Alina Novosolova (Ukraine)
Honorable Mentions

“More than 2,000 litres of water are used to make one t-shirt ,” I thought, standing in front of the shelves with tie-dye tops. I didn`t like the print on that t-shirt. I even frankly considered it to be "not my own". However, all fashion insiders shouted "trend", "topical", "fashionable" in one voice. And their voice was dominated by the voice of reason. As usual, there was not enough space in the closet. But updating the wardrobe before the summer is a holy of holies.
I did not remove the t-shirt tag. And I never wore it. Thinking about the environment has never been my priority. I wanted to be fashionable and “eco-friendly” as it sounds good. Moreover, people say I save the nature. This story is all about how not to be a trend victim.
Most people nowadays are driven by three things consciously or unconsciously - consumption, trend following, and pleasure. We make money and create a business to be able to afford the desired items. But at the same time, our choice in buying these items is determined by the demand for this product, by its popularity. We want to feel satisfied, recognized, successful.
Does everyone discuss global warming and eco-friendly lifestyle? We will follow this trend! And this is not because we have deeply studied this topic, not because we care, but because it is trendy. Everyone says paper bags are better than plastic ones. The problem with modern plastic bags is that they decompose for over 100 years. However, paper bags, alas, do not save the situation. Yes, they can be processed, but the manufacture and transportation of such packages sometimes require significantly more energy than polyethylene products. According to Greenpeace Russia, in the manufacture of paper bags, 70% of more harmful substances are released into the atmosphere, discharges into water bodies increase by 50 times, and the carbon footprint of a paper bag is 3 times greater than plastic. What to do? We can buy a beautiful bag made of durable cotton fabric and carry with you when you go shopping. Handbags, by the way, are becoming increasingly popular.
Houston, we have a problem
We think about whether we need the things we buy. Among the great variety of clothing, you will surely find "your wave". And the mass market adjusts it to a favourable price category. And the fact that, according to experts in 2030, the industry will sell more than 100 tons of clothing a year does not affect your mood (mine wasn`t affected when I purchased that “trendy” t-shirt).
To get the problem closer, we have to forego something important. For example, water. A few days without this resource - and we will realize that 2,000 litres for a T-shirt you never wore is a too high price.
Besides, synthetic materials that wear out quickly and lose their good appearance decompose as long as plastic. We try to sort the garbage, choose eco-friendly cosmetics and eat properly. But polyester eliminates all your environmental benefits. Therefore, to be eco-friendly while shopping, we should see the following points:
1. Emotion or need?  Let`s take a breath and understand that we already have too much clothing. Nobody knows how old your favourite jeans or that lovely vintage dress really is.
2. Material. Everyone understands, but not everyone follows this rule. The larger the percentage of natural fabrics, the longer it will be worn and the better it looks.
3. What to wear with and where? This question will save us from “getting hit only once”. Unless we can compile multiple images with the existing stuff right now, we definitely won't be able to do it in the future.
4. An alternative to purchases. Maybe for the sake of one party, the right dress can be rented?
The wardrobe should be audited as often as possible. This will not only free up space. Regular cleaning is the key to making decisions easy.
Looking to the future
To avoid betting on one season, people should look for classic, basic models. Also, they should combine a capsule wardrobe. That is a certain minimum that is combined in any variation. It's cool to understand current trends. But it is even better to be able to adjust them for yourself.
We must be aware of the problem and take it seriously, check the facts and research instead of the blind following the trends.
To be truly conscious, let`s think about these things:
1. Energy-saving light bulbs are not always safer for the environment. The fact that those light bulbs save up to 80% of energy is true. However, several researchers argue that strong ultraviolet radiation from the latest generation of lamps may be one of the causes of breast cancer in women, and under certain conditions, their light can damage skin cells.
2. The production of electric cars causes serious damage to the environment. For example, nickel mining for electric vehicle batteries is associated with a high processing temperature, which is not very compatible with the environmental friendliness of the process. Also, the problem of battery disposal has not yet been resolved. Even in developed countries, no more than 5% of lithium-ion batteries, a source of toxic gases, are recycled.
If we want to be eco-friendly, we should not dispose of energy-saving light bulbs with household waste but return to collection points with used batteries and accumulators. We need to reduce the use of the car instead of purchasing the new one. Sometimes it’s more useful to walk or cycle.
In order to build an ecological and sustainable future, we must be always conscious about our decisions and desires.