First Published: 6th February 2021, written by Olivia Doonan | Last Updated on 6th January 2024 | Reviewed and Edited by Chloe Safilo
As people become more and more aware of the consequences of the fashion industry on the environment, appetite and consumption are decreasing and the demand for sustainability is increasing. High quality ethical streetwear is often a sales tagline, but is it really climate conscious and what makes it sustainable?
What is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion is often defined as the use of materials that can be replenished in a timely manner by harvesting or farming; this is the idea of ‘closing the loop’. For example, using cotton which has been reclaimed or recycled material like plastic bottles or discarded fishing nets, or organic materials. Eco-friendly gifts should always be considered as alternatives, along with recycled paper packaging.
The term is also often used to describe clothing that is made without harming the environment, perhaps helping the climate through less emissions in production, doesn’t contribute to the pollution of our oceans, rivers, or landfills. or via less travel. But because the fashion industry is so massive, there are a lot of opinions about how to make it sustainable. Both the use of organic materials and recycled materials have pros and cons.
As we all know, buying fast fashion has serious consequences for the environment and the term refers to clothing that’s produced quickly for cheap and sold at affordable prices. It is often sold at retailers like Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and Forever 21. Putting profit over the environment, the pressure is on to adapt for the greater good and move to slow fashion.
How do we produce sustainable clothing?
Sustainable fashion is a term used to describe clothing and accessories produced in a way that is environmentally, socially and economically responsible. This could be recycled materials, or the use of unprocessed and raw materials like organic cotton or bamboo clothing.
In a world where every season is fashion week and every girl is a personal style blogger, it can be hard to keep up. And if sustainable fashion brands says they are eco-friendly and ethical, can you really trust it’s more than a marketing ploy?
What does sustainable fashion look like?
It’s never been easy being green. But today, living an eco-friendly lifestyle is becoming more and more mainstream; people are becoming more interested in how their choices affect the planet. But how do we make sure that each of these choices is ethical and sustainable?
In a world where we can buy cheap, fast fashion as easily as we can pick up our regular groceries, how do we know which items are truly ethical? The good news is that the demand for sustainable fashion is growing, and there are plenty of ethical brands out there doing their part to make the world a better place. The bad news? There’s still a lot of work to be done, and plenty of traps to fall into along the way.
While it may not be widely talked about, sustainable fashion is a movement that is gaining traction as more people become aware of the environmental impact of clothing production, and as the fashion industry becomes more conscious of the need to reduce its carbon footprint. Fashion sustainability is more than just organic or fair trade clothing; it’s a way of thinking about how clothing is made and how it is worn.
Where can I find sustainable clothing brands?
The fact that you are reading this post means you are probably already aware of the negative impact that fast fashion is having on our environment. Not only does it use up precious natural resources, but it also puts a huge strain on the environment.
It’s estimated that fashion production contributes 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, and along with that comes other environmental concerns ranging from water pollution to deforestation.
No one wants to be a slave to fashion. No one wants to be part of the eco-unfriendly system that our clothing is produced in, but the availability of cheap, trendy clothes means it’s easy to forget the world in which these clothes are produced. And that’s the problem.
Fashion Companies that have made strides towards being sustainable
It’s no secret that the fashion industry has a sustainability problem. Most recently, it’s been getting a lot of attention for its use of harmful chemicals; most notably, the use of PFCs, which are used in clothing manufacturing and are known to cause birth defects and other reproductive issues.
But clothing companies are also known to take advantage of cheap labour in order to keep prices low, which often means that workers aren’t paid fair wages and have to work in unsafe conditions.
The fashion industry is responsible for more water and air pollution than any other industry on earth. That’s why, over the last few years, some of the biggest names in fashion have been working hard to eliminate toxic chemicals and unsustainable practices from their supply chain.
They’ve also been working hard to bring their environmental and social practices to the mainstream, so that consumers know exactly how their favourite brands are taking steps to be more sustainable.
