Welcome to Semi-Sustainable
Trying to keep your wardrobe from setting the planet on fire? Same.
I’ve spent most of my career encouraging people to buy new clothes. You might have bought a jacket that I picked out in my role as an apparel buyer or a dress that I emailed you about as a site merchant. Fall? Time for a new coat (in addition to the new coats you bought every fall for the last five years). Summer? You absolutely need a new wedding guest dress (even though you already have eight dresses for every possible dress code).
For a long time I didn’t fully grasp the impact that the constant churn of new clothes has on the environment. I’d heard about the fashion industry’s role in climate change, but it didn’t penetrate in an era when fast fashion was seen as the great wardrobe democratizer and buying from Zara was an upgrade from Forever 21.
My perspective started to shift 10 years ago for a not-so-sustainable reason: I read about a new website called The RealReal that sold pre-owned luxury goods and was thrilled to find designer clothing at resale prices. It was my gateway into circular fashion and today it's the first place I look when I’m shopping (three times a day when they add new items to be exact).
Then six years ago I attended a panel event hosted by the now sadly shuttered brand Mara Hoffman that truly opened my eyes to fashion’s environmental impact. The team talked about their founder’s decision to transform into a more responsible brand and the extensive supply chain overhaul it required. I started to look more critically at my fashion consumption and slowly back away from fast fashion. This part is still a work in progress, but I think I’ve finally weaned myself off of new Zara.
Two years ago I did in-depth research into sustainable fabric innovations for work and it was my tipping point for understanding how synthetic materials, including my beloved traditional vegan leather, are harming the planet.
Since then, I’ve been making changes little by little to reduce my footprint. As someone who’s primed to buy into trends and has a Pinterest full of fashion inspo, it hasn’t been easy. And I recognize that it’s a privilege to call this a challenge. I’m not fully sustainable because that would mean keeping my consumption close to zero. Instead, I consider myself “semi-sustainable.” I buy most of my clothes secondhand, I’m on year two of five new things (although my number is more like 10), and I wait on most purchases for at least a month to make sure I really want it. I know this won’t solve the climate crisis since there’s so much more that needs to be done beyond fashion (ahem, plastic). But I still want to do my part and align my shopping with my values, even if it’s not perfect.
If you’re also semi-sustainable or interested in downshifting your fashion consumption habits, then this newsletter is for you. Every week, I’ll share how I’ve learned to shop more responsibly, with insights on fabric innovations, tips for navigating resale, and apps that might make you a little more sustainable.
I’d love to hear what tweaks you’re making in your wardrobe, or any topics you’re curious about. Thanks for reading and see you next week!