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17 February 2022
Now and then we see people raising the social goal of sustainability, which aims for meeting our own needs without compromising the needs of the future generation and for humans to safely co-exist for a long time. Sustainability can be attained in numerous fields. Why should fashion be any different? This now raises a new thought, that is, sustainable fashion.
Sustainable fashion, which can also be referred to as ‘eco-fashion’, is a term that refers to clothing and accessories that are produced in such a manner that they can be accessed in an ecologically and socially responsible manner. We all are well aware of the toll our environment has taken due to the impact of products and consumerism, including our clothes, with the fashion industry responsible for an eye-opening 4-10 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions every year. Hence, it is crucial to maintain the sustainability matrix for the brands and for the consumers to think through their purchases.
When it comes to fashion, one thing people should know is that it can never be 100% sustainable, but we can take steps and spread the idea around, just by adopting a few atomic habits. And how can we start that? Let’s rethink our wardrobe.
Selective Buyer
Buy less and better clothes. Billions of clothes are being produced globally every year, and the more the clothes, the more the impact from the fashion industry. Therefore, it is important to understand, that as a consumer you should keep in mind that you have to be selective about what you buy and ask yourself the three questions; “What and why are you buying this”, “Do you really need this?”, and “Will you wear this 30 times at least?”. In this way, you will buy limited clothes, with better quality that will last longer.
This is one of the best ways to sustainable fashion. It is a method that not only allows you to give your clothes a new life but also gets you new clothes. It’s a simple win-win situation. It may be a time-consuming activity, but when it comes to fashion, who doesn’t like to explore? Suppose a special occasion arises, maybe a new dress for a wedding. Nowadays, one of the easiest options is to rent clothes. It is way less time-consuming and helps towards sustainable fashion. According to one study, in the UK every summer approximately a shocking 50 million clothes are bought and worn, and we need to stop this immediately, knowing that every second and equivalent to one garbage truck, textiles are burned and landfilled.
This is another great method that aids our sustainable fashion goal. When you shop from a thrift shop, you are buying second-hand clothes. You are not buying any new clothes, but buying clothes that are already produced, saving the entire negative impact from the fashion industry regarding production. Thrift Shopping gives consumers less incentive to think about what they are buying, which in return fuels faster fashion consumption. It is also a great deal for consumers wanting to go for budget-friendly shopping. Vintage is another term that can also be used for such second-hand clothes, and buying high-quality vintage clothes has become one of the top trends that are liked by people throughout.
A fashion choice that is not only renowned but also one that is a great choice towards the environment and the animals that live in it. Animal-derived clothes, such as leather and wool, harm our environment. Therefore going vegan in fashion helps prevent animals from dying and suffering for your clothes. There are many great innovations as well such as synthetic leather made by Bolt Thread known as ‘Mylo Thread’, which is something also already adopted by Stella McCartney, one of the famous English Fashion Designers.
These are only a few habits to start with to help attain our sustainability goal in the fashion industry. But how can we spread it? How can we execute these small habits and inform them to the world so there comes a change? Sustainable fashion is a concept, a goal not everyone is aware of, and it is something that needs to be brought to the light of many big brands as well, so that when they implement them it impacts millions of people, hence genuinely bringing a change towards our goal.
As a consumer, to spread the idea, we need to start investing in sustainable fashion brands and show them off to the world. When we buy products from such brands we are directly impacting and working towards our goal. Putting these purchases and products online on social media can immediately boost the rate at which the products of such sustainable brands will be sold, reaching out to as many people as possible. And when huge brands, see these new emerging ideas, and how it impacts the world, they would want to implement the same in their brand and products connecting to their audience as well. In such a manner, the idea of sustainable fashion can be spread on a large scale.
Many eco-minded brands such as Mara Hoffman and Sheep In have started considering how their brands can have a positive impact. It can include buying from locals or buying products made of organic cotton. In this way, you will be minimizing your carbon footprint along with having a positive impact on the locals and farmers as you will be buying their products and expressing to them as well the idea of sustainability and how they play a big role in the movement as well.
One of the most important things to remember is that it is not about making 100% sustainable fashion, but it is about improving, helping, becoming better as well as thoughtful and bringing about a change to our environment and our future generation. Just one step towards what you feel matters most to you that will help change the negative impact the fashion industry has put on our environment and how you know you can show your contribution. Fashion is something that can be used to express in innumerable ways, so why not use it for a better present and a better future?
