We want an ethical wardrobe because we care about the people making our clothes, and we want them to earn a fair wage in safe conditions. We don’t want the decisions we make at the retail store to harm the workers behind our purchase.

Female artisans in India who have left the sex trade.

But how can we afford to pay more for ethical choices? It may be easier than we think. Here are five practical ways you can have a more ethical wardrobe on a budget…

1). Choose slow fashion over fast fashion whenever possible. Fast fashion is generally mass produced, cheaper, and negatively affects our planet. Slow fashion is sustainably made by artisans, usually more expensive, and kinder on our planet, lasting longer. Larger quantities of fast fashion will just be another piece of clothing that ends up in a landfill. Slow fashion has a story behind it that is greater than yourself. Your ethical purchase helps the artisan, and that is a much better value than buying two leggings for $25.

Julie Johnson thrift shopping with her sister.

2). Give up retail for a year, like our CEO Julie Johnson did. Or try one month without retail, or with certain clothing items. Thrift stores offer low cost clothes that avoid a further negative impact on our planet. Every small step you make can produce small ripples that add up to a big wave of difference.

3). Request ethical clothes you can’t afford right now as gifts for your birthday, Christmas or other holidays where gifts are shared.

4). Watch for discounts. Know when the best time to buy is, be it black Friday or other yearly sales. Also, ethical and sustainable websites like fair trade stores often have a sale section. Check those out, too.

5. Cut back on small things in your budget, so you can purchase ethical goods that do good in the world. Maybe you occasionally skip the coffee shop or make fair trade coffee at home. Maybe you eat out less frequently.

We care about our global neighbors, and our clothing choices can show that. Even if we have a small budget, we can make a big difference. Together we can shop slow fashion and be the change we want to see in the fashion industry. Let’s use our assets (like our recent stimulus checks) to help our global neighbors.

5 Steps to a More Ethical Wardrobe on a Budget