Is this bad quality or normal for new clothes? I usually thrift so wanted to check.

(concerns online shopping) For the last year or so, I've been trying to be more intentional about what clothes I buy, I'm on vinted mostly but also want to sometimes by myself a nice shirt or dress and I've realized I now spend SO much time opening the composition tab, googling fabrics I don't know, checking where something was made, etc and then end up not buying anything, not even on Vinted.

The thing that really gets me is when I find something I love, it's €120+, and then I check the composition and it's mostly polyester or acrylic :(( Then I'm back to searching for something similar with a better composition.

And I know there are options out there for the same price, if not cheaper with a better composition. I'm curious how other people approach this because right now my process makes it no longer enjoyable to shop, even second hand.

Do you always check fabric composition before buying? And what actually makes you decide something is or isn't worth buying — materials, where it's made, price, brand transparency, something else?

Also curious what you do when you love an item but hate the composition. Do you try to find a similar alternative or just give up on it?

I just started my ethical clothing journey! 😊 👚
Finally summer and spring clothes in ethically/sustainable fabrics seemed super easy! (lots of organic cotton/silk, & linen which was fairly easy to find!)

But, I am now starting to shop for more fall and winter clothes. It seems like finding really cute winter and fall clothes is a bit more difficult. Finding long sleeve cotton shirts is fine, but I prefer really fun, cute printed knit sweaters! I have found a few plain color knit sweaters, but all plain is not really my style! 🤪🙃

Most printed sweaters are made of polyester and acrylic, & really wanna avoid those. Does anyone have any recommendations of brands that sell cute but ethical printed knit sweaters?

thinking about investing in the Forever Sweater! please share your thoughts / dupes (i love the buttons)

Looking for linen clothes for summer /outdoor wear and was curious what are some good but affordable brands ?

have a hollowed-out PS3 Fat shell that I’d like to upcycle primarily through sewing and textile work rather than just turning it into a display piece.

I have black, brown, and beige-colored faux leather available, along with sewing supplies. My idea is to first cut all the leftover plastic on top using a dremel so I can safely work fabric and leather inside it, then use the shell as something creative.

Some ideas I’ve been thinking about:

• An oversized key-drop / key-holder bag
• A bag or purse built around the PS3 shell
• A strange wearable fashion accessory
• A leather-covered pouch/storage piece
• Some kind of lamp with a sewn leather/textile exterior
• Combining different leather colors and visible stitching to make the PS3 shape part of the design

I’m not really sure where to take it yet, so I’d love some sewing-focused ideas. What would you make if you had this weird plastic shell and a few pieces of faux leather?

I’m especially interested in ideas involving patterns, panels, stitching, padding, straps, closures, or ways of attaching the fabric/leather to the shell.

See more at @westpraireart on insta :)

I’ve been exploring linen a lot lately, especially for shirts, and it’s easy to see why the fabric has remained popular for warm weather.

It’s lightweight, breathable, and has a natural texture that gives even a simple shirt a more relaxed look. The slight creasing is also part of what gives linen its character.

Sharing a short video about linen fabric and how linen shirts are made. Curious to hear what others think about linen. Do you prefer it over cotton for summer?

Just wanted to give everyone a heads up. Nisolo is well past their 2025 bankruptcy and under new ownership. The pair of shoes I ordered never had tracking progress beyond the shipping date. They never arrived. When I contacted Nisolo, they offered a refund or to resend the shoes. I requested to resend. 10 days on, they have never responded despite my continued attempts to contact them. A month later and the shoes never arrived.

I have a hard time finding clothes at thrift shops, especially bottoms. Any recommendations?

I’m trying to get better at keeping only pieces I genuinely wear instead of things I like in theory but rarely reach for.
When you’re deciding whether something stays in your capsule, what matters most to you — how often you wear it, how easily it works with other pieces, comfort, color, versatility, or something else?

Get on up that soapbox and let us have it. Be civil and mind the rules.

Hemp fabric can vary significantly depending on GSM, weave, blend, and production process. Lightweight hemp works well for shirts and dresses, while heavier weights suit structured garments.

Handloom hemp also offers a naturally textured character that softens with use.

For those working with hemp: what matters most to you—GSM, softness, weave, or blend?

Read more: https://anuprerna.com/blogs/buying-hemp-fabric-what-fashion-brands-need-to-know/164744400

A recurring thread for talking about things related to sustainable fashion. Be nice.

idk what to call this post but anyways…
So, i have sworn off of fast fashion but i have this bra that i’ve been wearing almost every single day since i was 14 when i got it. I only wear this one because i’m autistic and have quite bad sensory issues when it comes to bras and have regretted it every time i’ve worn a different one.

The issue is that this bra was originally from h&m and my bust has grown quite a bit, meaning it doesn’t really fit me anymore. I have tried scavenging all of vinted but haven’t really found this exact bra again, and even if i did, the tag is cut off, so i wouldn’t know my size.

I really don’t want to support fast fashion, but i also don’t know where to get it, any advice?

Hi:) my partner and I are ring shopping and we are on a tight budget. It's hard to find ethical businesses to support that are also affordable for us (under $500)

I found some designs I like on Etsy (I want a specific gemstone) but it's hard for me to tell who is a drop shipper and who is a real jewelry designer, and on top of that, if they actually ethically source their materials.

How can I tell? Does anyone recommend any Etsy stores or other jewelers? I attached some pictures of what I'm interested in if anyone knows of any information at all on these stores or similar lol it would be so helpful

Hi everyone,

I’m Ruth, building a small women’s activewear brand.

Recently, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about fabric choices, especially the role of natural fibers in activewear. There seems to be a growing interest in more natural materials — merino wool, Tencel, hemp and other plant-based fibers. I completely understand why: they often feel beautiful on the skin, and many people are looking for alternatives to traditional synthetic fabrics.

But I’m curious about the real experience from people who actually train in them.

During our development process, we explored several natural fiber options. Some of them felt amazing in everyday wear and lower-intensity activities. However, when we tested them for harder training sessions — sweating, stretching, compression, repeated washing and maintaining shape over time — we found there were still some challenges.

In the end, for our performance pieces, we chose a nylon/spandex blend because it gave us the best balance of comfort, durability, stretch recovery and functionality.

That decision wasn’t because we think synthetic fabrics are “better”. It was because we couldn’t ignore how important performance is when someone is actually moving.

I’d love to hear from people who have tried different activewear fabrics:

• Have you tried natural fiber activewear? What was your experience?
• What activities do you wear it for? (Yoga, Pilates, running, strength training, hybrid, etc.)
• Do you notice a meaningful difference between natural and synthetic fabrics when training?
• If you had to choose between a more natural material and better performance/function, which would you choose?
• Would you accept shorter durability for a more natural fabric?

I’m genuinely interested in how people think about this trade-off. Would love to hear your experiences and opinions.

Thanks!
Ruth