‘Just because you are bored with those jeans doesn't mean that someone else might not like them.'

Suzanne Elvidge dives into the online world of ethical clothes shopping.

Personally, I hate clothes shopping. Either, I go out with something particular in mind, say a pair of black trousers for work, and I can't find anything, or I end up in the changing room with fifteen almost identical black T-shirts and I can't decide which one to go for.

But there is actually more to clothes shopping than whether it makes your bum look big.

Prices of clothes have dropped by 34% in the last ten years, making clothes practically disposable. Great as this may seem, it means that costs have to have been cut somewhere, and this is generally at the level of the quality, environmental concerns and of the conditions for the workers.

The production of natural and artificial fibres has an environmental impact. Artificial fibres are non-biodegradable, often based on petrochemicals, and can produce pollutants. Natural fibres such as cotton require pesticides, and bleaching, dyeing, and finishing use energy and water, as well as causing pollution.

Of a $100 sports shoe, only 5c goes to the worker. CAFOD has found garment workers in Indonesia earning 57p for a 10-hour day.

Buying ethical clothes

The Clean Clothes Campaign has a list of companies that comply to its standards.

Equop supports and promotes socially and environmentally responsible trade and living.

Ganesha imports clothing from India, sourced from and developed with co-operatives and producer associations.

Traidcraft sells Fairtrade-certified cotton products, including T-shirts and Polo shirts, made from fairly traded 100% organic cotton from Agrocel, the Indian producers who, together with Traidcraft, have helped pioneer the Fairtrade cotton movement.

Green Baby has clothes for babies and toddlers. The Next Big Thing by EmmDesign is ethical clothes for children with fun designs & bright colours.

The Rough Guide to a Better World includes ethical clothing resources.

Because of the issues discussed above, ethical clothes can be more expensive, so can be tough on a tight budget. Instead of buying new clothes, why not not swap clothes with friends (just because you are bored with those jeans doesn't mean that someone else might not like them), buy clothes from charity shops, or pick clothes up on ebay or Freecycle.

Try making your own clothes, mending existing clothes or remaking ones that you are bored with.

So, you've bought or made your ethical clothes — how are you going to make room for them in your wardrobe? Why not drop them off at a textiles bank?

What happens when you put clothes in a textiles bank ?

• Wearable shoes are sold abroad in countries like Pakistan, India, Africa and Eastern European.
• Wearable clothes are resold in the UK and abroad, and also go overseas for emergency use and warm winter clothing.

Sometimes clothes get unwearable, and have to be recycled rather than reused.

• Unwearable clothes are sold to the 'flocking' industry and are shredded for fillers in car insulation, roofing felts, loudspeaker cones, panel linings, furniture padding etc.
• Unwearable woollens are sold to specialist firms for fibre reclamation to make yarn or fabric.
• Unwearable cottons and silks are sorted into grades to make wiping cloths for industry and for use in paper manufacture.

What else can you do?

So, all your clothing is now ethical. What else can you do? You can do your bit to change things for the workers. Ethiscore is running a campaign to improve worker's rights in clothes factories Labour Behind the Label gives you a card you can post to high street clothes shops. The Clean Clothes Campaign aims to improve working conditions and to empower workers in the global garment industry, in order to end the oppression, exploitation and abuse of workers in this industry, most of whom are women.

And yes, I admit it. I’m sitting here in a pair of black trousers and a black t-shirt!

• Ethical clothes washing