How to Make Your Wardrobe More Ethical on a Student Budget

Make your wardrobe sparkle with ethics.

This post is presented in partnership with Modibodi. Student Edge members get 15% off sitewide!

We are all guilty of thinking we need a new outfit for every occasion. But have you ever stopped to think about the impact fashion has on the environment?

While it is probably not the first thing that springs to mind when you spot that big online sale, it’s super important to understand how fashion affects the world around us.

What’s the problem?

Picture this: You’re shopping with your pals and you pass your favourite store for cheap buys. But how have they managed to get new items in so quickly? Well, it’s this thing called fast fashion. Basically, it’s low cost clothing that has been made at a lightning fast pace, in order to keep up with current trends. Given the pressure to reduce cost and time, fast fashion can lead to water pollution, uses toxic chemicals and increases levels of textile waste.

Pads and tampons aren’t so eco-friendly either. Most pads contain polyethylene plastic, which is an environmentally harmful pollutant, and the chemicals in tampons are often released as pollution into groundwater and the air.

While we would all love to ensure our garments are completely eco-friendly, it can be difficult to afford high-quality clothes on a student budget. However, it’s certainly not impossible.

In fact, we’ve put together some suggestions for you to make your wardrobe sparkle with ethics, without breaking your bank.

Trade the fast fashion for one-off spends.

Look inside your wardrobe. How many of those garments do you wear on a regular basis? Let’s face it: there are probably at least three dresses you’ve only worn once. Or maybe there are ten t-shirts about to reach the end of their lifespan. 

Instead of consistently buying low-cost clothes that keep filling up your wardrobe, why not invest in high-quality garments that will go the distance? While this one-off purchase will cost more, quality clothing is usually made with higher-end fabrics that last longer. That means you won’t have to keep buying a new white top every few months.

Invest in environmentally friendly sanitary products.

Of course, your wardrobe also extends to sanitary items. You might be surprised to know that a pad takes 500+ years to break down, and more than 27,938 tampons are collected from the ocean each and every day. That’s a whole lot of stress on the environment.

If you are conscious about building an ethical wardrobe, you could consider investing in eco-friendly sanitary products like RED by Modibodi. Modibodi supplies modern, protective, leak-proof apparel, underwear and swimwear for periods and incontinence. This sustainable leak-proof underwear offers a total replacement to disposable hygiene and can be washed like your regular garments and reused. Furthermore, Modibodi uses high quality natural fabrics that eliminate bacteria, making it completely safe.

Along with being budget friendly, RED by Modibodi also supports causes and organisations committed to the empowerment of young people. So much goodness.

Go thrift shopping.

If you’re on a tight budget, thrift shopping is the perfect way to be both inexpensive and ethical. By opting for secondhand clothes, you are encouraging reusing and recycling. Plus, if there are items in your wardrobe that you have outgrown, you can donate them to your local op shop instead of throwing them away. It’s really a win-win.

Follow ethical brands on social media.

Ethical brands are those that pay close attention to working conditions, fair trade, sustainable production, environmental impact and animal welfare. We know buying from ethical brands can be a tad expensive, but by following them on social media and subscribing to their email lists, you’ll be alerted about those sweet sales.

Take care of what you already have.

It’s an easy tip, and one that won’t cost you anything at all. If you give your clothes the love that they deserve, they’re going to stick around for the long haul. That means you won’t be creating as much waste by throwing out old garments.

Ever put a white shirt in the wash and had it come out a completely different colour? It happens all too often. To properly care for your clothes, make sure you carefully read instructions on labels, so you know how to wash and iron them appropriately. This way, all your clothes will continue to look totally on point.

Student Edge members, get 15% off sitewide at ModiBodi when you spend $65 or more! RED by Modibodi is for better, less messy periods. Undies and swimwear that’s got your back, so you can be adventurous, playful and fun.

Header Image: iStock.com/cokada