Why Sustainable Fashion Matters Now More Than Ever
Sustainable fashion depends equally on the process of how each piece of clothing is made and the result of the product. “Fast fashion,” or clothes made cheaply to meet demands for the hot new styles, is one of the fashion industry’s worst environmental culprits. This model is putting our future planet at risk as it adapts to the constantly-changing global trends. The challenges can seem insurmountable: Global textile production emits 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases annually, which is more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Many fast-fashion brands are working towards transparency with their target audience; however, they are still producing billions of dollars worth of garments each year. Although we should note that the majority of the population does not have the financial resources to buy clothes anywhere else except affordable chains, but at least having a supply and access to ethically sourced garments is a step in the right direction. Balance is the key to the ultimate problem. Cora Hilts, the founder of a sustainable shopping platform, agrees that “Brands need to be looking at a more holistic approach to sustainability - oftentimes designers will focus on a hero fabric like organic cotton but then if everyone starts to use that it becomes a strained resource, takes up a lot of land and a lot of water. I also think to blend innovation with time-honored techniques in fashion and supporting local communities to empower them to keep production super local.” As more and more companies finally start to prioritize sustainability more in the coming years, companies need to focus on not only the makeup of the garment but also the supply chain and the amount of energy used to make these garments.
To put it simply, ethical fashion is the “designing, sourcing, and manufacturing clothes in a way that benefits people and communities while minimizing the impact on the environment.” There are many ways to produce ethical fashion, but all fall into three large umbrellas: social, environmental, and commercial, explicitly taking on issues such as minimizing water use, countering the fast, cheap fashion patters of fashion consumption, and defending fair wages for clothing workers, just to name a few.
As for consumers, they can take more sustainable measures by learning more about how fashion garments are made, as well as buy more ethically sourced garments if they are financially able. Consumers should also check the labels of certain clothing items to make sure before purchasing if the fabrics are recyclable or not. Polyester, for example, sheds microfibers each wash, and polyester pollutes a lot when extracted. Hence, consumers have to make sure that they buy 100% recycled polyester and learn how to care for it. For instance, you could sponge outerwear instead of machine wash. When consumers purchase clothing, they should also stay away from fabric blends, as these products are not recyclable. Currently, technology for recycling clothes is minimal, and no technology is now available that will allow us to recycle a blend of cotton and polyester. As professionals, adults need to take responsibility for their daily choices. One should try to commit to buying fewer clothes, limit the number of outfits per day, and invest in longer-lasting pieces is becoming a priceless asset. When shopping, adults and teens alike should do their research - research the brand’s “transparency” policy before you buy from the brand. Does the brand take initiatives with the fabrics used? Are they committed to ethical/sustainable practices? Answer these questions first before you buy them. It’s easy to forget the buying power you have as a consumer. These are some small steps, but everyone, no matter the age, can take each day to pave the way to a more sustainable fashion future.
In terms of global changes, in December 2019, Stella McCartney launched the UN Sustainable Fashion Industry Charter for Climate. To mark Earth Day that year, Fashion Revolution announced that it, too, is declaring a climate emergency and has signed the charter. Other signatories include Burberry, Gap, H&M, Kering, Levi’s, and Inditex. All of them have pledged to a series of industry-wide commitments, including a target of 30% greenhouse gas emission reductions by 2030.
There is much progress to be made for brands to be more transparent to their customers as well as engage in more sustainable practices and for consumers to even consider sustainability as criteria for before purchase, yet these actions are one step in the right direction of a more sustainable fashion world.
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H&M's latest Conscious collection makes use of Piñatex - a leather substitute made from discarded pineapple leaves.