Is sustainable clothing worth it?

Short answer - Mostly!

For the last couple of years I've been trying to only buy sustainable clothing.

The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, after oil. Child labour is also rife, with an estimated 170 million children between the age of 5 and 15 working in fast fashion, globally.

So, it makes me feel better to know that my clothes are manufactured in the most sustainable manner possible. However, not only is it waaay more expensive, but there is also much less choice.

Every time I want something new (I absolutely must have some new dungarees. How have I survived this long without them?), I have to go through a fairly lengthy process. For example, let's take the search for everyone's new working from home uniform - joggers!

First, I try and find a sustainable version. This means much googling of 'sustainable joggers', 'eco friendly jogging bottoms', 'ethical sweatpants' and so on.

Then I wade though all the adverts of child labour jogging bottoms that are nothing like I asked for. Then get past all the nice eco friendly but super old lady clothes.

Next I find a few possible options from Mate or Back Beat or Vetta or something. Lovely. But I'm not paying $90 for joggers that are shipped from America and will probably get me lumped with another customs fee.

Redo my search for 'sustainable joggers UK' etc etc. Get past the adverts again. Finally whittle it down to some reasonably priced options. Tentree, Bamboo Clothing, We Are Thought.

Debate with myself if I'm willing to pay £55 for a pair of joggers when my husband just bought a lovely soft pair in the sale at Gymshark for £25.

Yes. Come on. It's for the planet. Buy the bamboo joggers. They have good reviews. Feel smug for 3-5 working days awaiting my new purchase.

They arrive. I try them on. Soft. That's a good start. But what's this weird plastic bit inside the waistband?! Why would they do this? It's all scratchy. Eugh. I wouldn't accept this from Monsoon or Patagonia or any other lovely, semi-sustainable high street brand. But I have a sewing machine. I can fix this.

So I did. I kept the pricey but morally correct joggers, and I like them, but I had to sew the waistband over to make them work. Don't get me wrong. Sometimes it works well. I adore everything I've bought from Rapanui and Lucy & Yak and even Finisterre if I'm feeling flush. And it does make me feel like I'm doing my bit.

I'm prepared to keep going through the process. My hope is that by showing there is a growing market for ethically made clothing, that more modern brands will step up the the challenge.

I tell you what. Next time I'm here, I'll give you a list of my favourite brands. Save you the (sustainable) struggle!