Sustainable Advice

At AFORE AFTER, we want to help people understand the complexities of sustainable fashion. We believe a holistic approach to clothing value is needed. To simplify this, we’ve adopted the motto, “care, rewear, swap, repair, resell, donate, recycle.”

Be more considered in your clothing choices and take good care of them by following gentle washing and wearing practices.

Value your clothing and rewear them often.

Add newness to your closet by swapping well cared for items between friends and family.

Clothing is sometimes fragile but it responds well to mending.

If you’ve got a good quality item that you no longer want, resell it for someone else to value.

If you’ve got a good quality item that you no longer want, and you’re in a position to offer its value to someone else, donate it to a clothing charity.

Recycle If a clothing item is worn out and unwearable, don’t donate it, recycle it. If you can’t find another use for its materials, we hope you can seek out a service that will reuse them.

The AFORE AFTER 3-Step Guide to Sustainable Shopping

Disclaimer: we cannot shop our way to a sustainable future!
However, if you need to make a new purchase, here are 3 helpful tips.

1. Shop your closet.

Before you make a new purchase, try one last time with what you have, because the most sustainable clothing is already in your closet. If you can breathe new life into something you already own, with fresh styling or a little upcycling, it’s a win-win.

2. Shop preowned.

If what you need can’t be found in your closet, then next we suggest that you try to find what you’re looking for in resale and second-hand marketplaces. This can mean being able to afford a high quality item that’s typically sold new at a price outside your budget, or finding a really special vintage piece that might even be one-of-a-kind.

3. Shop new responsibly.

Let’s suppose that, after giving steps 1 and 2 thoughtful consideration, you’ve decided you’re ready to purchase something new. The easiest advice is to invest in quality over quantity and support small brands who behave more responsibly than big businesses. But even still, and because fashion is unregulated, you’ll need to do a little homework before resting assured that you’re making a sustainable purchase. Consider the following:

• Garment Choice and Size - Can you see yourself wearing this new item over and over again? Do you love and value it enough to mend and repair it if needed in the future? Think about how it will work with other items in your closet and will it enable more wear of what you already have? Check the sizing carefully and measure yourself to avoid disappointment and the waste caused by returns.
• Garment Make and Materials - Is it well made and good quality? Read the care and content labels. Opt for 100% naturally derived fabrics (such as Lyocell, Linen, Organic Cotton) as much as possible because these are biodegradable. Avoid blended fabrics and all synthetics (even recycled) because these live on our planet for hundreds of years (unless harmfully incinerated) and contribute to synthetic microfibers in our waters.
• Business Ethics and Practices - What are the brand's sustainability commitments and do they validate them? Beware of vague and misleading promises. Do they sell new items often, which could mean they’re producing excessively? Are all of their items sustainable or just some? If this is difficult to tell, that’s a red flag. Do they clearly state where they manufacture? Are they transparent about their supply chain and the people who work in it? If you can’t be sure, contact them and ask.

Shopping sustainably is not straightforward or easy and will require research. If taken seriously, it will take time but this further helps you avoid impulse buying and wasteful purchasing, which is a good thing!