Generally speaking, ethical shopping means doing whatever we can to buy products that are made without the exploitation of people, animals, or the environment. But this can be a confusing topic to navigate. There are some certifications you can look for, but many of the terms you may see are up for interpretation. We find it helpful to think about value-based shopping in these four general categories:
Sustainable or eco-focused - products are made from natural fibers or organic materials, use or encourage recycled or upcycled clothing, garments are produced in small batches or on demand.
Ethical - this may include B Corp or Fair Trade certified brands, those that feature diverse models in advertising, size inclusivity, female or BIPOC owned businesses, small or local businesses.
Vegan or cruelty-free - products are made with animal-free materials in both production and final item, and/or incorporate the use of synthetic alternatives to animal-based fabrics.
Charitable - a percentage of profits are given back to the local community or to support wider charitable initiatives.
If you are just getting started, don’t try to focus on all of these aspects at once. Just like your style, your values are unique and personal to you. While your focus may be on building a vegan closet, a friend could be more interested in buying handmade clothes from local small businesses. These categories are here to help you identify which values you are most aligned with – and give you a starting point of what to look for.