Did you know the United States alone produces 11 million tons of textile waste a year? Or that it takes over 700 gallons of water to make a single cotton shirt? That’s enough water to fill 10 bathtubs! Waste in the fashion industry can often be overlooked when it comes to environmental issues. That’s probably because we either don’t know about the impact clothing has on the environment, or we assume there are bigger environmental issues than what we pick up off the shelves of our favorite clothing store. But when we learn how to shop for more eco-friendly clothing, we contribute to preventing one of the world’s leading forms of waste — textile overproduction. So, do you want to take part in the movement toward eco-friendly, or sustainable, shopping? Find out below.

What Is Sustainable Clothing?

Sustainable shopping is another word for eco-friendly shopping. It refers to buying clothes that are produced in a socially responsible manner. This means ditching fast-fashion companies like Forever 21, Zara, H&M and others that churn out clothing as fast as they can to get them into stores. Instead, do some research on sustainable clothing stores and brands that are dedicated to using less water, energy and waste, and instead are using recycled materials and other eco-friendly processes.

How Can I Shop for More Eco-Friendly Mens & Women’s Clothing?

Here are some quick tips on how you can contribute to the move to eco-friendly clothing:

Avoid clothing made with synthetic fibers.

Polyester is a common fabric used in the fashion industry because it is favored by manufacturers as a cheap alternative to natural fabrics. Polyester is a plastic-like fabric produced by excessive amounts of coal, oil, and water. If you do purchase polyester products, try looking for polyester that is made from recycled materials like plastic water bottles or fishing nets. Here are some more environmentally friendly fabrics to keep your eye out for:

• Organic cotton
• Hemp
• Bamboo
• Lyocell
• Linen

Do a Clothing Swap With Friends

If you have friends with similar fashion sense, suggest having a clothing swap with things they don’t wear anymore, or just for a fun, temporary closet refresh. Buying less new clothing may seem like a small gesture towards being more environmentally friendly, but if everyone started making more of an effort to stop buying new, the demand for new clothing production would go significantly down.

Donate or Consign Your Unwanted Clothing

When you start to realize you haven’t worn an item of clothing for a long time, you’ve grown out of it or you simply aren’t in love with it anymore, consider consignment or donation. Per year, the average American throws away around 82 pounds of textile waste. As sad as that is, here’s some good news: Secondhand stores can resell up to 75% of unwanted clothing items. And if you’re looking to make a few bucks, consignment stores offer you money back for gently used clothing or designer items.

There are so many more great reasons to consign — read about them here.

Shop at Consignment Stores

Much like doing a clothing swap with friends, shopping at consignment stores is a great way to recycle existing garments. Secondhand clothing not only saves you money but also helps slow excess clothing production. Consignment stores are a great example of sustainable clothing stores because of this. You’ll also get to shop unique styles and it’s less likely you’ll run into someone on the street wearing the same thing as you!

Turn Style Offers Eco-Friendly Men’s & Women’s Clothing!

You can participate in sustainable fashion by shopping at your local Turn Style. Find your nearest location or read our guide on the sustainability of denim for additional tips on how to be more sustainable with clothes.