The world of fashion is always changing, but one of the most important talking points of the moment is sustainable fashion. In this blog post, we’ll look at what sustainable fashion design is, why it’s so important and how you can incorporate it into your wardrobe. So, let’s pull back the curtain and take a look at sustainable fashion!
What is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion is a movement in fashion design that focuses on making clothing, accessories and other fashion items in a way that is environmentally friendly and socially responsible.
It seeks to reduce the environmental impact of production and consumption and to ensure that workers in the fashion industry are treated fairly and with respect.
At its core, sustainable fashion is about finding ways to create fashion items that are made with materials that are renewable and biodegradable. It also involves finding ways to produce fashion items in a way that is energy efficient and doesn’t produce a lot of waste.
It’s a move away from the traditional fashion industry that often uses materials that are damaging to the environment and creates a lot of waste in the production process.
Sustainability in the fashion industry
The fashion industry is one of the largest polluters in the world, and this is due to the many toxic chemicals and materials that are used in the production of fashion items, as well as the amount of water used in production.
The traditional production processes also create a lot of waste and consume a lot of energy, which is bad for the environment.
Sustainability in the fashion industry is also about finding ways to ensure that workers in the industry are treated fairly and with respect. This means that workers should be paid a living wage and work in safe conditions.
Different types of sustainable fashion
Sustainable fashion comes in many different forms. There are sustainable brands that focus on creating fashion items with eco-friendly fashion materials or upcycled and vintage fashion items. Using eco-friendly and sustainable materials means that the production of the items is natural and will not harm the environment.
Fashion is also sustainable when the company creating the garments put back into the community that creates them. For instance, a lot of the world’s fashion items are made in poor parts of the world, like Bangladesh. When companies work with suppliers in these parts of the world, sustainable fashion brands will invest in the local community, building schools and paying the workers a living wage.
On the flip side, fast fashion brands don’t do this. They use their power and influence to only take from the local community, forcing them to work for less than £1 a day. Sustainable fashion really shines a light on this practice, helping to raise the standards across the fashion industry.
Another area of sustainable fashion is upcycled and vintage fashion items, which are made with materials that have been used before, repurposed and given a new lease of life! Vintage fashion is really popular at the moment, so there’s a huge demand for recycled clothing, which is great for the environment.
Sustainable fashion materials
As we just mentioned, sustainable fashion materials are materials that are renewable and biodegradable.
If they’re renewable, it means they can be manufactured again without having to repeat the harmful manufacturing process of things like plastic.
Biodegradable materials mean they break down naturally, unlike plastic and polyester, which lasts a long time and pollutes the environment.
Some of the most common sustainable fashion materials include organic cotton, hemp and bamboo. These materials are grown without the use of pesticides or artificial fertilisers and are processed in an energy-efficient way. They’re renewable because they can be regrown sustainably.
Other sustainable fashion materials include recycled materials, such as recycled plastic bottles and recycled fabrics. These materials are made from things that would otherwise be discarded, so they help to reduce the amount of waste that is generated.
The sustainable fashion production process
The production processes used to create sustainable fashion items are super important. Sustainable fashion items should be produced in a way that is energy-efficient and doesn’t create a lot of waste.
Some sustainable fashion brands use renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, to power their production processes. They also often use water-saving technologies and waste-reducing strategies.
Another important aspect of sustainable fashion production processes is the use of fair labour practices. Sustainable fashion brands should ensure that workers in the industry are paid a living wage and work in safe conditions.
How Sustainable Fashion Can Help the Planet
Sustainable fashion is an important part of the fight against climate change. By reducing the environmental impact of producing and consuming fashion items, we can help to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas released into the atmosphere.
Sustainable fashion can also help to reduce the amount of waste that is created through the production of fashion items. By using renewable and biodegradable materials, and by using energy-efficient production processes, we can help to reduce the amount of waste that is created.
Finally, sustainable fashion can help to ensure that workers in the fashion industry are treated fairly and with respect. By supporting sustainable fashion brands, we can help to ensure that workers are paid a living wage and work in safe conditions.
Sustainable Brands in the Fashion Industry
There are many sustainable fashion brands in the fashion industry today. These brands are creating fashion items with materials that are renewable and biodegradable, and they are using production processes that are energy-efficient and don’t create a lot of waste.
Some of the most popular sustainable fashion brands include Patagonia, Veja and asket. These brands are creating fashion items with materials that are renewable or biodegradable, and they are producing them in a way that is energy-efficient and doesn’t create a lot of waste.
Other huge brands are starting to take sustainability seriously, too. Nike has launched Move to Zero, its journey to zero carbon and zero waste by recycling and refurbishing old trainers in select stores. It also used factory scraps and recycled materials to create the Space Hippie sneakers, which Nike says is its lowest carbon footprint shoe yet.
The future of sustainable fashion
Sustainable fashion is no longer a trend, it’s an important part of the fashion industry now, and it’s one that is here to stay. By understanding what sustainable fashion is and why it’s important, we can make more informed choices when it comes to our fashion choices.
By supporting sustainable fashion brands, today’s consumers and tomorrow’s fashion designers can help to reduce the environmental impact of fashion production and consumption and ensure that workers in the industry are treated fairly. So, let’s all do our part and support sustainable fashion!
