Sustainable Shopping on a College Student's Budget. Is it Possible?
As a rising junior in college, I walk the fine line between trying to save the money I earn and also pay for my college education. Yet simultaneously I end up blowing it all on any cute clothes I find.
During the first quarantine in March of 2020, I discovered Shein. Tops, bottoms, bikinis, accessories all for as low as $5 and usually the highest between $20 to $30. I thought I had found the answer to all my prayers. I knew realistically that the clothing wouldn’t be the greatest quality because of how cheap they were, but if that meant I could buy clothes at a super low price that were cute, then I could work around that. What I didn’t know at the time was how devastating an impact it had on the environment.
Shein represents the worst of fast fashion which is the “mass production of cheap, poor quality, and disposable clothes” and it has a huge impact on the environment because of the carbon emissions it produces. To put it in perspective in how gigantic the fashion industry is, it is “responsible for 10% of global CO2 emissions,” which is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. It’s important to understand how big of an environmental footprint it leaves due to how clothing production requires a considerable amount of energy and resources. Fast fashion clothing also uses toxic dyes and other chemicals that are harmful to freshwater.
So this is the important question then. Is it possible to shop sustainably with a low budget or is thrifting your only option? I set out to find if there were any stores, either online or in-person that were sustainable or ethical in the material they used and weren’t incredibly expensive.
It all depends on your own personal budget and how much you are willing to spend on clothing items. Many sustainable and ethical clothing brands are typically $50 and over. If you are looking for clothes that are along the prices of fast fashion, you’re better off thrifting. Below are some brands that I found that have a low impact on the environment and are the most affordable I could find.
This company is dedicated to growing their own organic cotton, which saves vast amounts of water and uses no toxic chemicals. They are Fair Trade certified which means they provide safe working conditions for their employees from their local communities. They also focus on thoughtful packaging by choosing materials to minimize their packaging lifecycle footprint. These super soft clothing are made to last you year-round and would make great staple pieces in anyone’s wardrobe.
Pact sells clothing apparel for women, men, kids, and babies. Depending on your price range and what you’re looking for, their prices are as low as $20 for basic tees to $90 for certain dresses.
Boody specializes in “everyday basics to relaxed essentials all crafted from bamboo viscose” designed to last you a while and make you feel good. Their apparel, ranging from athleisure, lounge wear, tops, accessories, to a variety of underwear, are all made from eco-friendly materials and sustainable manufacturing.
Also depending on what you are getting, the price ranges from $16 to $75. However, something I noticed that set Boody apart from others was their “bundle and save” tab which allows you to combine favorites and save up to 30%. You can choose from a variety of different bundles and pick up to three different items for each one and save you 20% to 30% off.
With every product that is purchased from Happy Earth, they give back to make sure they are having a positive impact on the environment. You can choose which campaign to support when you purchase from them. Campaigns range from combating climate change, planting trees, or cleaning up trash.
If you’re looking for apparel with some fun designs at an affordable price that also allows you to give back, then Happy Earth is the place for you. There is a whole range of apparel to a variety of accessories that range from $15-$25 for t-shirts and long sleeves, $75 for sweatshirts and outerwear (now around $50 because of their sale!) and $18 to $40 for accessories like puzzles, blankets, and hats. They also have a variety of collections such as Forest, Ocean, Animals, Adventure, and others that are all themed clothes. There are even Bundles to invest in such as Bundle of the Month and Mystery Bundle. For me, this is one of my favorites because of the fun designs on the shirts and the fact that you can also give back to the environment when you make a purchase.
Much of the sustainable and affordable websites I could find are dedicated to making simple and basic pieces that never go out of style. If you’re looking for clothes with more of a fun or bold pattern and also looking to save money, then I recommend thrifting as the next best option.
The answer is this: it all depends on your budget and how you want to invest in your wardrobe. What I’ve concluded is that as hard as it may be, your best option is to either thrift or to invest in staple pieces (think solid color tanks, basic tees, a pair or two of jeans) and then find a couple of funky pieces (think layers, such as some fun jackets, buttoned shirts, different pants) and finish it off with two to three pair of shoes (a pair of sneakers, boots like Doc Martens, heels, or whatever fits your style). Invest in accessories. They will add more flare to any of your outfits. Then go ahead and mix and match. We have to rethink our wardrobe and invest in quality over quantity. That means buying fewer and more expensive items that are sustainable and therefore will last you a long time.
Not only should you invest in quality products over quantity, also consider following ethical fashion blogs which can also give you some more ideas on creating a sustainable wardrobe. Following these blogs will also lead you to giveaways, discount codes, and other special offers these bloggers can let you in on. Some bloggers include The Honest Consumer, Sustainably-Chic, and Eco Warrior Princess. Also consider buying off-season! Buy your thick and bulky sweaters and coats in March because they are usually cheaper and you can look forward to wearing them next year.
I also think a problem with fashion in our society is that it’s almost taboo or frowned upon to re-wear outfits. This is something that I struggle with, because for some reason, it’s ingrained in me to always want to wear a different outfit each day. Not only is this obviously unrealistic, but also bad for my wallet and the environment, especially if I'm buying pieces for my wardrobe that I only will wear a couple of times.
So is it possible to shop sustainably on a low budget? Yes and no. It’s time for us to slowly start making the change from shopping more to shopping smarter. And although I love buying clothes to my heart's content at very low prices, it’s important to recognize the impact I am making on the environment. Even just being aware of your own personal wardrobe and how you can begin to make small steps to help the environment can have a huge impact on the planet now and in the future.
