Fashion Revolution Week: My Personal Journey in Sustainability

Starting to live more sustainably can be pretty daunting, but also really exciting. 

Regardless of where you are in your journey, I’d like to share where I’ve come from and where I hope to go!

Without further ado, here’s a little introduction to my journey in sustainable fashion and sustainability in general, because to be completely honest it’s all intertwined. 

To start I’m gonna throw it way back to my childhood. I grew up in a household that loved to DIY, compost, garden, reuse fabric, shop organically, shop at farmers markets, use natural/holistic remedies. The whole nine yards. So, some level of sustainability (intentionally or not) was ingrained into my upbringing, and I’m forever grateful for that. My mom taught me to sew when I was around 7 years old, maybe earlier. She always encouraged me to make things myself, especially when it came to giving gifts. I detested this at the time, but looking back I’m glad she pushed the value of handmade, heartfelt things. This also obviously started my interest in studying fashion design. 

Fast forward to middle school and high-school. I loved to shop at your typical teen fast fashion shops. Pacsun, Forever 21, Hollister, H&M and Brandy Melville were among my most frequented stores. I used to watch Bethany Mota and other Youtubers do “clothing hauls” and I’d be jealous of how much they were able to purchase. I thought they were so cool and I desperately wanted to be them and own that excessive amount of clothing. My mom always talked some sense into me and encouraged me to appreciate what I have. I had to shop with my own money so I never went on huge splurges. 

In spite of all this and being the typical teenager just desperately wanting to fit in and be “cool”, I remember having these nagging thoughts when I’d go shopping in Forever 21 and see their rack of 1.99 Tanks or other obscenely cheap products. A little voice in the back of my mind would ask how the fuck are these clothes so cheap, and how on earth does Forever 21 actually profit.

And then I went to college. 

I began my freshman year as a fashion design student, eager to learn as much as possible and ready to create cool stuff. One rainy day I decided to watch The True Cost. I can’t remember what made me decide to watch it, but I’m so glad I did. After I finished the film I was shook to my core. I knew that something had always seemed off about the cheap cost of trendy fashion, but I didn’t process how fucked up the industry was until that moment. That nagging voice in my head was right. I vowed to myself that from there on out I would do everything in my power (and budget) to be a more conscious consumer and try my best to support brands that support their workers. 

After learning about how the industry exploits garment workers, it wasn’t long till I learned about the toll that it takes on the environment as well, which then leads into wanting to live a sustainable lifestyle as a whole. 

Over the course of the three years since I stopped shopping fast fashion (disclaimer: I have shopped at Asos and Brandy Melville a couple of times. Stopping cold turkey is easier said than done, but I've weaned myself off those kinds of stores.). I started to thrift more, and pay really good attention to the fiber content of my clothes. I found an app that helps me to understand brand's values, so I can shop according to my own and feel confident with where I’m spending my hard earned money. I also began to get really interested in minimalism which really played a roll in helping me to understand the value of what I already own, and curb the feeling of needing to shop. Over those three years I learned so much about the industry and sustainability as a whole.

Fast forward to today, I’m 2 weeks away from graduating college. I’m just as passionate about sustainability (if not more). While the past three and half years have obviously not been as perfect as I wish, it’s the conscious effort that matters most. 

The most important thing I've learned is that sustainability is a journey, not an end destination. You don’t wake up one day and say, “Wow! Now I am sustainable!” Sustainability isn’t something you master. A sustainable lifestyle is a constant effort to make better decisions that work for you and the external factors that affect your life personally.  There’s always something new and some way that you can improve. And it’s exciting! I get so hyped when I discover a new brand, a new textile, a new app or new article. 

Everyday I make a conscious effort to be more informed and to inform others (hopefully without sounding condescending), to share brands that are doing good and to be content with what I already own. 

Changing the industry to be more sustainable and respectful is a long and arduous process but it's 100% possible. Consumers have the ability to drive demand and as sustainable products become more normal, they will also become more accessible. Something I have to remind myself constantly is to not hold contempt for brands and companies that still have a long way to go, but push them as a consumer to want to meet my demands for a more sustainable industry and as designer to help drive that change. 

As I go about living my life, I seek out ways I can slowly incorporate sustainable practice into new parts of my life. It’s a never ending journey of being more mindful and intentional. Of caring deeply about our planet and the people on it. Of appreciating experiences rather than just material objects. 

I hope learning a little about my personal journey helped you on your journey (even just a smidge). Keep checking in with me here or on instagram to stay inspired, and witness some of my journey!

Till next time, 

Aleksandra