When we go on holiday, many of us worry about the clothes we are going to take, whether it will fit in the suitcase and whether they will be weather appropriate. But, as a green consumer, we are also worrying about how sustainable the clothes we are wearing really are. Below are some of our top tips to finding that perfect (and sustainable) outfit to wear on holiday.
Forget fast fashion
Forget fast fashion brands, such as those on the high street. These companies are known to make clothes quickly and not sustainably. Even though they are sold for cheaper prices than more sustainable clothing brands, they are not built to last. Therefore, you are more likely to be spending money again to replace it when you next go on holiday.
When looking for sustainable clothing look for those made from natural fibres such as sustainable cotton. Cotton is a great fabric for holiday clothes as it is light and breathable.
The last thing you need is an outfit breaking on you half-way through your holiday. Clothes from slow fashion brands tend to be much more sustainably made and are made to last. Make sure you shop around and look for the best clothes for you, ones you know you will wear again and again when you go on holiday.
Look for clothes made from recycled materials
Many sustainable clothing brands are beginning to make their clothes from recycled materials. Currently, there are major high street fashion brands that are manufacturing their clothes, such as shorts and vest tops, from recycled plastic. Although this is a great way to recycle our plastic waste, be aware that when washed these can produce micro-plastics that have been found in our water systems.
Try looking for clothes made from recycled cotton, organic linen and Tencel. These materials are known to not contain any plastic and won’t release harmful micro-plastics when washed.
Choose pre-loved clothes
Slow fashion doesn’t just mean looking for a new sustainable brand it also means you can look for a pre-loved outfit. Try charity shops and second-hand clothes shops to find the perfect summer dress or tropical-printed shorts. If you are worried about wearing an outfit a stranger has worn, pop it into the washing machine before you wear it, and it will be as good as new. For hygiene reasons, however, it may be best to buy your swimming costumes, bikinis and trunks new and unused, but make sure you shop sustainably.
Breathe love back into your old clothes
The chances are that you have probably been on holiday before, so you will have bought clothes for when you went on that holiday. There is nothing wrong with wearing the same outfit more than once, and the saying that you can’t wear an outfit twice is a myth. If you feel comfortable in an outfit wear it again. If there is a hole or a stain, the chances are that these can be easily removed or fixed. This will also save you buying any new clothes and will help to lower your carbon footprint.
Swap clothes…
If you are going on a camping holiday and don’t have a warm, waterproof coat, or you are going to the beach, and you can’t find any shorts or a dress to wear and you don’t want to fork out more money than you already have for your costly holiday, try going to a clothes swap. These are get-togethers where people swap the clothes they no longer want with an item of clothing they need. Clothes swaps are great as they will stop any unwanted, but otherwise perfectly wearable, clothing from going to landfill.
…or borrow a friends
If there are no clothes swaps happening near you and you don’t have the time to host your own, ask friends and family members if they have any clothes you can borrow. This also works for non-clothing items such as tents, camping equipment, buckets, spades, and beach towels.
