Are you wondering if purchasing sustainable and fair trade clothing for you and your kids is worth it?
There’s a trend going on that’s even more exciting than the return of disco ball fashion. It’s called ethical fashion, and it’s all about doing right by people and the planet. Ethical fashion is an umbrella term for brands that have overall business models that respect people and the planet.
What is fair trade?
When businesses employ practices that respect people, it’s called fair trade. At a minimum, this means paying its production workers and suppliers fair wages, providing safe working conditions, and never employing slave or child labor. Fairtrade brands never prioritize profit over human and workers’ rights.
What is sustainable?
When businesses employ practices that respect the planet, it’s called sustainable. For a brand to be sustainable, it must, at a minimum, employ an overall business model that results in a minimal environmental footprint both in terms of carbon emissions and waste. This means examining the entire lifecycle of a product, from design, sourcing and raw material production, manufacturing, transport and logistics, warehouse and storage, packaging and shipping, marketing and final sale, use, reuse and recycling. Sustainable brands never prioritize profit over environmental impact.
So why buy sustainable and fair trade clothing for you and your entire family? We’ve got 5 compelling reasons for you to consider.
1) Plastic and Toxic Chemicals Don’t Belong On Our Bodies
Did you know that the majority of clothing and textiles are made from plastic? If the tag says “synthetic” then it really just means chemicals and, most likely, made from petroleum. (Think polyester here.) Moreover, you may have noticed tags on your kids’ clothing assuring you they are flame-retardant. Well, that means even more carcinogenic toxins have made their way into your closets. (For more on this, check out: https://annainthehouse.com/baby-clothes-flame-resistant/.)
The good news is that while most fast fashion brands opt for cheap, synthetic materials, most sustainable brands choose natural and organic textiles. If you are already thoughtful about what you put into your kids’ bodies and follow the buying recommendations of the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen Guide, then it only makes sense that you buy organic for you and your family’s clothing as well.
2) There Is No Planet B
Climate change is an immediate crisis. While it, indeed, requires massive systemic change to reverse the effects of global warming and ensure the planet’s ability to sustain human life going forward, our individual choices do matter.
The theory of change in sociodynamics goes like this. Before any new idea or practice is adopted by society at large (like electric cars or plastic-free living), there must first be a critical mass. According to Wikipedia, a critical mass is a “sufficient number of adopters of a new idea, technology or innovation in a social system so that the rate of adoption becomes self-sustaining and creates further growth.” Without critical mass, change won’t happen.
Of course, you don’t have to be a part of the incredible movement calling for positive change. You can just go along with the current status quo until a new status quo emerges. But we all know that the future belongs to those who show up, and our kids’ futures are what is at stake when it comes to doing business (and doing everything) sustainably.
3) Empathy is a Learned Skill
I know it’s a hard truth to hear, but mainstream brands (clothing or otherwise) exploit people and the planet. It’s easy to live our lives disconnected from this reality. We don’t meet the people who make our clothes. We don’t see the places where they live. But we are inextricably linked. What fast fashion brands do to the air and soil and water anywhere eventually has an impact on all of us, everywhere. And what they do to their workers, including paying them poverty wages and employing child and slave labor, affects the well-being of communities all around the world.
We all want our children to be kind humans who care about others. Having this ability is called empathy, and it is a skill that is acquired through modeling and practice. When adults model ethical consumer behaviors consistently, children grow up to have a better understanding of how humans are all connected and how our choices can have a positive impact on others.
4) Overconsumption is Bad for the Planet and Your Wallet
Fast fashion has one goal, and one goal only. To spend as little as possible while enticing you to spend, spend, spend. Ethical brands are different. They are often called slow fashion brands because they produce smaller batches, less frequently. They encourage their consumers to reflect before buying. To ask: Will I really wear it? Will I use it at least 30 times? Does it fit me well? Will I take care of it?
When we slow down and make thoughtful choices, we consume less. And consuming less isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for our financial well-being, too. Just think of what you will do with all that money you save! You can travel (more sustainably, of course), save up for something really special, have an amazing adventure with someone you love, and even give more away to causes that you care about.
5) LOVE is ALWAYS the Answer!
Our motto at People Heart Planet is: Love People. Love the Planet. Shop Fair Trade and Sustainable. We mean this from the bottom of our hearts. Our motivation for buying from fair trade and sustainable brands is love.
There are a lot of hard decisions in life. Buying fair trade and sustainable clothing is not one of them. It is an act of loving kindness to support brands that respect people and the planet, and one thing we know for sure is that love is always the right answer.
Changing our consumer behaviors can be hard when we’re first starting out. At People Heart Planet, we’re trying to make it easier to buy fair trade and sustainable clothing, accessories, shoes, bags, and home goods by offering an online shopping platform that puts thousands of options all in one place. As a start-up, we’re adding new brands and products each week, so be sure to check back often, and write to us if you have any feedback about what we can do to make your ethical consumer journey easier and more fun!
This blog is contributed by Deven Nelson, Co-Founder of People Heart Planet
Deven Nelson is one of the Co-Founders of the ethical shopping platform People Heart Planet. Her background in political organizing, issue-based advocacy, non-profit fundraising and management, and social work has given her opportunities to work with political refugees, environmental advocates, college campus organizers, faith-based neighborhood changemakers, and elected officials. All of the people and lessons she learned along the way are what motivates her to do her small part to be an agent for good in this world.
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