It has never been more important to be conscious of the clothes we wear and the impact our fashion choices have on the environment. With climate change becoming an increasingly pressing global issue, sustainable fashion is more vital than ever before. But what is sustainable fashion? Sustainable fashion is fashion that is made with the intention of being environmentally friendly. This means that the materials used are sustainable, the manufacturing process is sustainable, and the end product is sustainable. Here are four more things you should know about sustainable fashion:
1) What Fashion Brands Are Sustainable?
There are many fashion brands that focus on sustainability at all levels of production. There is a growing number of brands that use organic, recycled, upcycled, and/or eco-friendly materials in their collections. As seen at Whole People, some of these include Tradlands, Tentree, All The Wild Roses, Kotn. There are also some more popular brands that are sustainable in some ways, like Patagonia and Zara. Even H&M is beginning to make small steps in the direction of sustainable fashion with their Conscious Collection.
2) What Materials Are Considered Sustainable?
If you were wondering if some fabrics are more sustainable than others, then the answer is yes. Choosing sustainable materials (especially when buying new garments rather than secondhand) is one of the first things we can do to make our closets more eco-friendly when it comes to sustainable fashion. One of the most sustainable materials is wool. Wool is the only fabric that can be recycled, upcycled, and reused many times without losing its stability. Other sustainable materials include organic cotton, hemp, linen, silk. These materials are all-natural and biodegradable. They don’t require too much water to grow, and they absorb CO2 as they grow. When it comes to sustainable fabric clones like rayon and lyocell, you should know that while these materials do use less water than cotton, they’re still bad for the environment if not manufactured responsibly. So, choose wisely—the more natural the material, the better.
3) What Are Some Benefits Of Sustainable Fashion?
There are so many great reasons to choose sustainable fashion over conventional fashion! Here are some of the biggest benefits:
- It makes you feel better about buying something new—because you know it won’t be in a landfill for hundreds of years;
- It has less environmental impact than conventional fashion, which means it’s less harmful to the Earth and it reduces your carbon footprint;
- It saves water, energy, and chemicals that would have been used in the conventional process of making your garment;
- It supports safer working conditions worldwide;
- It teaches us how to love our clothes again, making us value them more and treat them with care, rather than throwing something away after a few wears.
4) How Can I Transition To Sustainable Fashion?
It’s important to start small when transitioning into sustainable fashion. First of all, you should know that sustainable fashion has come a long way and is getting better and better with each passing day. Because of the increased demand for more environmentally-friendly fashion, brands are doing more to make their production practices more sustainable. You can find many brands that offer organic, recycled, and sustainable fashion. As we already mentioned, there are many small brands that focus on sustainable fashion. Even mainstream fashion brands are starting to use more recycled materials and ethically-sourced fabrics in their clothing. When buying new clothes, always read the label first to make sure that fabrics, materials, and production practices are sustainable. You can also look for secondhand clothing that has been sustainably produced. Another great way to transition into sustainable fashion is to shop at thrift shops or garage sales! Buying second hand reduces the need for new fabric, which helps save all those natural resources!
Even if you’re just starting small, you can still have a big impact on the world with your closet by making conscious, sustainable choices.
Sustainable fashion is a growing industry, and for good reason. The benefits of sustainable fashion are many, including reducing the environmental impact of the clothing industry, supporting safer working conditions worldwide, and saving water, energy, and chemicals. There are many ways to transition into sustainable fashion, starting with small steps like recycling our old clothes, choosing secondhand clothes over new ones, and looking for sustainable fabrics such as organic cotton and hemp. With so much at stake environmentally and socially, choosing sustainable fashion is one way we can all make a difference. What will you do to become more sustainable in your wardrobe? Hopefully, this article inspired you to take some new steps towards sustainable fashion!
