One of the most common complaints when it comes to ethical fashion is the price. Unfortunately, high street brands are built on cheap labour and hazardous factory working conditions, which is why they can charge so little, as Lucy Siegle succinctly put it:

Change your shopping habits
Have a look at how much you’re already spending on fashion. I had a complete shock when I sat down with all my bank statements and added up all the money I had spent on clothes in one year. A little here and there really adds up, and seeing it as one big, ugly sum really brings the message home. Instead of splitting that sum on many fast fashion pieces, you could probably afford a few higher quality pieces. To really break the habit, I suggest a spending ban (one/two months should do it) and every time you think you have nothing to wear, pop a fiver in a jar and see how much you have to spend at the end of it.

Find the affordable brands
Sustainable fashion is occasionally featured in fashion magazines but it’s usually the luxury brands, and normal people don't have the cash for that. Without physical shops on the high street it can be difficult to figure out where to start looking. Luckily there are plenty of ethical fashion directories, like mine, to get you started.

Shop the sales
Sales are brilliant for a bargain (as we all know), the trouble is keeping your eye on the prize and not be distracted by that one cute top. To combat this, I keep a track of the pieces I’m lusting after during a season (I split them into summer and winter), then if I still want them by the time the sales roll around and they’re not too trend-focused, I’ll try and nab them. With season sales now happening earlier and earlier, you'll probably still have time to wear them straight away. Similarly – check to see if brands host sample sales, these are really great for budget pieces but are a total lucky dip for availability.

Shop smart
I never check-out without checking for a discount code first. Some brands run regular discounts so I’ll pop the things I want on my wish list and wait for the next one. Often signing up to a newsletter gets you a discount for your first purchase, these are all little things that add up. There are websites out there that compile coupons and deals, such as Ethos Deal who specialise in coupons for ethical brands.

Second-hand and vintage
To me, second-hand is the best source of clothing. It doesn’t require new resources, it's cheap, and it saves a piece of clothing from landfill. However, second-hand isn’t going to change the face of the fashion industry and it currently thrives on the back of our over-consumption of new clothing. For now though, it’s a fantastic option to get quality clothing for very little. If there aren’t any good charity shops in your area, try Depop, eBay, or online vintage boutiques.

Take care of your clothes
When clothes are cheap it can mean that we don’t treat them with as much care and respect as our more expensive clothes. Imagine if we all treated our clothes are well as people treat their designer handbags! Washing clothes less often and with more care will mean they stay nicer for longer. There are plenty of small changes that you can make that will help.

Some time ago I'd promised myself to stop buying things that were in a state of disrepair. I wanted to spend less money on clothes so I was buying fewer and better pieces, and damaged goods just didn't fit into the picture. But when this jacket first caught my eye in the bargain basement of the Fara charity shop in Pimlico I knew I wanted it. I tried it on and the list of imperfections was long: men's sizing meant it was roomy on the shoulders and snug at the waist, there were mystery paint stains on one side, the elastic on the cuffs was falling apart; it was a hot mess! Despite it's flaws I eventually decided to buy it and I don't regret it.

Despite being somewhat of an impulse purchase this bomber has ended being an integral part of my wardrobe, my go-to casual jacket. I like that it's not too fussy, I like that it has huge pockets so I don't have to carry a bag. It's imperfections give it character and give me permission to not be so precious about it, to relax because one more little mark won't make a difference. Wearing this jacket doesn't stresses me less than my nicer clothes do, I focus less on what I'm wearing and more on what I'm doing and who I'm with. It's like a weight has been lifted.

In a sense this is all be a metaphor for my changing life philosophy. 2016 was a wild ride of a year (and not the good kind) so I'm learning to let go and not to let the little things bother me as much. I'm still anxious and a bit of a stick-in-the-mud but I'm learning to embrace it, it's just who I am.

This outfit is:
Organic	Second hand	Handmade

This outfit is:
Organic	Second hand	Handmade