Any kind of old clothing can become your partner in crime when it comes to food wrapping and covering up leftovers. All you need is a piece of fabric of the desired size and shape and some produce of our fuzzy little friends, the bees. You can purchase beeswax pastilles or grated beeswax at your local grocery store or pharmacy. You simply melt it in a measuring cup set in a saucepan along with some jojoba oil and pine resin (to give your cloth that customizable texture) at home, and apply the melted mixture evenly on your fabric with a dedicated paint brush. Here is the exact recipe, including a bee-free version for our vegan readers. Simply hang your completed wrap to dry in a cool and dark place before first usage, and then bend it to your liking as you wrap up a sandwich for takeaway or cover yesterday’s veggie lasagna!

Last year’s favourite patterns to cushion covers

Had a crush on polka dots or florals last year that you now wouldn’t be caught dead in? There are some patterns we like to wear, and others we’d rather decorate our living room with. Maybe that applies to an old shirt or jumper you found in the back of your closet! In another great DIY for upcycling clothes, why not turn them into unique cushion covers? Five minute instructions are not hard to find, and come with simple videos on how to turn old clothing into something cute and practical. It would even make a great present, and better yet, zero sewing skills are required.

Stretched t-shirts to headbands

Cute hair accessories are everywhere to be seen at the moment. And if you’re really clever, you don’t even have to purchase them new. There are a lot of different ways to turn worn out fabric into headbands. All you’ll need is an old t-shirt and a small amount of time to transform something you are not loving anymore into something that’s fun to wear again. No downsides!

Any old fabric to reusable tissues and wipes

Let’s face it—once in a while everybody gets sick, and a cold is normally a big waste of tissues. In the kitchen, we use paper towels for small spills and cleaning. Thankfully, it is actually very easy to avoid this wastage. This might be the easiest yet most sustainable way of upcycling clothes: simply transforming an old t-shirt! We use tissues, wipes, and paper towels so often in our daily routine that we tend to not even think about it twice. But with this smart and simple idea, you can make space in your closet and become leagues more sustainable with a simple change to reusable wipes and tissues. Go for it and become a sustainability superstar!

Tees to reusable grocery bags

Upcycle your old tees and turn them into grocery or produce bags for food shopping or harvesting. Why bother buying them in store when they are so easy to make at home? Pop your fruit and veggies in your homemade bags to save money and avoid single-use plastic bags at the same time. Who knows, they might even taste a little better coming out of such ecologically and sustainably made bags.

Clothing swap with friends, family, and neighbours

Last but not least: Sharing is caring! We know, it sounds cheesy, but it’s the simple truth. What you don’t like anymore might be a treasure for someone close to you. So invite friends and family and even your neighbours for a little clothing swap, and let everyone bring what they can spare from their closet. It’s not only a super sustainable tip for upcycling clothes, it’ll also bring a smile to everyone’s faces as sharing, swapping, and exchanging is always loads of fun. And second hand rocks!

These are just a few of the endless ideas you can find out there on how to repurpose and upcycle old clothing. Take these tips as some inspiration, especially if you think that you don’t have the skills, time, or resources to turn your old clothing into something with a new purpose. Always keep in mind that small changes in daily life speak loud, and upcycling the clothing we once loved is a big part of sustainable living.

Author bio: Hannah Lang is an anthropologist working in the non-profit international development sector. She is passionate about intercultural communication, human rights, and policies for a more sustainable and inclusive future. You can find her on LinkedIn.

The post Upcycling Clothes: 7 Creative Ways to Repurpose Your Old Clothes appeared first on Good On You.

Disclaimer: as we only rate fashion brands at present, some of the following companies have not been officially rated by Good On You, so we cannot guarantee their ethics credibility for people, the planet, and animals. However, we want to do our part in reducing the stigma around menstruation and highlight initiatives and products that help so many people around the world, so we encourage you to look into them all the same.

Period Underwear

nat’v basics (Good)

nat’v basics is an Australian eco-friendly underwear label designed for ‘the everyday woman’. Made from recycled and sustainable materials, nat’v basics are designed to be the most comfortable basics you’ll ever wear. No frills or trims or awkward bits—so you can put them on and forget you’re wearing them. We love their seamfree period and leak proof underwear.

ModiBodi (It’s A Start)

ModiBodi encourages you to “find the right flow for your bodi”. As everyone menstruates differently, we love this approach to both an ecological and empowering understanding of your period. Listen to your body and find the right pair for you—for feeling “safe, sassy and sustainable all day“. ModiBodi also has a period-proof swimwear range.

Discover our favourite period underwear brands

Menstrual Cups

Nixit Cup

With the motto “The time for progress is now“, this Canadian brand wants to revolutionise the life of menstruating people with their nixit cup that lasts up to 12 hours (yup, you heard right). Its unique shape makes it easier to insert and remove than other menstrual cups, and it is also registered by the Vegan Society. Try it out and make sure your period is leaving an even smaller footprint on this planet.

Ruby Cup

Speaking of menstrual cups, we couldn’t help but think about another brand making the world a better place with every single sale. Ruby Cup works with the concept ‘Buy One, Give One‘, meaning that with every single cup purchased, you can change someone’s life by making their period safer and healthier. While thinking ecologically, you can also make a huge difference for the sexual health of others around the planet.

Cora Cup

What’s better than a cup that not only helps you but helps others as well? Cora’s menstrual cup is made of medical-grade silicone, comes in two sizes, and provides up to twelve hours of leak protection for your peace of mind. Even better, with every purchase you make, pads and health education are provided to someone in need.

SAALT Soft Cup

The SAALT Soft Cup is made with an ultra-soft silicone formula designed to be both gentle and super comfortable for those with bladder sensitivity, cramping, or discomfort with firmer cups. The brand even offers a duo pack with both sizes for those with a flow or cervix height that varies more throughout your period.

Flex Cup

Transitioning to menstrual cups can be daunting for anyone, but there is often an added challenge for people early on in their menstruation journey or people with limited mobility. We love the Flex Cup that is designed with a patented, disability-friendly pull-tab so it “removes like a tampon”. 100% medical-grade silicone, 100% accessible.

Eco Pads & Tampons

Ohne and Bamboo Babe

You’re not a big fan of menstrual cups and would rather stick to tampons and pads? Everyone should decide on their own menstrual healthcare—and, thankfully, every choice can be eco-friendly nowadays. Brands like Ohne and Bamboo Babe got you covered with 100% organic tampons and pads that are biodegradable and free from the harsh chemicals often found in mainstream options (like bleach, eek). They even offer personal period kits and cramp care, so no wish or need is left unfulfilled.

EcoFemme

You’ve probably heard of cloth nappies, but did you know cloth pads are also popular in the period revolution? EcoFemme creates cute and conscious cloth pads made from organic cotton. This brand empowers young people in India, and has a Pad for Pad program that means every international purchase donates a pad to someone in need.

Brilliant how many eco-friendly alternatives there are to conventional menstrual products, right? Given that almost half of the world’s population is faced with the challenge of a waste-free period, we think this is an incredibly important development. And you—already opting for one of the options above? Happy ecological menstruating.

Author bio: Hannah Lang is an anthropologist working in the non-profit international development sector. She is passionate about intercultural communication, human rights, and policies for a more sustainable and inclusive future. You can find her on LinkedIn.

The post Our Favourite Eco-Friendly Menstrual Products appeared first on Good On You.

Obviously, the name Burberry is known to the trench coat lovers of this world. Fortunately for us, not only did the trench coat establish itself as a timeless and unisex piece of clothing—many more sustainable brands have already joined the trend by offering a striking amount of ethically and ecologically produced trenches that will make you look not only chic but smart… like a sort of fashionable detective.

Sherlock-esque imaginings aside, are you ready to make one of these more sustainable beauties part of your everyday outfit? Then read on!

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