Being conscious is all about mental presence; to be mindful of all that is around us. It is about being present when experiencing something, when making a decision and most importantly, when consuming. Often, we are distracted by work, social media and the fast-paced world around us – such that we absent-mindedly consume. Consume experiences through a camera, consume food excessively rather than gratefully and consume fashion superficially.

Conscious consumption for me is a reminder to stop and enjoy the purchases I make. From taking my time researching each piece to invest in, to wearing it for years to come. Mindfully journeying through our fashion choices not only means we appreciate each buy, but we stop to enjoy it too. Both of which lead to re-wearing items for longer, and replacing them much slower.

Despite technology and globalisation bringing the world together closer and more easily than ever before, the divide between creator and consumer has never been bigger. Creating fashion at the rate we are now for the prices we all want comes at a cost – an ethical one. Accessing clothes made in far away countries and sold on our high streets is effortless, but considering the conditions they were created under is not. And though it is easy to not feel responsible for the brand’s choices of production, it is our responsibility not to fund these choices.

By taking the time to research and understand company practices, from large brands to small boutiques, we can choose to support the vendors practicing ethically and trading fairly. If it involves paying more, we can buy less but be safer in the knowledge that what we have spent goes to ethical practices.

Sustainability is all about creating and consuming at a rate that can be maintained. For planet earth, that means ensuring we do not deplete our finite resources because as the name suggests – they are not infinite. They will run out. Adapting our manufacturing processes to utilise renewable energy sources, along with the prevention of wastage of materials and more, is key to sustainability.

For fashion, it is about considering the ramifications of mass produced clothing at the excessive rate we consume it. The more we buy the more is produced to meet that demand, and the more that is produced the more we replace our clothes – wasting items and throwing them out at a faster rate than ever before in our history. Fashion sustainability for me is about finding my signature style and investing in long term pieces that are created by eco-conscious brands.

Reducing waste by re-using it. When it comes to fashion this can be done a few different ways. More and more brands are turning to recycled materials to create their clothes with; materials which were derived from breaking down waste into raw materials and re-fabricating them into usable textiles. Taking some time to study the manufacturing process of items is an easy way to learn about recycled products and invest in them over less eco-friendly options.

Considerations like buying second hand clothes or repurposing old items is another way to recycle too. For me, I’m not a fan of preloved clothes. Fashion is a luxury for me and I love the feeling of a brand new purchase that’s just for me. My journey to sustainable, signature style is not about changing 100% of my shopping habits, but about doing the 100% that I can within the fashion choices I make.

Transactions between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries are often incredibly unfair. With large corporations having all the power, the prices they pay out may not be enough for producers to afford daily essentials such as food, education and healthcare. Things that I for one take for granted.

By buying from brands practicing fair trade standards, artisans and producers in developing communities can share their talent and skill for fair prices that help them grow their businesses and provide for themselves. Lessening mass production through exporters leads to fair trade directly with the producers. And for me, I find the benefit of buying from fair trade brands results in unique finds that are more special and less generic.

Organic materials, such as cotton, are grown without chemicals or pesticides. Both of which have negative impacts on the environment and biodiversity.

For me, organic cotton feels more luxurious. Perhaps its the knowledge that it is more natural and ‘cleaner’ or simply the feeling that it is more pure. Either way, though it can be more expensive, investing in fewer clothes of higher quality is good for my wardrobe and better for our planet.