A shocking 11 million clothing garments are sent to landfill in the UK every single week.

That’s a pretty concerning figure.

Fueled by high-street fast-fashion and our desire to stay on-trend, we’re increasingly buying new garments and wearing them once or twice before throwing them away. This practice is not only bad for our bank balances (clothing isn’t cheap) but bad for the environment, too.

When we throw a hoodie, pair of jeans or a sweatshirt into our wheelie bin, it can sit in a landfill site for up to 200 years, emitting the methane greenhouse gas as it decomposes.

Worse still, research suggests just 1% of clothing is recycled into new yarns and fibers. 

There’s no denying that the damage is already done, but there are things that you can do to reduce your footprint. One of them is to stop buying new and buy second hand instead.

Don’t worry: we’re not suggesting that you wear your mum’s old dresses from the eighties or you never buy a new pair of socks again, but we are suggesting that you reframe the way you think about clothing and make some positive changes that will benefit the environment.

Below, we’ve put together some tips on finding the best second-hand clothing… 

Start at the charity shops

Let’s start with the obvious one.

Our high streets are full of charity shops jam-packed with unwanted clothing. 

Sure, not everything you see in your local OXFAM or British Heart Foundation is going to be to your taste, but that’s the beauty of it: spend an afternoon rummaging around and you’re bound to find some new staples that you can add to your wardrobe and start wearing.

Better yet, go shopping with your friend and try to pick out an outfit for each other.

Not only will you be able to pick up some pieces at a discount (the average charity shop dress costs less than £5, compared to £45 on the high street), but you’ll be supporting local and national causes close to your heart, and you’ll be doing your bit for the planet on top.

Travel to find designer pieces

Time for a charity shop hack. If you can’t find the right clothing in your local area, consider setting off on a day trip to a more affluent part of your region to find some real hidden gems.

Why? If you shop in a part of the country where locals have higher than average income levels, you’ll find that they donate higher-quality clothing, some with designer labels.

The Cancer Research UK charity shop in Marylebone, for example, reportedly receives donations from locals including Kate Moss and Sienna Miller, with brands such as Dior and Louboutin spotted on its rails. Get there early and you could score yourself a bargain.

Some charity shop chains even have stores dedicated to designer clothing (the British Red Cross has designer charity shops in London, Newcastle, Belfast, and Poole and Oxfam puts some of its designer donations on its site and delivers to your address) so do your research if you’re looking for something in particular and head off on a designer shopping spree.

Stop by vintage stores

As well as charity shops, vintage stores are a great way to find quality second-hand clothes.

Granted: these shops are usually run for-profit and their owners are pretty switched on, so don’t expect to pick up a £1,000 handbag for £10, but you can still find some special offers.

Vintage shopping is not only more sustainable than buying new, but it’s great for finding pieces that finish off your outfit that tell their own story, whether a brooch or a cardigan.

Clothes fairs are also growing in popularity, where organisers will allow attendees to buy a bag and fill it with clothing in their size for £50 - but get there early to avoid disappointment.

Download the apps

The chances are that you frequent eBay to find discount second-hand clothing, but there are other websites and avenues to consider as well. 

Facebook Marketplace, for example, allows you to find clothing for sale in your local area, whether you’re in the market for a new dress for a wedding or baby clothes for a newborn. 

The best part about Facebook is that you can narrow your search radius to look for clothes in your town, and pick them up on your way to work without having to pay for delivery.

If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, then download second-hand exchange apps such as Gumtree, Debop, Shopock, and Preloved and do some retail therapy on your sofa.

Swap with colleagues

Always admired Karen from Accounts’ dress? Why not ask if you can swap with her?

Yes, yes, that sounds weird. 

But if you want to be more sustainable and encourage your workmates to do the same, why not organise a clothes-swapping event where you can get together over lunch and pick and choose which garments you’d like to take home with you?

You could do it for charity, donating a pound for every item you take home with you, and then donate the unwanted pieces to your local charity shop in hopes they’ll be sold to someone.

If that’s not for you, search for an organised event where you go along with a bag of clothes and come home with a new wardrobe. They’re fun, they’re free, and they’re sustainable!

Car boot sales

We see you rolling your eyes.

Though certainly not for everyone, you shouldn’t overlook the benefits of car boot shopping. 

Car boots sales are not only cheap (most organisers charge less than a pound for entry), but you can find some real bargains, whether you’re looking for dresses, t-shirts, or even shoes.

Most sellers take all of their unwanted clothing and allow buyers to sift through to find what they’re looking for. The best part? You can haggle and pick up pieces for as little as 20p.

Find a stall that has clothing in your size and style, and you’ll have hit a goldmine!

Rent, don’t buy

Finally, consider renting clothing if you’re attending a function and need a special outfit.

Whether you’re heading to a wedding, a prom, a job interview or a photoshoot, search for a designer clothing rental company and peruse their garments before you buy something.

Prom dresses and tuxedos, for example, are rarely worn more than once, and they can be pretty expensive. Rent one instead for £30, and you’ll not only save yourself some money, but you’ll be reducing your own clothing carbon footprint without compromising on style.

No rentals in your area? If you spotted your friend in a gorgeous dress, ask her if you can borrow it for a function. Have it dry cleaned and buy her a bottle of wine to say thank you.

There you have it - some of the ways you can find the best second-hand clothing and reduce your reliance on brand new pieces. Though you’ll naturally need to stock up on staples from time to time, like pants, socks, and tees, if we all buy a little less, we’ll make a big difference.

Last year, we started the Ultra Tee blog to fly the flag for sustainable and eco-friendly fashion - and we think we’ve built a powerful community where fashionistas can change the way they think about what they buy, and opt for clothing that not only looks great but does great, too.

One thing we haven’t been so good at, however, is flying the flag for our own range of tees - all of which are made from ethically-sourced materials and hand-printed with love in London and Paris.

Our tees are artisanally embroidered, made from high-quality, long-lasting fabrics, and come with free delivery and returns as standard. What’s more, for every tee we sell, we plant a tree to give back to our planet and do our bit to reverse the effects of global warming.

Whether you’re new to Ultra Tee (nice to meet you!) or a regular customer (welcome back), we’ve rounded up some of our favourite tee designs that you should add to your wardrobe… 

Cactus Friends Tee

With our stunning Cactus Friends Tee, you can get closer to nature. Manufactured from 100% organic cotton, its design might be a little spiky, but it’s ever so cute!

Featuring an elegant, eye-catching print with greens, blues, yellows and oranges, we think this tee looks great with its sleeves rolled up and worn paired with some high-waisted jeans or a skirt - and you can rock it whether you’re off to the beach with friends or spending the day in the office. 

Kingfisher Tee

If you’re a fan of birds, we think you’ll love our beautiful Kingfisher Tee, which sports a faded kingfisher bird in blue and grey colours. Printed onto our breathable 100% organic cotton ice blue crew neck, this graphic tee looks best when worn with a pair of jeans, and it’s soft-touch which is a great choice, whether you’re headed to the gym or grabbing lunch with friends.

As with all of our tees, we recommend washing this Kingfisher Tee inside out with similar colours at 30 degrees, and to maintain its water-based ink print, ironing inside out on a low temperature.

Look after your Ultra Tee, and it’ll last you for many years to come, and help you stand out from the crowd with a garment that will be the taking point of any get-together.

 

Apple Stripes tee

We think that every girl needs a striped tee in her wardrobe. Featuring summery white and blue stripes and a cute yellow apple embellishment, this Apple Stripes Tee is a real staple piece and looks beautiful whatever it’s paired with, whether you rock a pair of blue jeans and a pair of sliders or some Zella leggings and a cardigan for a relaxed, stripped-back affair.

Our friends over at Merrick’s Art has put together a super useful guide to wearing a striped tee in twelve different ways. Of course, we’re not saying that you should wear this tee every day, but the article demonstrates just how adaptable a striped tee can be - and how you can try out many different looks without having to fill your wardrobe with damaging fast fashion.

 

Long Sleeve Stripes Crab Tee

Whilst we’re on the subject of stripes, let’s talk about our Long-Sleeved Stripes Crab Tee. As the centrepiece of our spring/summer campaign for 2019, we think that this tee is one of our very best.

Made from 100% cotton at 175 gsm with an adorable crab embroidery on the left chest, this long-sleeved tee is great for all seasons - wear it on its own in the spring and summer and throw on a cardigan, hoodie or coat in the cooler autumn and winter months.

Why choose a long-sleeved tee over a short-sleeved? They’re great if you want to cover your arms, or you can balance out a long-sleeved look with a pair of boots and some jeans. Roll up your sleeves for a casual look, experiment with a short-sleeved tee over the top of your long-sleeved tee, or wear your long-sleeved tee around your waist - great if you’ve got a cotton vest on underneath in the summer months. The possibilities are virtually endless… 

Parrots Speckled Tee

Finally, a quick squawk to our Parrots Speckled Tee. Made from 96% cotton and 4% polyester, this tee features a crew neck in a boxy style in a speckled cream colour - and some artsy parrots, flowers, and tropical leaves to keep you company!

Though designed for the summer, we think that this tee would look great throughout the year and lets you inject some colour and sunshine into those dull and miserable autumn days to come. 

Made with love in Portugal and digitally printed in France with water-based inks, this tee is delivered for free and we’ll plant a tree for every tee sold. We recommend washing this one inside out on low heat, ironing inside out to protect the print, and avoiding bleaching to keep the colour and design intact.

Those little parrots are sensitive, so please look after them!

Want to add an Ultra Tee or two to your wardrobe? Shop the range on our website, with free delivery and returns as standard. Plus, stay tuned for all-new designs coming soon…

It’s impossible to watch the news or scroll through social media without reading something about the devastating effects of global warming, and how we’re damaging our environment. 

Everything we do - from driving to work to buying our grocery shop from the supermarket - results in more waste, more carbon emissions, and more guilt.

And as a ‘little guy’, it’s easy to feel helpless, as though there’s nothing you can do to stop the impending doom.

The truth is, you’re not going to change the world or put an end to climate change on your own, but you can make changes to your lifestyle to reduce your personal impact.

One of those changes is fashion, and choosing clothing from ethical and eco-friendly manufacturers.

Below, we’ve put together just some of the reasons why choosing ethical and eco-friendly clothing could make a big difference… 

 

Fast fashion is killing the planet

The fast fashion industry is bad news for the planet.

The $2.5 trillion sector churns out 80 billion new garments a year to chase trends and drive sales, but the majority of the clothing is made from poor quality materials that don’t stand the test of time.

In fact, the vast majority of this clothing is designed to fall apart quickly.

It’s called planned obsolescence and helps manufacturers and brands sell more clothes, more regularly, to maintain their profitability.

What’s particularly concerning is that global clothing production has doubled in the past 15 years - an alarming statistic that simply needs to change.

The average t-shirt or pair of jeans requires 20,000 litres of water to manufacture, and countless chemicals and toxins that eventually make their way into our oceans or pollute the earth, causing destruction to nature.

Clothes that aren’t sold or recycled are sent to landfill or worse still, an incinerator, which leads to more toxic pollution and waste, impacting our cities, our people, and our animals.

According to 1 Million Women, only 10% of the clothing we donate to thrift stores or charities ends up being sold; the rest goes to landfill, where it can take many years to decompose.

When you purchase high-quality clothing from an ethical manufacturer, you can rest assured that your garment will last much longer than the cheap products you pick up from the high street or your local supermarket, and you’ll know that it was made with ethically-sourced and sustainable materials.

At Ultra Tee, for example, we use organic cotton, recycled polyester, and Tencel (a fibre made from eucalyptus pulp) which is less harmful to the environment.

 

Working conditions in fast fashion suck

In the past twenty-five years, 270,000 Indian cotton farmers have killed themselves due to the stress caused by the debt they had to accumulate to purchase cotton seeds to keep up with demand.

In Bangladesh, nine out of ten workers can’t afford enough food for themselves and their families - even though they work full time for a clothing factory.

Indeed, in Bangladesh alone, more than three million people work in the garment industry, with wages starting as low as £25 per month - far below the living wage - working from 8am to 8pm every day.

What’s more, three-quarters of female workers interviewed by Oxfam had been verbally abused at work and half had been beaten.

Many worked up to 140 hours of overtime every month, working until 2am, and more than half couldn’t meet the targets set by employers. In one factory, workers had to produce 20 ladies shirts every hour, an impossible task.

These statistics are just the tip of the iceberg.

In the fast fashion industry, workers are being exploited to create cheap clothing for Western consumers. The next time you pick up a new t-shirt for £2, consider where it came from and how it was made - you might just reconsider.

Switching to “slow fashion” might be more expensive in the short-term, but it allows you to support independent fashion businesses with ethical manufacturing practices.

At Ultra Tee, for example, we have an in-house embroidery facility in London, and our company only works with global partners who respect the rights of the men and women that they employ.

Each is carefully chosen based on their compliance with working conditions requirements.

 

Supporting ethical brands speaks volumes

The truth is that high street and online fashion retailers will only change their manufacturing operations when consumers speak out and vote with their feet.

Until shoppers can overcome the temptation of purchasing super-cheap clothing made in sweatshops, they’re not going to change - so supporting an ethical brand speaks volumes.

Eventually, as more and more consumers look to environmentally-friendly, sustainable and ethical clothing brands, the big chains will have to change their ways to meet evolving consumer attitudes and demands.

How long will that take?

Who knows… But the sooner you make the switch and do your bit for the environment, the sooner you’ll realise the benefits of ethical, eco-friendly clothing, and you can spread the word to your friends and family.

Which leads us on to our next point… 

Your choices can encourage others to switch

Buying a few pieces of ethical clothing isn’t going to change the world overnight - neither is throwing out your entire wardrobe and switching to ethically-sourced alternatives.

But doing your bit allows you to fly the flag for sustainable fashion and encourage others to make the switch, too.

The next time someone compliments you on your t-shirt, you can let them know where you bought it, and it’ll serve as a real domino effect, until everyone makes the switch.

The truth is that most people don’t realise just how damaging the fashion industry is.

So, when you talk about ethical clothing and its benefits, whether with your friends over a coffee, at work during a presentation or at a social or community event, you’ll encourage others to consider their own relationship with fast fashion and re-evaluate their buying choices.

 

Better for your skin

Finally, a quick word on comfort.

It’s no secret that organic fabrics are better for your skin, as they’re produced without allergenic, carcinogenic or toxic chemicals.

That not only means that your dresses, t-shirts and jeans will be more comfortable, but they won’t cause irritation, and they’ll be better for you in the long-term.

Organic materials are often weaved wider than synthetically-produced materials, so are more breathable. That means you’ll be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, and you won’t need as many outfits in your wardrobe.

Synthetic clothing materials can lead to an increase in allergic reactions and dermatitis, whereas natural fabrics such as 100% cotton are also better at stopping you from sweating, which is a major bonus.

What’s more, materials such as organic cotton not only reduce the number of toxins you breathe in, but they also reduce the amount of pesticide chemicals released into the water supply when you wash your clothes.

Opt for materials such as silk, flax, wool, and tencel, and avoid materials such as polyester, acetate, rayon, and clothes that are “wrinkle-free” and “easy-care”, as they’ll have been soaked in harmful chemicals.

Which ethical clothing brands do you recommend? Tweet in your favourites using @UltraTeeBrand and check back for more news on ethical and sustainable fashion soon.

A glowing, bronzed body is the sign of a good summer, but tanning isn’t always good for your health, nor the health of the planet. On a mission to chase the sun and catch a tan, many of us are unnecessarily polluting the Earth, but it doesn’t have to be that way.

If you’re planning a summer holiday and want to reduce your impact on the environment, you might book an eco-friendly break or stay at home. Below, we’ve put together a few ways to get a tan without harming the environment - read our top tips below, and you’ll be sun-kissed in no time!

 

Head to the beach

One of the best ways to get a tan this summer is to spend more time outdoors, so why not go to your local beach and spend time with family and friends? The UK is blessed with some of the most stunning beaches on the planet, from Whitstable in Kent (boasting a gorgeous pebble beach with traditional stripy beach huts) through to Pentle Bay's white sand and blue sea, where at the height of the summer, you'd be forgiven for thinking you were in the Caribbean. Explore what’s around you and make sure you’re wearing a good suncream.

Whilst you’re there, consider plogging - the art of picking up litter whilst you’re on a jog or a walk. The Scandinavians came up with the lifestyle trend a few years ago, and ever since, it has really taken off. Our oceans are being polluted with more bottles, bags, and packaging than ever, and you’ll probably find a surprisingly large amount of litter on your trip. Turn it into a competitive game with friends, and you’ll naturally tan without sitting in the baking sun.

Switch to vegan suncream

Although beauty products can no longer be tested on animals in Europe, most sun creams include a whole host of animal-derived ingredients, such as beeswax, chitin (which comes from crustaceans, insects, and arachnids) and collagen, which is found in connective tissue from pigs, cows, and fish. Elastin is also commonly found in sun cream, as is lanolin (animal fat that comes from sheep wool) and stearin, which is from cow fat. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a vegan or not - choosing sun creams without animal ingredients is better for your skin and for the planet, so shop around and switch to vegan alternatives where possible.

Brands like Green People, Lush, Pure Chemistry, and Arbonne offer a range of creams and SPF moisturisers from SPF15 to SPF40, so there’s no excuse not to make the switch. Sure, they’re a little more expensive than the creams you’ll find in the supermarket, but your skin will thank you for it - and you’ll likely find that natural ingredients help you tan more evenly.

Avoid the sunbeds

It’s a common myth that hitting the sunbeds before you go on holiday will ‘kick start’ the process of tanning, and whilst it’s been debunked, that doesn’t stop more than 10 percent of Europeans from using them on a regular basis. Research shows that sunbeds increase your risk of skin cancer, causing damage to your DNA and encouraging rapid cell growth needed for a tumour to develop. What’s more, sunbeds are bad for the environment, unnecessarily wasting energy. According to Businesses for Sale, a 40 tube 200-watt sunbed will use 9.6 kilowatts of energy per hour, so would cost around £1.20 to run for an hour at today’s prices, so steer clear and tan naturally - it might take longer, but it will keep you safe from harm.

Cut back on air travel

The aviation industry is one of the world’s greatest polluters, and environmentalists are increasingly encouraging consumers to travel less. In fact, the Netherlands has invented a word for it: vliegschaamte, which means ‘fly shame’. Travelling to new countries is great fun, as it allows us to explore, meet new people and immerse ourselves into new cultures, and we can pay extra to offset emissions by investing in wind farms or other renewable energy projects, but we’re still polluting the earth unnecessarily. In Sweden, two friends have persuaded more than 15,000 people to commit to going air-free in 2019 with an incentive called Flygfritt 2019. They want to get 100,000 people to pledge not to fly this year; why not join them and explore what’s on offer at home in the summer months? You’ll still catch a tan!

Switch to fake fan

Finally, consider protecting your skin and the environment by switching to fake tan. If you’re trying to fly less or you have fair skin, then faking it is a great way to get a sun-kissed look without the risks of skin cancer. There are a growing number of eco-friendly fake tan brands, including Eco Tan, set up by Sonya who wanted to get a tan without the risk of harmful UV rays. She experimented with regular spray tans but soon realised that the ingredients were bad for her skin and the environment, so set up the company to provide organic, toxin-free, cruelty-free and vegan-friendly tanning lotions. The best part? The bottles are recyclable!

Other companies offering eco-friendly tanning lotions include TanOrganic, La Mav, and Sukin, whilst Lush offers tanning tint bars that allow you to ‘paint on’ a fake tan if you want to look good for a night out. Shop around and see which company works best for your needs.

However, remember that there’s nothing wrong with tanning outdoors naturally - especially if you let it happen organically when you’re out walking or gardening. Spending a couple of hours per day in the sun is healthy for you, lifting your mood and producing Vitamin D, too.

The key to a good tan is to be sensible - don’t overdo it in the sun, and don’t use products that could damage your skin or the planet. Whatever you’ve got planned for the summer, enjoy, and check back to Ultra Tee every month for more tips on living a sustainable life.