Your guilt-free guide to the new trends

Recycled leather handbags. Sustainable cashmere. Ethically sourced dresses . . .

Eco-friendly, organic, sustainable, fair . . . we once lived in blissful ignorance of such labels and the consequences of our fashion habits, blithely packing our wardrobes with £5 T-shirts and one-season frocks. clothes were a cheap, guilt-free treat.

Then we discovered that fashion is one of the most polluting industries on the planet.

from sweatshops to microplastics to water waste, it seems as if there’s no modern problem to which fashion hasn’t contributed. The pleasurable pastime of shopping has become a minefield for anyone who wants to do the right thing.

And what is ‘the right thing’ anyway? you might have found a dress made in a factory that treats its workers fairly, but is it made of polyester and destined for landfill?

And, while many High Street stores proudly tout their sustainability credentials, can you be sure they’re not just ‘greenwashing’?

According to Michael Spenley, one of europe’s top experts on sustainability, it can be exceptionally difficult to be sure you’re making an ethical choice, but there are ways to do so.

‘We don’t have to ditch fashion, but we do need to consume differently,’ says Michael. ‘Buy less, but better and buy natural fibres.

‘And if in doubt, check the company’s sustainability report on its website before you shop — if it doesn’t have one, then ask yourself why.’

Here, we’ve picked out the autumn trends that will look good for longer, from the brands that take the guilt out of buying new . . .