Sustainability has become a key issue in the fashion industry in recent years. As consumers have become more aware of the environmental and social impacts of the clothes they buy, this movement has become a hot topic.
But what is sustainable fashion, and why is it so important?
In this blog post, we will explore those questions and discuss the reasons for creating a more sustainable fashion industry.
What Does Sustainable Fashion Mean?
Sustainable fashion is an umbrella term for a growing movement within the fashion industry to create clothes and accessories in a way that minimises the negative effects of the textile and apparel industry on the environment and society.
There is no one definition of sustainable fashion, but generally, it includes these three areas: reducing waste and pollution throughout the supply chain, using environmentally-friendly materials and fibres, and supporting fair labour practices.
While there are many challenges to making it mainstream, there is also a growing number of sustainable fashion brands and consumers committed to choosing the clothes they wear responsibly.
1. What Is Ethical Fashion?
The term “ethical fashion” refers to a movement where clothes are produced ethically while promoting social responsibility.
Ethical fashion focuses on the people who work in the fashion supply chain, from cotton farmers to textile weavers and everyone in between involved in creating a piece of clothing. It also pays attention to the way retail personnel and company employees are treated.
Companies that are part of the ethical fashion movement pay fair wages to their workers, provide them with proper health insurance and working conditions and promote those principles among their colleagues.
2. What Is Sustainable Fashion Design?
There are many different ways to approach fashion design. But, one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly methods is known as zero waste pattern cutting. It involves creating a piece of clothing with as little leftover fabric as possible by carefully planning how to cut and use the material.
Upcycling is another great way to support sustainable fashion. By taking old clothes and repurposing them into new designs, you can give them a second life while also creating something unique and stylish.
You don’t have to be a fashion designer to do this. With a bit of creativity and some help from online tutorials, you can transform a boring piece of clothes into something new and stylish.
It is vital to popularise this type of fashion, as designing with sustainability and environmental impact in mind helps reduce waste and protect nature for future generations.
3. Why Is Sustainable Fashion So Expensive?
One of the main reasons why sustainable fashion is often more expensive than fast fashion is because these brands typically produce on a smaller scale. This means that they don’t have the same budget and income as fast fashion brands, which can produce huge quantities of clothing at a very low cost.
Besides that, sustainable fashion is often more expensive because its brands tend to use higher quality materials and pay their workers fair wages. This results in a higher quality product, but also one that costs more to produce.
4. Why Is Sustainable Fashion Important?
For one, it is important because it helps reduce your carbon footprint and save natural resources. According to sustainable fashion stats, the fashion industry causes 2.1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. Because of this, changing ways the fashion industry operates is crucial for our future wellbeing.
Additionally, sustainable fashion is more ethical, as it takes into account the working conditions and wages of workers in the fashion industry. It also promotes these values across the industry, influencing others to change their attitudes as well.
And finally, this kind of fashion is simply better for the environment. It doesn’t pollute the air or water. It doesn’t contribute to deforestation or other forms of habitat destruction and it doesn’t harm or abuse animals. The natural materials used for the products such as cotton and linen are biodegradable, meaning that they dissolve more quickly than synthetic materials. This leads to less waste and pollution.
Sustainable fashion is not only about reducing the negative environmental impacts of the clothing industry. It’s also about creating positive social and environmental outcomes throughout the entire supply chain.
With that in mind, it’s important to consider all aspects of sustainability when looking for sustainable fashion brands to support. As you explore sustainable or vegan clothing brands, make sure to look for those that emphasise transparency, traceability, and accountability throughout their supply chains.