You may have noticed an Instagram trend last month in the shape of second hand September, and while we champion any national attempt to highlight the importance of sustainable shopping, we think it should be something we do all year round. 

So, we’ve summarised 4 simple tips in order to shop more sustainably beyond the month of September and make some permanent changes in our shopping habits.

Research

This is an easy adjustment to make in everyday life and in the long run will save you money when buying quality products; whilst saving the environment.

Use social media to help discover brands that are doing things right, simple hashtags like #ethicalfashion or #ethicaljewellery can quickly bring up interesting brands that you might not discover off a google search. 

Ask questions like; where did this product came from, how was it made and how long it will. This might seem like an effort, but they’re easier to answer than you might think; especially when buying from an independent brand. We are always thrilled to receive product or sourcing queries as we’re so proud of our process, so reach out and do some digging.

 

Vintage shopping

Swap Shops are on the rise and for a good reason, they are the perfect way to swap out items from your wardrobe which don't get worn, for other peoples unwanted treasures. 

But lets not forget rummaging through vintage and charity shops are always worth the time. We don’t pass one without going in because you never know what you might find. People are always passing on hidden gems and you can find some real vintage treasures in the most unlikely of places, and not just for your wardrobe. We're always on the hunt for great second hand jewellery as it can be re-purposed into something special … which takes us onto our next tip.

 

 

Redesign // Repair

You've heard us talk about our bespoke services before and this includes redesigning old favourites, inherited pieces or second hand purchases.

Anything can be transformed and given a new lease of life to suit your style, and the same goes for clothing. There are some beautiful blogs and visible mending enthusiasts out there. We love @savingthreads who embroiders over moth holes, repairs old jeans and uses embroidery to re-purpose garments giving them a new lease of life. Think about whether or not you can repair something or enhance it rather than throw it out to sit in a landfill.

 

 

Rediscover

This is the simplest change to make, and it’s one you can do this month with the arrival of Autumn. We keep our wardrobes feeling fresh by packing up our seasonal clothes into a suitcase and up into the loft to hibernate, to be brought out again when we move into warmer or cooler climes. It’s amazing how you can forget the clothes you own when you don’t see them for 6 months, and to then pull them out of the loft again, you find yourself falling back in love with your favourite pieces; looking forward to wearing them for the season ahead. This only really works if you remove them from your closet, letting them hang at one side only frustrates you and feeds the voice in your head that says ‘I have nothing to wear’, yes you do!

 

Tackling one change at a time can make a huge impact, it’s easy to think ‘how can one person really make a difference’, but you can. We are still learning and everything we do at ANUKA is sustainable, recycled and recyclable, but we are always looking on ways we can improve and changes we can make!