As the new year gets well underway, your resolutions for 2024 may well include shopping more sustainably, with all of us now well aware of the impact we have on our planet.
But the idea of building a greener wardrobe can be a daunting one.
To make things easier for you, we spoke to Dundee slow fashion designer Kerrie Alexander.
The 34-year-old, who founded her own ethical clothing brand KerriALDO in 2014, shared her top tips for those who want to shop more mindfully.
1) Buy pre-loved clothing
Kerrie says buying pre-loved clothing from charity shops, vintage shops and online platforms such as Depop and Vinted are a great way to build a more sustainable wardrobe.
She said: “I think charity shops are a great place to look for second-hand clothes.
“I always find Broughty Ferry and St Andrews can be a bit better.
“If you are needing something, just take some time to search and seek it out second-hand or pre-loved first, before buying new. Always be looking at that as an option first.”
The mum-of-two even dresses her children, 4, and 8 months, in second-hand clothes.
She said: “I’m happy to buy pre-loved items for my kids and they’re young enough to be happy with that also.
“I’m sure teenagers and stuff might be a little bit more difficult, but I’ve not experienced that myself.”
2) Invest in quality over quantity
Kerrie also believes in buying fewer high-quality items from high-end brands as opposed to lots of pieces from the high street.
She said: “I tend to avoid high street shops in general and buy from higher end stores.
“But it is only affordable to do this because I don’t buy from the high street.
“A high-end item will generally be better quality and last a lot longer.
“It still has a resell value as well, if you decide to sell it in future.
“It has become a lot easier to buy and sell things second-hand than it used to be.”
3) Say goodbye to impulsive buying
Kerrie also suggests that people shop more mindfully in order to avoid impulse purchases.
She said: “Sometimes shopping is quite impulsive and buying items is linked to getting a feel-good rush of endorphins.
“So try to take a step back.
“Sometimes you will find that you don’t want or need that piece of clothing as much as you think you do in that impulsive moment.”
She added: “Some suggest that before buying something new, you consider if you can see yourself wearing it at least 30 times.
“It might seem like a lot, but this is a good way to cut out a lot of the impulse buys.”
4) Repair and alter your clothing
She also suggests that people repair and alter their clothing, instead of replacing it.
Kerrie said: “I personally offer a repair service for my own brand.
“It is always worth encouraging people to look at that.
“Being able to mend your own clothes used to be a household skill but I don’t feel that is as commonplace anymore.
“There’s plenty of repair shops you could go to for a repair or even an alteration, rather than going to buy new.”
5) Change your attitude towards buying clothes
Kerrie also believes that most people can benefit from evaluating their shopping habits to see where they can improve.
This could mean buying from more ethical brands or buying less from the high street.
She said: “Many of my customers can definitely see the value in investing in something that is made to last.
“People can also think about buying less in general, investing in better quality when they can, or even looking for more pre-loved or second-hand clothing.
But she acknowledges that the green way isn’t always the most affordable.
“Obviously with the cost of living crisis, buying more sustainably isn’t always an option.
“Sometimes it isn’t affordable and that’s ok.
“But I think some people probably could ask themselves questions about what they could do differently to make it more affordable.”
6) Support ethical brands
Finally, Kerrie strongly advocates supporting fellow ethical clothing designers in Dundee.
Ethical clothing brands ensure that their workers are paid fairly and work in safe environments.
Many, like KerrieALDO, also use natural fabrics from local producers where possible.
Some of Kerrie’s favourites include Jo-Ami, Hayley Scanlon and Isolated Heroes, which are all online brands based.
However, she admits that Dundee’s high street has a long way to go.
“I think there is a lot of businesses in Dundee doing things sustainably and ethically but I don’t feel like that has completed translated to the high street,” she said.
“I wouldn’t say there is much sustainable offerings on the high street, other than charity shops.”
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