The harmful impact that the fashion industry has on the environment is undeniable. Whether it’s water waste from processing dyes and furs, the production of synthetic materials that take 200 years to decompose, carbon emissions from factories, or the mass-distribution of enormous quantities of plastic packaging, the fashion industry has earned the dubious distinction of being among the top 5 sources of environmental damage. The use of animal products such as leather and fur are disturbing for a lot of reasons, but even if you’re not passionate about animal rights, there is no question that the treating and processing of animal products releases harmful toxins and chemicals into the environment and onto our bodies. Worst of all is the human impact of fast fashion (and even many high fashion) brands’ reliance on what is essentially slave labor to cheaply manufacture their product. If you can’t stomach the thought of the clothing on your body originating from cruel, dehumanizing working conditions that exploit vulnerable people in impoverished nations, then it’s time to reconsider your approach to fashion.

While there are many wonderful clothing and jewelry brands that have committed to ethical practices, I have found that the majority of “eco-friendly” fashions are not concordant with my personal aesthetic. I have never been a minimalist when it comes to style. While I love solid colors, monochrome, and the occasional pop of a pattern, I gravitate towards a bolder, more glamorous (some may call it over-the-top) aesthetic than what is currently popular among slow fashion brands. The look of linen, hemp, and overall “normcore” is just not my vibe. If that’s your vibe, great! There are dozens of fantastic clothing brands that cater to that aesthetic. But if your aesthetic is high fashion, high-end, and on-trend, chances are that the brands that you covet do not follow ethical standards of manufacturing and production. The act of creating vibrant colors, varied textures, shine, fashion-forward items is inherently challenging to the ethos of sustainable fashion and surely takes a toll on our ecosystem, while driving up costs that benefit corporations rather than laborers.

Fortunately, even if your personal style differs from the predominant aesthetic of “eco-friendly” clothing brands, you can abide by the principles of sustainable and ethical fashion. It just takes a little more effort and a lot more creativity. Bite the bullet and cull your wardrobe of items that you no longer wear and don’t match your aesthetic and/or your values (but do so by donating or selling, NOT by throwing in a landfill.) Identify ethical brands whose vibe you’re digging and start with some basics. Keep it simple at first. Remind yourself that you don’t need 200 pairs of shoes (I’m addressing that one to myself). Find pieces that are versatile and can be worn in different ways. Every time you buy something new, donate an item you no longer need. Buy secondhand. Pick a “hero” item each season and use that as the focal point around which you build your outfits. Ethical fashion doesn’t have to be austere or frumpy. But the way that we manufacture, market, and produce fashion items HAS to change.