WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE AND HOW TO GET STARTED
Sometimes I see all of these descriptions and I understand why people are slow to start their ethical style journey. I mean, can you even call it an ethical style journey if you aren’t exactly sure what ethical style means? And should you be eco-friendly or a minimalist? A conscious consumer or an ethical consumer?
If you are struggling with this or are confused on what it all means, I get it. This has been a journey for me, and my own definitions, criteria, and priorities have changed quite a bit in the past ten years.
And if your journey hasn’t started because you haven’t found an ethical line that you love as much as your conventional favorites, I GET IT (keep reading, because that is where slow and conscious fashion come in. You can still do your part and shop at your favorite places).
I have heard these words (among others) used interchangeably and also complementary. And if you are new to ethical fashion and conscious consumerism, you might be curious about the differences. You have probably also noticed that what one person calls “ethical” fashion is entirely different than what another person does.
For more on my (ever evolving) definition of ethical fashion, take a look at this post.
First off,
There are no universal definitions to these terms.
And, as you become more familiar with the market, I invite you to define your own terms, especially of ethical fashion, to fit your values. For example, I don’t consider vegan leather necessarily ethical because much of the time, it is made with PVC, an environmental hazard. I do consider responsibly sourced leather, for example the by product of food production or deadstock, ethical, as long as it also meets my other criteria as well.
There is definitely room for discussion here (and I’d love to hear it!).
Eco-friendly fashion alone is confusing
There are even different definitions of eco-friendly and sustainable fashion. Most people, will use these two words interchangeably, but by definition, they are not the same.
More on eco-friendly and sustainable fashion in a coming, probably over the top nerdy, post, but for now, something is sustainable if the amount of energy and materials used are equal to or less than the amount of energy and materials that the earth can produce and discard. Organic cotton is usually NOT sustainable, most consumer goods are not, even while being eco-friendly.
Eco-friendly is simply a concern for the environment, with an effort to do as little harm as possible. Most consumer goods aren’t entirely environmentally impact free (just bringing them to a store or your home has an impact). Eco-friendly items can include natural textiles (like linen, cotton, and tencel) as opposed to polyester and other synthetics, water-conserving practices, recycling programs, reduced packaging, and a more streamlined distribution process.
I try to use the word eco-friendly, but sometimes slip up and say sustainable.
A note on “green”: Green has been, in my opinion, overused, and is often used to describe something that is neither eco-friendly or sustainable, but has one or two organic or clean ingredients. To me, “green” is almost always green washing. Especially in the beauty industry. I will stay away from describing anything as green. And when I see “green” on a label, I will dig a little deeper.
When it comes to eco-friendly fashion, there are so many questions. Is local better than organic? Depends. What about bamboo? I’ve heard it’s sustainable but also hard on the environment (both. Yep. it’s both. How can it be both? As I mentioned, I will hopefully get to that post soon).
Yeah, it’s a lot. And super confusing.
While ethical fashion is often specifically concerned with the people producing it, as in fair wages, clean and safe working conditions, and general respect for the workers, it often does not include the environment. But to me, the environment is an ethical issue. So, for the purpose of Future:Standard, when I use the term “ethical fashion,” I am talking about an item that was made with concern for the people making it and the planet.
In our Big List of Ethical Fashion, I do include brands that don’t meet this criteria completely because I do value their contribution to this space. I think putting the rights and dignity of employees is important, so I want to highlight those brands as well. Most of the time, I will not include them in my brand write ups. For example, I value the fair trade movement, but if something is fair trade, and is not eco-friendly, I will usually not include it in a writeup.
Ethical fashion also sometimes includes “philanthropic fashion,” often seen in buy one give one plans or in lines that give a charitable donation for purchases. I do not consider philanthropic fashion ethical fashion. I value its contributions, but if it does not meet the other criteria of ethical fashion, it is not included on F:S.
Slow fashion is a little bit better defined. Slow fashion refers to buying clothing and accessories that are high quality and seasonless so that you are able to wear them for years to come, repair them as necessary, and love them until they no longer are able to serve their purpose. Slow fashion does not necessarily consider the environment or the people in its production, but by making high quality, seasonless clothing designed to withstand time and wear, it is by nature as eco-friendly.
Within the slow fashion world, you will hear terms like artisan-made, traditional practices, and seasonless.
It seems like minimalism is having its moment right now. From fashion and lifestyle bloggers to financial and spiritual bloggers, we all seem to be embracing minimalism right this minute. So, what is minimalism? It is basically a paring down of things (think Mari Kondo) to the necessary and loved pieces. And despite what you might see on Pinterest or minimalist blogs, you do not need to limit yourself to neutrals or simple silhouettes. No, you can be a minimalist in any way that suits your style. And do you need to be a minimalist to be an ethical stylist? No way. But, you do need to be a conscious shopper.
The goal of minimalism is to reduce the time, effort, and energy (and therefore environmental impact) on the care of our things as well as an overall reduction in our consumption, which is good.
But, is a completely conventional yet minimal wardrobe better than an over the top second hand wardrobe? Absolutely not. It all depends on your taste, your lifestyle, and your values.
Conscious action is defined as deliberate or intentional. And that is exactly what conscious fashion is, making fashion choices deliberately and intentionally. And I like to think of this intentionality as the first step to ethical fashion. By simply being thoughtful about your purchases, being aware of the impact your purchase makes, and acting in an intentional way, you are making a difference in your wardrobe, to the environment, and to the people making your clothing.
There are nuances between thoughtful and conscious, but I will use both interchangeably here (at least for now). Both include awareness and evaluation of individual purchase, and consider not just the utility of the purchase itself, but the impact it has on the world.
Shopping consciously leads you to learning more about your clothing, make thoughtful choices, and align your values with your purchases.
And this is where buying your favorite conventional brands comes in. If you are thoughtful and aware of your decision, and purchase something that you intend to love and care for, as well as wear many times, it can be an ethical purchase. If you buy one of something conventional, rather than many ethical options, that is a much more eco-friendly way. Being thoughtful and aware of your purchases and their impact is the first step in the ethical journey. And a big first step.
If this is something that resonates with you, please stick around, ask questions, and learn with us. Join us on Pinterest for more ethical style ideas and info, and join the conversation.
And for more on a ethical style, take a look at my posts on What is Ethical Fashion?, Purposeful Dressing, and Getting Started with Ethical Beauty.
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