4 ways my shopping habits have changed since living in Sweden.

Since moving from Los Angeles to Sweden almost five years ago, I’ve started to notice some significant changes in how I shop. Back in the US, I prioritized brand names and discounts when making purchases. And while I still enjoy designer brands and a good sale, I find that my priorities when shopping have shifted since moving to Scandiland.

Here are four ways my shopping habits have changed since living in Sweden.

Shop Local

I have always enjoyed the world of fashion and love knowing a few facts about the brands I was purchasing from. And one of the things that most speaks to me is where a brand was born.

As much as I can, I prioritize purchasing from brands local to where I am living. Not only is it great to support local economy and businesses, I really feel that the clothing designed by people who live in the same place as me will best understand my needs. A company from LA just can’t make rain gear like a company in Norway. I’m sorry. They just can’t. (Side note, my favorite rain gear companies are Helly Hansen, Norwegian, and Rains, Danish).

So when I moved to Scandinavia, I wanted to learn more about the popular brands here. I’ve done a few round-ups on Sweden and Me so far:

• My favorite Swedish fashion houses for everyday luxury
• My favorite Swedish brands for casual, everyday adventures
• My favorite Swedish brands for the outdoors.

If you are curious to know what I consider to be the five staple pieces every Swedish wardrobe needs, read here.

Natural Materials

I never thought much about the fabrics that made up my clothing while living in the US. My consideration often didn’t extend further than, “Is this sweat-proof?” and “Does it need to be dry cleaned?” But since living in Sweden and putting sustainability more at the forefront of my decision making, I now opt for more natural materials. These include wool (amazing for our Swedish winters), cotton (go for organic), silk, linen, cashmere, and alpaca. While they are considered semi-synthetic, I also like bamboo and Lyocell/Tencel.

I have found that natural materials hold up better over time as well, but do require specific care and often cost more. Because of this, I take a few extra steps to make my investment last longer.

First, I wash my items less and only when they need it. When I do so, I pay close attention to the care label and wash as recommended. Anything that isn’t too finicky is washed cold (which is better for the environment, too!).

Second, I hang dry everything. This is probably the single most important step in preserving my clothing and something that most Europeans do naturally, but we rarely seem to in the US. Again, it is a win for the environment. While drying clothing outside in the fresh air can give clothing a lovely soft feeling, I find hang drying indoors can make my clothing a little crispy. When this happens, I steam my items quickly or toss them in the dryer on cold tumble for 15 minutes.

A Second Life

Since learning that the fashion industry has one of the highest impacts on our planet, I’ve pushed myself to shop less than I did in the US. But, like most of us, I get bored with my clothing, have things in my closet which need to be replaced, my body changes, and new jobs or life circumstances bring new wardrobe needs.

So when I am in search of a new item, I push myself to first look for something second-hand. And it as never been easier than before with so many online sites! Sellpy and Vinted make buying (and selling!) second-hand easy. For more vintage and luxury pieces, Vestiaire Collective and The RealReal are great options. I also love the idea of Rent the Runway, which allows you to borrow clothing and accessories, which is a fantastic option when you have a one-off event like a wedding or if you want to try out an item before making a purchase (which helps limit wasteful consumption and spending).

Some great Swedish second-hand and vintage shops are Arkivet, Affordable Luxury, A Piece Lux, and Pop Boutique. And while this post is mainly about clothing, there is also a thriving second-hand market for furniture in Sweden! And great deals can always be found at your local loppis (flea market).

And since Copenhagen is so close to where I live in Malmö, some great Danish second-hand and vintage shops are IBlameLULU, Time’s Up Vintage, and 2nd Rag.

Similar Values

I value brands that are clear on their values and bring transparency to their life cycles. Essentially, they need to put some serious effort into their corporate social responsibility. Some of the things I look most for with brands are: a focus on sustainability, female-founded, locally and/or ethically produced, and philanthropic.

During my MBA, I took a Life Cycle Analysis class, where we learned how to breakdown the complete life of a product, from production of the materials to the end-life of the very same. I very quickly learned that no company can be truly sustainable and so much water and energy goes into everything that is produced and so much waste comes out (often in the form of CO2 and chemicals in our water and soil).

This course made me realize how important it is shop less and, when shopping is unavoidable, to support brands that are at least trying to work in ways that protect the environment or make clear the impact your purchase will have. Some brands that I think do this well are hejhej (German, but the duo met in Sweden, where the idea for the brand was born) and Organic Basics (Danish).

• The fashion industry accounts for around 10% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
• Swedes buy on average 13 kilos / 28 pounds of textiles per person per year, of which, research shows that only 50% is consistently worn.
• Approximately 60% of all materials used by the fashion industry are made from plastic.
• The fashion industry is responsible for 8-10% of humanity’s carbon emissions – more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. If the fashion sector continues on its current trajectory, that share of the carbon budget could jump to 26% by 2050.

• Before buying more, start with what you have and take a deep dive in your own closet. Once a season, I love to pull everything out of my closet and cull it. I pile it all on my bed and take a good hard look at what I own. I will first clean the shelves in my closet, preparing the space to put items back in. Then I pick up each item I own and give it a once-over. If something needs steaming or a hole stitched up, it goes into a care pile. I do the same for items to sell, donate, and for textiles that will be recycled. Doing this a few times a year really helps me to stay familiar with what I own (especially those pieces that were purchased for a special occasion, like a wedding, and don’t get used often). It also helps me see patterns in my clothing – what shirt shapes do I most gravitate toward and which do I rarely reach for? Knowing these patterns helps me make smarter purchasing decisions later on.
• To keep my items looking their best, I love to steam my clothing. Steamery is a Swedish product and is the best.
• Sellpy is a Swedish company that makes selling second-hand easy. Just order a bag, pack it with your items, and ship it back to them. They will photograph, market, sell, and ship your unwanted clothing to a new owner. And you will earn between 40-70% of the profit, which can be collected as money, donation to charity, or redeemed as Sellpy Credits. Sellpy will recycle any items not sold, or you can request to have them back. 
• When trying on clothing, I only buy what I instantly love. Anything that engenders a lesser feeling is put back on the hanger. If, after a week, I’m still thinking about the left behind item, I’ll reconsider purchasing.
• My shopping habits are far from perfect when it comes to supporting the planet, but I am committed to doing better with each purchase.

• Fast fashion has a huge impact on the environment
• A Guide To Sustainable Fashion Materials
• The Environmental Cost of Fashion