The term conscious consumer is something which is thrown around quite a lot in the Sustainable Industry. But what does it mean to be one?

The first to accept before continuing is that nobody is perfect. It’s quite impossible. So making small steps can in fact have a big impact.

”A conscious consumer, in a nutshell, is someone who looks beyond the label. They are people who will want to know more about the company from which they are buying their purchases. After all, there is always a company motive to think about. When you purchase something from a company, you are, essentially, funding a company to continue doing what they’re doing. So, do you like what they’re doing?” from the nature hub staff written in 2018.

Do you know who made your clothes?

This topic has been big with Fashion Revolution an organisation who has been opening up the question of transparency in bigger corporations.

The Fashion Transparency Index is written yearly and includes auditing and scoring of different large corporations. Hence, The index opens up the conversation and also a drive to a bigger corporations to think about their impact.

As a result, being a conscious consumer means being aware of the greenwashing and dangerous impact that the fashion industry has on our lives.

A few great materials to help educate you future.

On Netflix:

The True Cost: a documentary on the subject of the fashion industries impact.

A Plastic Ocean: how plastic pollution affects both our oceans and our own lifestyles. The shocking truth on the implications of plastic.

Down To Earth with Zac Efron: stories from across the globe which showcase how different industries are already making a change with how they work.

Podcasts:

Wardrobe Crisis with Clare Press: The podcast open up conversation with a variety of different industry individuals.

Work like a Woman by Mary Portas: discusses the ethics within the industry from a feminist view point.

Sustainable Fashion by Gaia Dubos: a view into the sustainable fashion industry and the business models surrounding it.

On Instagram

Elizabeth Cline: an activist and journalist, also the writer of The Conscious Closet and Over Dressed.

Sophie Benson: another activist with a focus on conscious consumerism.

Shop with Transparent Brands.

Being a conscious consumer can be a little but simpler when you shop with smaller and independent brands. Blog with LOLA currently curating The Indie Guide. Which will showcase the finest of independent businesses. The guide will open your eyes to shopping in a new and conscious way.

Diane’s atelier will also be featured within the guide as we see ourselves as being transparent. Learn more about our ethos here.

We have recently start our #shopstransparent scheme. So head over to our Instagram, so that you can begin your journey as a conscious consumer.