It feels laughable to say it now, but from about 2015-2019, I was a bonafide influencer. I worked on dozens of marketing campaigns a year, reviewed products, took weekly outfit photos, and consulted with slow fashion brands.
The reason it feels funny is because being an influencer in the early days meant having 10K followers on Instagram, ignoring search engine optimization, and curating a small section of your bedroom to use as a photo backdrop.
The Changing Influencer Landscape
Today, it seems like you have to have immensely more followers across multiple platforms and be online 24/7 to really make it work. The algorithms are increasingly punishing to those who try to self promote and the influencer space is really crowded now.
In the sustainable and slow fashion niche, there’s also been an explosion of greenwashing. So many of the brands and products being promoted now are negligibly “sustainable” or “ethical.” And even the ones that are doing better, production-wise, struggle from a lack of size inclusivity or representation.
So, being an influencer became kind of unwieldy for me. In some ways, I outgrew it. I’d been sharing outfits online since 2010 and it wasn’t as fun anymore. I went to grad school, the pandemic lockdown started, and then I started a full time career in ministry. My life changed, my lifestyle changed, my body changed, and so my clothing needs changed, too.
Learning to Shop Again
There was a time when I was receiving free clothing on a weekly basis. That’s no longer the case. I think I’ve been provided like three PR items in the last year.
That means that I needed to learn how to shop on a budget again without totally giving up on my ethical values. (I am very aware of the hypocrisy tied up with my former promotions.) And I also needed to significantly change my wardrobe to adjust to a more professional work environment.
Here are my basic wardrobe needs as a priest living in Houston, Texas:
- versatile and durable work pants
- clergy shirts
- cardigans and sweaters
- off-duty t-shirts and tank tops
- comfortable jeans
- closed-toe shoes
How I shop for more ethical and sustainable goods on a budget as a retired influencer
1 | I buy almost all my pants and t-shirts from Target.
Did you know that a significant numbers of Target’s jeans and pants are produced in a fair trade factory? While fair trade wages are not equivalent to living wages, the fair trade certification does put pressure on factories to maintain minimum safety standards, healthcare benefits, and wages.
Additionally, many of Target’s clothes are made with medium-weight fabric that is majority cotton. They wear well and last longer than many other big box store styles I’ve tried.
2 | I make a list and check the local thrift stores.
I really like to thrift shop, so this isn’t a burden for me, though sometimes it’s not a time-sensitive option. There are a lot of things I would rather buy secondhand, especially statement pieces or trendier items. It can feel rather bland to buy only new things, too, so it’s good to mix it up with the variety thrift stores offer.
Recent thrift finds include vintage, front pleat jeans, a sweater vest, a sheer turtleneck, a chenille sweater, leather tassel loafers, and a Chicago Bears sweatshirt. I was able to find everything for under $10 a piece. It’s harder to find high quality clothes in thrift stores these days, but I still try to look for majority natural fibers in fabrics that will hold up.
3 | I shop online at Ebay and Thredup when I have specific wants.
Thredup is kind of a crapshoot because most of the listings are done with AI, but if I’m looking for something with a specific description (like black clogs or Loft Gingham Pants), I can usually find what I need.
Ebay is great because most sellers are pretty good at listing the brand, style, and details. I use Ebay most frequently for shoes. (I still prefer Ebay over Poshmark)
4 | I occasionally splurge on sustainable classics.
A few years ago, Madewell was selling the perfect, slightly cropped rib-knit cardigan in three colors. Having searched high and low for exactly this thing for years, I bought all three colors. No regrets!
I also think it’s worth it to buy the occasional cashmere sweater at full price just because the warmth and quality is so much better than acrylic. Most recently, I bought new Blundstone boots. They carry a hefty price tag, but in the long run, the cost-per-wear will be better than buying used or cheaper options.
The other thing I buy new is clergy shirts. They’re hard to find secondhand because priests tend to wear them for as long as possible. Fortunately, almost all clergy shirts made with natural fibers are produced by small, women-owned brands (I avoid Amazon at all costs!).
Where are the ethical brands?
You may have noticed that my current shopping strategy includes basically no brands specifically marketed as sustainable or ethical.
I still like the ethical brands I used to promote, but a lot of items are too trendy, too niche, or too expensive for my current needs.
I’m still working to define my sense of style in a new work environment, and as a non-influencer. But I think I’m circling in on it now.
A little bit vintage-inspired (the 90s have always been my favorite fashion decade), basics with something a little off, with a focus on jewel-tones and shapes rather than too many loud patterns.
There’s no such thing as perfectly ethical consumption, especially where personal style and fashion are concerned. But honestly, how I shop now is probably more sustainable than how I consumed when I was an “ethical influencer.” So that’s something.
A very interesting discussion of clothing purchasing. I too have found that many of the brands listed as ethical are too trendy. I prefer to purchase items that will work for at least 5 years. This includes both style and “sturdiness” of the fabric.