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Fashionistas across the globe spend their lives in search of trademark, on-trend pieces that they can welcome into their wardrobe. The unfortunate truth, though, is that seasons come and go – and with them, trends are left behind (creating unnecessary waste from the remnants of once-loved garments).

As environmental consciousness continues to make its way into the fore, becoming the universal concern it should always have been, we’re breaking down some simple and effective ways you can change how you shop in order to make eco-friendly decisions when it comes to your wardrobe. Earth-loving fashionistas unite: it’s time to reduce the world’s fashion footprint.

Shop local

In your quest for greener shopping habits, the first crucial step is to forego high-street giants in favour of smaller independent stores. Finding a local shop that sells sustainably sourced or vintage clothing – or, better still, donates a portion of its proceeds to a relevant charity or conservation project – means doing your bit for the little guy, and for the planet.

Supporting your local community is a truly noble endeavour, but the same ethos can also be applied online – with smaller businesses (selling their own goods or curating those of other brands) needing your custom and valuing your loyalty more than major outlets and international market leaders.

Shop for quality

One simple and powerful way to not only reduce the ecological footprint of your shopping behaviour, but also allow you to budget effectively is to shop less frequently, but focus your spending on high-quality items that have longevity on their side.

For example, rather than paying the bare minimum for a serviceable but ultimately poor quality pair of shoes or pants, instead invest in a pair of hard-wearing women’s boots or some designer men’s jeans – items that mean paying more up-front but offer dependable quality for years to come. This way, you can lower your fashion footprint and the associated price tag in the long run.

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Shop vintage

Naturally, one of the most popular sustainable shopping habits is buying secondhand rather than brand new. As such, rummaging through vintage clothing outlets and thrift stores in search of preloved gems provides a fun, budget-friendly and environmentally conscious alternative to the norm.

Searching these treasure troves for statement garments made from quality fabrics gives you a chance to save money and enjoy the satisfaction of striking gold when you find a unique retro item that has ‘you’ written all over it. Complete the cycle by donating your own vintage favourites to your local thrift store once you’re ready to release them back into the wild.

Shop for a lifetime

Being a sustainably-minded fashionista means never saying goodbye to a garment unless absolutely necessary. It’s important to know that an item which has temporarily lost its sparkle doesn’t necessarily have nothing more to give. In the face of holes, scuffs, worn fabric and outdated designs, crack open your craft kit, pick up your needle and thread and get to work!

Whether you’re embellishing an uninspiring dress, patching up an old jacket or adding a whole new layer to a once-loved item (such as a new lace collar or hem), the options are practically endless when it comes to upcycling your clothing. There’s also the option to repurpose the fabric for an interior DIY project and create a stylish new home accessory from the remains of the piece in question.

Shop mindfully

Finally, to create a long-term habit out of your newfound quest for sustainable shopping options, the key is to have your passion for ethical and eco-friendly brands permeate your online browsing behaviour. It’s fair to say that you may struggle to simply stumble upon green clothing companies by chance – making it important to do your research, and it’s online that this research will be most rewarding.

From brands that source materials sustainably to those that swear by plastic-free packaging and guarantee their staff fair wages and working conditions, there are a diverse range of factors which contribute to an ‘ethical’ brand – but the information is out there and, by making this your deal-breaker as a consumer, you can take one big step towards reducing your fashion footprint forever.

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Young gymnasts always aspire for perfection. Staying healthy is key in helping achieve this goal. Here are some tips that will help to keep you healthy all through the gymnastics season:  

Good Flexibility is necessary

Though you need to be flexible to succeed as a gymnast, the average gymnast is more flexible on one side. For instance, your left side might be split down all the way but your right side is not. If you are only flexible in one part of the body but not all, you might end up suffering from back pain or joint pain.

Often times, gymnasts think that their backs are very flexible, but this might not be entirely true. Tight shoulders will strain your lower back when performing back walkovers and bridges, so you should stretch your shoulders before you start any routine. Just remember that not all gymnasts are born flexible and you have to work on your flexibility.

Take Conditioning Seriously

Gymnastics is an activity that requires a lot of strength, so you need to condition to ensure that you get stronger. Conditioning will help you to reduce the number of injuries that you sustain, which allows you to perform harder and improve your skills drastically. Doing home exercises daily might help you a lot to improve your flexibility and muscles strength. In gymnastics, you will perform many repetitive movements and this will have an impact on your body.

Conditioning helps you to protect your joints: ankles, wrists, and knees. To keep your body strong, you should listen to your coach and do the right number of repetitions. No matter how tired you feel at the end of the day, you should take the time to do some conditioning exercises.

Stay Balanced

Gymnasts are some of the strongest athletes, but their strength does not come overnight. They spend many hours conditioning and training to strengthen their muscles enough so that they can support their joints. However, this does not mean that every muscle in your body is strong because you are a gymnast.

Strength training has many health benefits and it’s highly recommended around the world. Most gymnasts have weak hip muscles, which can lead to knee, lower back, and hip injuries. You might favor one side of your body but you need to use both sides equally to develop strength and maintain good balance. Using both sides also helps your body to develop a sense of where it is in a space. Therefore, you should ensure that you do turns, jumps, and leaps on both sides to improve your body symmetry.

Fuel the Body

You need to pay attention to your nutrition if you want to keep your body well fueled and strong. Make sure that you plan for snacks every 3 to 4 hours and start drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Before practice, you should avoid fried foods and eat high-carbohydrate foods. Drink or eat foods with calcium every day to keep your bones strong.

You should balance your meals with 2/3 carbohydrates and 1/3 protein. Look for foods that are high in good fats, such as olive oil, peanut butter, and soy nuts. Do not forget to give your diet top priority if you want to achieve your gymnastic goals.

Be Good Communicators

Pain is the body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. If you are unable to practice because of pain, you should tell your coach and he will recommend the best course of action. If you feel sharp stabs and cramping in your body, you should seek medical help. Waiting to seek help might result in serious injuries that could end your career.

If you manage your pain properly, you will be able to stay in the gym and adjust your routines to allow the injured parts to heal while working out the rest of your body. When returning to practice after healing, you should keep the lines of communications open and report any fears to your coach. He will help you to make a gradual transition back into practice as you regain your confidence.

If you are looking for t-shirts to wear as you practice, you should consider custom ones such as personalized t-shirts to ward off the chill.