Fashion is one of the most important concepts that prevail all around the globe. It impacts the world’s economy with annual revenues totalling over more than one trillion.
What majorly could we understand about fashion is its sustainability? So, it is important to understand deeply that what is sustainable fashion actually and why is it necessary for us?
What is Sustainable Fashion?
In simple words, we can understand sustainable fashion as today’s culture, ethics, and requirement of the era. This fashion trend starts with the design and with you, the fashionista. The main focus of this trend is to make, buy and use clothes to protect the planet, make it greener and make it useful for the people involved in the garment industry. Sustainable clothing brands are leading the way in sustainable fashion, with their commitment to using eco-friendly materials and ethical labor practices.Sustainable clothing brands are leading the way in sustainable fashion, with their commitment to using eco-friendly materials and ethical labor practices. It also refers to the ways that are eco-friendly and easily adapted by promoting beautiful outcomes of trends and modesty.
A relatable word for this fashion trend is ethical fashion, which has the same focus to make clothing in a way where the traditional values and respect of our social welfare and worker rights are ensured.
Why is Sustainable Fashion Important?
To understand in details, sustainable fashion is about helping the fashion supply chain –
• Farmers
• Consumers
• End to end facilities like recycling factories etc
The fast-moving fashion culture has led to a drastic change in the fashion industry promoting cheap, trendy fabrics that don’t last long. This has increased the risk of environmental problems
It is observed that most of the clothes are a major reason for pollution in the environment. According to statistics, in the year 2015 textiles manufacturing caused 1.2 bn tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is way too much than that of maritime shipping and international flights, combined. Summer fashion trends for 2023 embrace sustainability with natural materials, upcycled pieces, and vintage finds. Fabric dyeing and associated things performed contributed to 20% of all industrial water pollution. (McArthur Foundation, A New Textiles Economy).
If this system continues to prevail at this rate, by 2050, the fashion industry could consume more than a quarter of the carbon budget to limit the overall temperature increase to 2-degrees Celsius. Ultimately, leading to a world disaster.
Therefore, sustainably working for the fashion industry is the need of the hour. It is also a fact that zero waste may also create a huge problem for Vogue.
Many of the fashion brands are aware of the outcome which is going to happen soon due to unsustainable ways of handling trends. So, they are encouraging eco-friendly trends like London Fashion Week prohibited designers promoting animal fur on its catwalks encouraging pledges by most famous fashion brands such as Burberry, Gucci, and Versace to go fur-free. Moreover, fashion industry brands such as Adidas and G-Star RAW have created apparel made from ocean plastic, with Adidas investing and gaining over a million from its ‘Parley’ range in 2017. Plus Size Fashion is a sustainable fashion movement that promotes inclusivity and body positivity.
How can Fashion Become more Sustainable?
With the inset of transformation and awareness of this disastrous effect of unsustainable fashion practices, some communities have started textile recycling programs. This clearly says that about 85% of textile waste is dumped into landfills, where it consumes about 5% of the space. Since 95% of post-consumer textiles are reusable and can be recycled by different means and tactics, there is an urgent need to take action in this direction.
For making fashion sustainable, one must adopt these simple ways and tips: –
1. Adopt Clean and Green Fashion
With the advent of consumerism, false fashion trends are not acceptable to consumers. We need to make our earth green and clean by prioritizing eco-fashion. Green fashion is the right key to help our earth become a clean and happy place to live in. Moreover, we also need to understand that the products which are recycled are also considered green. Green here means natural and environment friendly, without dye and non-synthetic and non-toxic materials.
2. Prefer Quality Over Quantity
Quality can be a major factor to ensure sustainability as it helps in less purchasing and more saving. Purchasing good quality, more sustainable pieces is affordable and sustainable. Shopping for 10-30 good quality trendy outfits in a year, rather than 60 cheaper, less eco-friendly ones will surely reduce your carbon footprint.
3. Donate Your Good Clothes, which are Attractive but not Appealing to You
Donating your clothes is a noble cause. It could help someone to avoid unnecessary purchasing of clothes and help you get rid of the clothes which you don’t want to wear but you just hung them up in your wardrobe. You can think of an innovative method to buy 1 outfit and donate 1. This mantra could help you achieve sustainability in fashion.
4. Repair, Redesign, and Recycle Outfits
With the changing trend, repairing and redesigning is always in. everyone, be it a brand or a customer, believes in remaking or putting in their minds some of the other ways of shaping their outfits. Remaking your ethical jeans, kids’ wear, sportswear, etc could satisfy your inner artist and can also make you feel fresh and trendy, ensuring sustainability.
The fashion industry encourages this concept and saves a lot on raw material and natural resources. Moreover, brands are also helping and spreading awareness on how to manage fashion waste and make the industry more sustainable.
5. Think more About all Seasonal Clothing
Start to invest in something that could be beneficial to you all year long. Don’t make on a complete summer wardrobe every year when you don’t require it. Instead, buy Jeans, T-shirts, classic dresses, timeless coats, and jackets that will help you to reinvent your classics and enable you to make a much more sustainable wardrobe.
To Summarise
Purchasing clothes made in the local market or facilities run on renewable or reusable energy or clothes made with lesser impact, natural and organic materials, recycled, up-cycled, or deadstock materials, eco-friendly dyes, and/or zero- or low-waste designs. Planning to buy altered or second-hand clothing; and enhancing the life of your clothes by taking good care of them, mending and tailoring as required, and modernizing their looks can make them look trendy to match your latest culture.
The need of the planet is the right purchase. Make a positive and clean environment with your fashion purchases. At last, the most optimum way to have an affordable and sustainable fashion with you is to consume less and buy only what you need.
Author Bio
Upcycleluxe – We at Upcycleluxe- Sustainable Fashion Marketplace envision to build a community for sustainable fashion brands in India. With a mission to accelerate the transition towards sustainable fashion, we are committed to renewing the importance of sustainable clothing in India.
