Feel the Fabric: Here’s Why Sustainable Fashion Is the Self-Care You Need in 2022

Sustainability has become a buzzword in the clothing industry as the world slowly but surely transitions into a kinder relationship with the earth. That’s great news, as what you wear can have a major impact on your emotional wellbeing. With sustainable fashion, you can practice self-care every time you get dressed!

There’s no denying it. The global fashion industry has long been overdue for a revamp, on its way to contributing 49% of all carbon emissions by 2030.

The environmental impact of fast fashion is devastating on the planet, as well as cruel and exploitative towards the millions of underpaid workers that fuel it. Bearing this in mind, there are already plenty of great reasons to invest in sustainable fashion.

It significantly reduces your carbon footprint and separates you from the (both literally and figuratively) toxic system that’s been around for so many decades.

But did you know that there are a huge number of benefits from investing in slow, sustainable fashion that transcends social and environmental factors?

Buying sustainably produced clothing can have numerous mental, emotional, and physical benefits that amplify your self-care routine and help you feel better about yourself from head to toe.

What Defines Sustainable Fashion?

Sustainable fashion is an approach to clothing development and production that takes into account the entire life cycle of a garment.

From pattern to product, sustainable fashion is all about finding fabrics that work with the planet rather than against it, and stitching clothes in a way that is respectful and fair towards those creating them.

Sustainable fashion looks at the long-term effects of garment production and distribution, choosing a path that reflects foresight, innovation, and equality—towards people, animals, and the environment that we all share together.

Sustainable fashion is not about exclusively neutral coloured fabrics, prestigious high-end fashion houses, or free tote bags either. It’s about paving the way forward for a healthier relationship with the planet and the people who live on it. Not just now, but in the foreseeable future.

Evidently, there are many compelling reasons to invest in sustainable, ethically produced fashion.

Now that we know the practical benefits, let’s look through some of the ways that buying sustainably can radicalise your self-care routine and promote a healthier relationship with yourself.

Your clothes will last longer

Timelessly stylish clothing is a wonderful gift to experience. There’s something extremely sad about having to let go of a favourite pair of leggings because the stitching is coming undone and the elasticity has faded. But with sustainable fashion, you don’t have to worry as much about impermanence.

Having a wardrobe filled with clothes that you know fit, look, and feel exactly right for your body can make a huge difference to how confident and good you feel. Sustainable fashion is a treat that withstands the test of time!

Spend less money on clothes

When the clothes you buy are of high quality, the need to buy regularly disappears. And we all know what happens when you buy less frequently—that’s right, savings!

Everyone can benefit from saving a bit of money each month from clothes you would’ve felt inclined to buy. Sustainable fashion is the perfect outlet for when you are ready to spend.

Fast fashion may seem cheap initially. But the quality is often so poor that you’ll be buying the same product 10 times over before you finally make the switch to sustainability. Self-care is about spending wisely so that you have money for more important things.

Support yourself by supporting others

There are plenty of studies that suggest we can benefit psychologically, emotionally, and mentally from showing kindness to others. Even though self-care focuses on the individual experience, it’s important not to forget that supporting the people around us has a knock-on effect that everyone benefits from.

The factory workers employed by fast fashion brands are more often than not exploited and abused. And they’re deprived of basic needs such as sufficient wages, safe working environments, and appropriate hours.

Supporting the sustainable fashion industry can mean supporting much more ethically-sound businesses that care about the people they employ, providing fair wages, comfortable working environments and fair labour contracts.

By supporting sustainable fashion, you are not just supporting yourself. You’re fueling an ethical industry that aims to treat people, animals, and the environment with fairness. What better act of self-care could there be?

Improved general and skin health

Not many people know this, but the fabrics you wear on your body can have a powerful effect on general health, especially your skin.

Fast fashion brands often turn to cheap, synthetic fabrics such as acrylic, polyester and acetate. All of which can trigger skin rashes or irritation. The processing treatment used on a fabric called rayon is even capable of causing wearers to suffer from headaches, vomiting, nausea, and chest pain. Yikes!

Sustainable fashion, on the other hand, typically utilises natural fibers to create clothing that’s good for the environment while being completely safe for your skin. This means you can confidently do all those yoga poses that promote flexibility without worrying about how your leggings or top may affect your health.

Celebrate a more unique style

Another way to celebrate self-care through the investment in sustainable clothing is the unique style it can encourage you to cultivate. In addition to buying slow, ethically produced garments, thrifting and second-hand shopping both play significant roles in the ethos behind sustainable fashion.

When you shop at your local thrift stores or do a fun clothing swap with friends, you expose yourself to a whole new range of garments you might never have seen in a fast fashion brand.

Many of the sustainable fashion brands available also do what they can to design original clothing that allows you to look and feel your best all of the time. Style and self-care? Yes, please!

Promote Peace Of Mind

The bottom line of how buying sustainably produced fashion contributes to self-care is the peace of mind it brings. Knowing that you have actively stepped out of the toxic system that is fast fashion can help you to feel like you are making a positive impact in the world.

Whether you want to invest in sustainable fashion for the environment, for the animals, for the people or simply just for yourself—we support it!

What are you doing to support sustainability?