In a world where fast fashion is the norm, it’s time to take a step back and embrace a more sustainable approach. My daughter’s guide shows how swapping over shopping can keep your wardrobe fresh while minimizing your impact on the planet. From thrifting to supporting local eco-conscious brands, she proves that looking good and doing good can go hand in hand in San Francisco (or wherever you are)!
Cover art by Ceci Guy
Why Does Sustainable Fashion Matter?
Fast fashion is the mass production of trendy, inexpensive clothing designed to be worn for a short time before being replaced. It may seem fun and affordable, but it comes at a big cost for the planet and for the people making the clothes.
The good news? You can still love fashion while making more sustainable choices! By shopping secondhand, swapping clothes, and choosing better brands, you can reduce waste and make a difference.
Fast Fashion Facts from EarthDay.org
- The average person today buys 60 percent more items of clothing than they did 15 years ago, but keep them for only half as long.
- The average garment may be worn as few as ten times before disposal.
- The fashion industry produces over 100 billion garments a year and 87% of these will end up in a landfill or an incinerator with only 1% recycled.
- Textile waste is exported to other countries where landfills smolder and pollute the air.
- Clothing production has doubled since 2000 and with a shifting population and consumption patterns, the fast fashion industry is expected to continue to grow.
- Garment workers are paid poverty wages, in some cases less than a country’s minimum wage, significantly less than a ‘living wage’ and sometimes in ‘slave-like’ conditions.
- The garment industry disproportionately relies on women, and in some regions they represent 80% of the workforce.
- Fashion is one of the most polluting of all industries.
- The vast majority of fast fashion, around 70%, are made of polyester – a cheap synthetic material. This plastic fabric is made from various chemicals derived from oil, a fossil fuel, and a range of plastic toxic chemicals.
- Washing synthetic clothing accounts for 35% of all microplastics in the ocean.
- Up to 40% of fashion’s carbon emissions are from the production of polyester and polyester production is expected to grow by 47% over the next 10 years.
- It takes nearly 3,000 liters of water to make one cotton t-shirt and 3,781 liters of water to make a pair of jeans.
- The apparel industry is responsible for 4% of greenhouse gas emissions.
- Cotton farming heavily depletes and degrades soil. It is called the ‘dirtiest’ crop because it consumes more pesticides than any other crop. These agrochemicals are harmful to farmworkers, nearby populations, fresh water sources and biodiversity.
- Fashion is one of the most polluting of all industries where highly toxic dyes and heavy metals are wholesale dumped into fresh water systems and threaten human populations, ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Each year 150 million trees are razed for cellulosic fabrics and for animal products.
- Most major industries are highly regulated. But the fashion industry, one of the largest manufacturing industries on the planet, is almost entirely unregulated.
Swapping clothes instead of buying new can reduce carbon, waste, and water footprints by up to 70%! (Source: Global Fashion Agenda)
Ways to Be More Sustainable
🌿 1. Shop Secondhand First
Instead of buying brand-new, check thrift stores, resale shops, and buy nothing groups for pre-loved clothes. You’ll save money and help keep clothes out of landfills.
♻️ 2. Host or Join Clothing Swaps
Trading clothes with friends or at organized swaps is a fun way to refresh your wardrobe for free!
👕 3. Take Care of Your Clothes
Washing less, mending tears, air-drying, and following care labels can all help to make clothes last. The longer clothes are kept, the lower their emissions footprint.
🛍️ 4. Choose Quality Over Quantity
Instead of buying lots of cheap, trendy clothes, invest in fewer, better-made pieces that last longer.
❌ 5. Say No to Impulse Buys
Social media makes it easy to feel like we need new clothes all the time to keep up with trends. Ask yourself: Do I really need this? Will I wear it at least 30 times?
✋ 6. Take the #NoNewClothes Pledge
Challenge yourself to buy no new clothes for 90 days (or even a full year!) and explore secondhand fashion instead.
Where to Shop Sustainably in San Francisco
🤝 Buy Nothing Groups
- Free Clothing San Francisco (Facebook group) – Free casual clothing and accessories in San Francisco.
- Fancy Free San Francisco (Facebook group) – Free special occasion clothing and accessories.
- Check with your school or neighbors for local Buy Nothing groups to join—or consider starting one to build a sharing community!
🛍️ Thrift & Secondhand Stores
- Buffalo Exchange – Trendy and vintage secondhand fashion. Locations in Mission (1210 Valencia St) and Haight (1555 Haight St).
- Community Thrift Store – Large, affordable thrift store that supports local nonprofits. Located in the Mission (623 Valencia St).
- Crossroads Trading – Buy, sell, and trade stylish secondhand clothing. Locations in Haight-Ashbury, Mission (2338 Mission St), Inner Sunset (630 Irving St), and Fillmore (1901 Fillmore St).
- Goodwill SF Bay – Multiple locations offering affordable secondhand clothing, including Mission (2279 Mission St), Geary Blvd (822 Geary St), and Clement St (1210 Clement St).
- Mission Thrift – A well-curated secondhand store with affordable finds. Located at 2330 Mission St.
- No Shop – Sustainable and community-focused secondhand boutique. Located at 389 Valencia St.
- ReLove – Curated secondhand boutique for designer and vintage fashion. Located at 1815 Polk St.
- Salvation Army Family Store – Budget-friendly secondhand shopping, supporting social programs. Located at 3921 Geary Blvd.
💻 Online Thrifting & Resale Platforms
- ThredUp – A massive online thrift store with a mix of budget-friendly and name-brand finds. Get 50% off your first order. You can also send in your clothes and earn money.
- Poshmark – Buy and sell clothes directly from other people. Great for trendy and brand-name items.
- The RealReal – A luxury resale marketplace for secondhand designer fashion (based in SF!)
🌱 Buying New? Look for Sustainable Brands
Here’s what to look for when shopping sustainably:
- Companies that share where and how their clothes are made are often more responsible.
- Brands that ensure fair wages and safe working conditions.
- Eco-Friendly Materials. Look for organic cotton, recycled fabrics, or plant-based dyes.
🔎 Etsy for Upcycled & Sustainable Fashion
If you want unique, handmade, or upcycled clothing, Etsy is a great place to look! Try searching for: upcycled clothing, sustainable fashion, handmade eco-friendly clothes.
Small Changes Make a Big Impact!
Every small change helps! Let’s repair the world, one outfit at a time. ♻️✨
Rose’s Mitzvah Project 2025
