As we become more accustomed to the changes our planet goes through, we have an inherent focus on sustainability and ethics. This is extremely important, because the way we treat our planet will have a direct influence into how our society will evolve and also how our children and grandchildren will live. That’s why we need to take care of Earth as much as possible, and sustainability in the fashion industry is a huge part of that.
According to a study published by the European Parliament, around 10% of the global carbon emissions are generated by the fashion industry alone. By comparison, fashion generates more emissions than the combination of maritime shipping and international flights. That’s a huge red flag, but also the realistic side of fashion in today’s world. We need to find the right methods to evolve and grow, and in doing so, protect our planet.
The importance of sustainability
Sustainability is mandatory at this time in the fashion world. We need to protect the planet from all the pollution and items that can’t be used anymore. Recycling has been a major upside for the fashion industry. Many materials can be recycled and that will make it easier to create new fashion products. You don’t need to bring new raw materials, instead you reuse those existing ones.
Throwing clothes away is not going to help our planet. Recycling and reusing parts of those materials is the right thing to do. And in doing so, we also eliminate the use of new materials, not to mention water use is lowered as well. Those can be significant, demanding situations and that’s why we have to address them as much as possible, and also as quickly as possible.
Focusing on fewer, higher quality fashion products
Another thing we can do as we focus on sustainability is to try and ensure that all the products we buy are high quality. Instead of buying dozens of clothes every year, maybe we can buy a few of them, but they are all very well-made and we use them for a long time. Engaging with sustainable fashion companies will also help, since you know those products are made with environmental protection in mind. Viktoriia Osadchuk already focuses on the idea of presenting sustainability as the right thing to do, and things will get better in the long term as we focus on achieving such goals.
Using sustainable materials
There’s a reason why companies that focus on sustainability see a pay stub larger than others. And that’s because sustainability is popular, people want to make a difference and protect the environment. That’s not always a simple thing to do, but the way you approach it does matter. Focusing on ethical manufacturing, offering proper wages to people that work on those close, but also using recyclable or reusable materials also helps.
Yes, materials play a major role when it comes to sustainability, and that’s the thing you want to focus on. Even if you want to use natural materials, that doesn’t always make them sustainable. Organic cotton is better than regular cotton, it uses less water, and you don’t have to worry about any pesticides being used. That’s why the way these materials are handled before production is very important. Understanding these things, knowing how they are implemented, and how to ensure they lead to sustainability is the secret behind the success of many companies.
Greenwashing and what it means
As more and more people want to use environmentally-friendly products and lower their footprints from a pollution standpoint, we encounter a phenomenon called greenwashing. What this means is that some companies will try to appear eco-friendly and focused on sustainability, even if they are not like that. But they do it because they know that will bring in more sales and growth for their business.
That’s why it’s important to learn more about any fashion company you buy from and perform some due diligence. It will help you stay away from dangerous, unsupported claims and scammers. Thankfully, many governments have become stricter when it comes to claims like this, and they require companies within that country to back up their claims with policies and proof.
Examples of sustainable fashion
A great example would be ethical fashion, where the production, but also working conditions meet fair trade practices. It’s a morally fair way for companies to create outstanding fashion products, while ensuring no animals or humans are hurt during the process. Circular fashion encourages things like thrifting, upcycling and recycling in order to ensure that people can find a way to reuse fashion products instead of buying new ones.
Then there’s the alternative in the form of slow fashion. That means renting or sharing clothes in order to lower the number of purchases that people make. In doing so, it becomes much easier to avoid any concerns, and you can implement a better, more fashion-conscious way of dealing with such problems, if any.
Is sustainable fashion the way to go for the future? Yes, because we need to lower the amount of pollution generated by the industry. And things like ethical fashion, slow fashion or a general focus on sustainability can be the ideal option. There will always be a high demand for clothes, especially with new trends and ideas floating around.
However, we need to ensure that we focus on sustainability, and not just a narrow-minded approach of generating more and more pollution via fashion product manufacturing. Thankfully, our society and fashion houses realized the negative impact that creating fashion products has over the industry. That’s why we need to narrow down new, effective ways to recycle, upcycle, but also buy less fashion items. In doing so, we save money ourselves, and we focus on higher quality products rather than low-tier items that also pollute our planet!