Black Friday is  a time of year when everyone goes simply shopping crazy – or so it appears so.  Everywhere you go you can see offers and items which need to Go! Go! Go!…Then after Black Friday comes Cyber Monday – for those of us who prefer an online deal. Christmas season swiftly then comes around and that creates another consumer rush which after what feels like one day of rest, the Boxing day and the January sales begin… I don’t know about you but it can feel overwhelming. 

Which is why I am really paying attention to companies that are doing Black Friday differently this year and for brands pushing sustainability. I mean, I can enjoy the present buying and giving but I can also help be more environmentally too. Literally, save some money and arguably save the planet? I am in! 

Fabulous Fashion with a conscience

Since taking this approach I have found some amazing companies out there who really killing it when it comes to making something recycled or refurbished and into something aspirational. If you are into high fashion then look no further than Vivienne Westwood or Stella McCartney who have been going out of their way for years to be more eco friendly in the fashion world without losing the quality. 

If you really want to limit your impact on the environment with your fashion choices why not purchase second hand? Naturally places Ebay should be top or your list and there are other site such as vestiaire collective or rebelle which offers the highest quality second-hand fashion. One of my favorites is also Patatam, which always offers discounts as well, and you can donate to this site too. 

Loving This Patatam dress

Don’t want to be stuck in front of a screen when you shop, then why not go thrift shopping? There are some amazing charity and second hand stores in every location throughout the UK who will be more than happy to help you find something extra special that you can love. 

If you’re really curious to learn more about the fashion industry I recommend checking out the fashion debates site where Olivia Pinnock, discusses and debates the fashion industry and its impact on the environment.

Unwrap Refurbished This Christmas 

A few years ago if anyone had mentioned purchasing second hand tech I would have run a mile, in my brand new fast fashion shoes in the opposite direction. There has been something of a zeitgeist in recent years, mainly due to massive improvements in the offerings available, especially in the refurbished market where many of the products are resold by the original creator or one of their trusted sellers. This is certainly the case with computers and Mobile phones. This newfound appreciation makes sense when you release that some brands release a brand new version of already very high tech devices every.Single.Year. These new devices usually have very few additional advantages with each new release, therefore, why buy new when you purchase an already state of the art device for a fraction of the prize? Companies such as giffgaff are showcasing the many benefits of refurbished this year with campaigns such as take the pledge  includes a Black Friday Pop up shop, where you don’t have to buy anything (no really) you can simply pledge against one of 100 refurbished items before you enter for a chance to be gifted one…if you can’t make it to the store, can also share the digital pledge on your social channels – you could even be gifted on of ten refurbished phones for doing so. 

In fact don’t unwrap at all

If you really want to take the pledge and be as sustainably as possible this Christmas there are other wonderways of doing so such as Cut the Wrap, who are encouraging you to “go naked this Christmas”. O -er! 

It’s based on the logic that gift wrap is made to be thrown away and most of it won’t even get recycled so why not let your friends and family know you don’t want your gifts wrapped this year (and that you won’t be wrapping theirs either!). I mean, I couldn’t agree more! As queen of reusing and regifting presents in gift bags and using scarves to wrap things, I find this campaign delightful.  Especially when you consider that the total amount of rolls of wrapping paper Brits are set to use this festive season is 72,312,300. That’s a lot of trees! 

So what about you? Are you going to be doing anything sustainable this Christmas or have you decided to choose to take the refurbished pledge? If so, we want to know! Either comment below or continue on our social channels.