Photo by Vlada Karpovich from Pexels

So you’ve broken up with fast fashion, and you’re dedicated to supporting brands that line up with your personal values. But there’s still that nagging question: how do you really know if a brand lines up with your values? With all the greenwashing that happens, it seems like you have to wade through a sea of bullsh*t to find the real deal.

It can be exhausting, time-consuming, and super frustrating to get to the bottom of what a brand stands for when they aren’t practicing transparency. It’s even more frustrating to find out that the brand you purchased from was using buzzwords to catch your attention. 

We’re hoping to save you some of the frustrations we’ve experienced and point you in the right direction to finding details on clothing brands.   

Check out these online resources. Before you get into research mode, someone else might have already done the work for you. If you’re looking for stats on a specific brand, check out these resources first. 

Good On You: Good On You is a go-to guide for finding brand ratings, articles, and expertise on ethical and sustainable fashion. Their rating system makes it easy to find out how ethical and sustainable a brand is.  

DoneGood: DoneGood gathers alternative ethical and sustainable brands into one spot. Titled “The Amazon of Social Good,” they empower their audience to use their purchasing power for good.  

Fashion Revolution: Fashion Revolution encourages you to ask questions and get loud. They provide plenty of resources to kick-start your journey to being a fashion revolutionist. 

 Although these platforms are great tools, they might not have exactly what you’re looking for. Time to get cozy and do some research!

Read the brand’s website. When you’re checking out a clothing brand, go straight to their About page before you fall in love with their adorable designs or fantastic prices.  

What are you looking for?  

• Production details
• Ethics code
• Worker’s rights
• Environmental impact
• Labels and certifications (Fair Trade, GOTS Certified, BlueSign, OEKO-TEX Standard 100, B Corp)

When a brand values ethical and sustainable practices, they talk about it. There are a lot of hoops to jump through to become certified with one of the above certifications. If a brand has gone the extra mile to become certified, they’ll advertise their label with pride. If a brand doesn’t have those certifications but looks promising, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t using ethical and sustainable methods. Don’t give up just yet. Keep digging and see what else you can find. 

Look for clues. A brand’s social media will say a lot about what they value. While you’re creeping their platforms, ask these questions: 

• What do they talk about on social media? 
• What topics do they cover on their blog? 
• What do they post about the most? 
• Where are their clothes made? 
• What are their clothes made from? 
• Are they talking about who makes their clothing? 

The answer to these questions will give you a peak into what the brand values. If they’re using buzzwords (natural, organic, sustainable, environmentally friendly, conscious collection, etc.) but aren’t talking about their process, go straight to the source and see if they’re willing to answer your questions.  

Reach out and ask questions. The more we demand transparency in the fashion industry, the more transparency we’ll see. If you’re not getting the results you’re wanting before you support a brand, send them an email or slide into their DMs. 

Fashion Revolution is a leading voice in this area. They provide free templates to email brands about how they impact the earth and the people behind the scenes. Be sure to check out their website and give their social media a follow. 

There are a lot of people who care about who made their clothes and what their clothes are made of. Our demands for a better planet are being heard and there are plenty of real-deal ethical and sustainable options out there. You’ll find the right fit.

Keep loving yourself, educating yourself, and being gentle on yourself as you grow. Take moments to look back on your fashion journey and see how far you’ve come. Embrace that shameless growth. It looks good on you. (Just like our clothes . . . 😉)

_______  

Jade is a freelance writer and copy editor, living in a sleepy town in Northern Ontario. She loves growing plants, playing with dirt, and staying cozy.