Modes of Sustainable Fashion: Styling Boxes

Sustainable fashion's in and fast fashion's out. In this three-part series, I am discussing modes of sustainable fashion. But what exactly is sustainable fashion? Well, sustainable fashion focuses on bettering the world and offering quality pieces that will last you for longer. It is an all-inclusive term describing products, processes, activities, and actors (policymakers, brands, consumers) aiming to achieve a carbon-neutral fashion industry, built on equality, social justice, animal welfare, and ecological integrity, according to The Vou. It’s based on local sourcing and production, transparency across the supply chain, traceability of work processes and raw materials, environmentally friendly raw materials, safe working conditions, and fair wages.

HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE FASHION?

While there are many ways to participate in sustainable fashion, there are a couple of options for those who would rather trust a brand to do the work for them. There are clothing rental subscriptions and second-hand shopping. But today, we are discussing styling boxes.

Instead of going to a store or spending hours online, an expert stylist does the shopping for you. Just share your style, sizes, and price range, and a personal shopper will curate items for you and ship them over. But a sustainable one simply adds the quality factor into consideration and only works with brands whose mission is to also protect the environment, provide safe working conditions, and fair wages.

WHO IS THIS OPTION BEST FOR?

Anyone who is the least bit interested in taking care of the environment and about the people who make their clothes should definitely participate. But specifically, styling boxes are great for those who don't have time to shop for themselves or would like to work with a stylist.

Now let's take a look at some of these styling boxes:

VENEKA

Veneka is a personalized capsule wardrobe styling service that curates sustainable, ethical, and cruelty-free brands. For those who may not know, a capsule wardrobe is based on a few timeless pieces that you can wear for years. Your closet will be made up of a handful of pieces you can mix and match endlessly. Each capsule is hand-curated by expert stylists to create 40+ outfits that support and empower your daily life. They believe it’s worth creating the highest standards for impact in the fashion industry and that every closet should create a ripple effect of positive change across the world. They emphasize craftsmanship over quantity.

• Styling Fee: $35.00 Quarterly but if you're actually purchasing a piece, it would be $50-$100 for a top, $150-$250 for a dress, and $70-$150 for a pant.
• Brands: Veneka sells pieces provided only by them.
• Sizes: The sizes available are between extra-small and extra-large.
• Occasions: Veneka targets more everyday items, providing you with the basics to have a sustainable wardrobe.

ACTIVE DEAL: $10 off a personalized capsule wardrobe experience
CODE: MSA10

Check out our page on Veneka for more information.

WEARWELL

Just like Veneka, Wearwell offers you access to sustainable brands that have the same goals as you. Once you take their style quiz, a stylist will curate a collection of items that you can then shop from. Every month, you'll pay a membership fee for the stylist's help and you can pick and choose what you want to purchase from the site.

• Styling Fee: $8.50 monthly
• Brands: Some of the brands that Wearwell works with include Dorsu, Mata Traders, and O My Bag.
• Sizes: The sizing goes from extra-small to 3XL.
• Occasions: Just like Veneka, Wearwell offers pieces you can wear every day - from work to running errands.

Check out our page on wearwell for more information.

MATERIAL WORLD

• Styling Fee: $9 monthly
• Brands: You can find anything from Gucci to Jimmy Choo.
• Sizes: Because this is a styling box that offers second-hand items, it's subject to whatever may be available. But your stylist will definitely find something in your size!
• Occasions: Because Material World focuses on more luxury brands, it just depends on how you want to wear them!

Check out our page on Material World for more information.

STITCHFIX

Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service for women, men, and kids too! You tell them all about your style and size preferences through their style quiz, and then they send you a package of carefully selected stylish goodies to try on at home. No two Fix shipments are alike and each one is hand-picked just for you. Keep what items you like, and return the rest in a pre-paid return mailer. As for the sustainable factor, StitchFix has committed to offering a range of products made with materials that use fewer chemicals, less water and that reduce waste. Their private vendors must also have the same values and goals as StitchFix in order to be a partner.

• Styling Fee: $20 monthly
• Brands: At StitchFix, you can find brands like Kut From The Kloth, Skies Are Blue, and Gilly.
• Sizes: Offers an expanded size range including plus, petites, and maternity.
• Occasions: You can find something for any occasion - from party clothes to work outfits.

Check out our page on StitchFix for more information.

THE TAKEAWAY

So, convinced yet? Want to try sustainable fashion any time soon? If you're looking to invest in staple pieces that you know will last you for years on end and have been made sustainably, then make the jump! You don't even need to start a massive research project to see which brands are sustainable or spend hours on the internet. You can simply sign up for a styling box that will be tailored to your sizes, preferences, and needs. And the great thing about these boxes is that you're not obligated to keep everything picked for you, you can simply pay for the ones you're really invested in.

But if styling boxes and renting pieces isn't your thing, we still got one more option: second-hand clothing services. I’ll be exploring this option next week to further help you decide which one is a better path for your budget, goals, and fashion needs.

Stay tuned for next week, where will explore second-hand clothing services.

Do you have a favorite style subscription? Let us know below!