We are all hunting for something comfy and warm that also looks good as the weather gets colder. And it needs to be easy to clean. And durable. And not too expensive. And the fact of the matter is that when we’re looking for something to tick all these boxes, we haven’t always looked too closely at how it was made or where it came from. Now, with more awareness than ever of the need to buy responsible, sustainable fashion, we want to make sure that we’re doing the right thing when we shop. Here are some easy things to look out for when you’re browsing online. 

Research The Company

If you put a little bit of time in reading up on the brand you’re excited about, you should be able to tell pretty quickly whether they’re genuinely invested in sustainable development, or if they’re just tossing buzzwords around in the hopes that you’ll be reassured and click “buy now.” Waste is a huge problem for the fashion industry, and if their description of how their clothes are made and their mission to create long-lasting products is limited to a couple of sentences, then you might want to keep looking as they’re obviously not that proud of it. 

Where Does It Come From?

There’s no right answer to this and no one location you should be looking for. While it’s true that clothes made closer to home may have travelled a shorter distance on a carbon emitting mode of transport, that doesn’t mean that they’re built to last and won’t end up in the trash in a couple of months. What you’re looking for are details. 

In much the same way as you want the company to be open about who they are and what their mission statement is, you want them to be proud of where their clothes come from. If they’re made in a remote country, then you want them to be made responsibly in a way that has a limited impact on the environment and uses traditional methods. The alpaca clothing by Graciela Huam, for example, is made from fibres farmed in Peru by locals with years of experience in ethical alpaca treatment. A detailed description of the process is always a good sign.

What’s It Made From?

One of the easiest ways to tell if an item of clothing has been made sustainably is to take a close look at what went into it. If it’s cotton, check that it’s organic and look up where it has been grown. If it’s made from wool or animal fibre, find out more about the conditions of the animals and the processes used in harvesting the materials. Leather should be at the bottom of your list (along with fur, obviously, although if you’re buying fur we’re assuming you’re not reading an article about sustainable fashion…), and you do need to keep an eye out if a brand is promising clothes made from recycled or vegan materials. 

Some clothes made from recycled materials can actually harm the environment, as they will shed plastic microfibers when washed. Similarly, if a brand is offering a vegan alternative to leather, make sure that the fabrics used are eco-friendly.