Fashion is a $1.22 trillion industry, but it is also the second biggest water polluter, producing more waste and pollution than any other industry. What does the future look like for the world of fashion? Do we need to throw away all of our clothes? Or is there a better way? This blog will explore sustainable fashion and why it is important for our environment.
What is Sustainable Fashion?
In its simplest form, sustainable fashion describes clothing and accessories that are sourced, produced, and/or worn responsibly from an environmental and ecologically friendly standpoint.
The term “sustainable fashion” is not limited to creating or purchasing new things. While advertisements for sustainability have given us the impression that we can shop our way to sustainability, this is not the case.
Although we have the option to shop more sustainably, adopting sustainable fashion does not necessitate purchasing any new clothing.
Other ways to participate in the sustainable fashion movement without creating or buying anything new include wearing what you already own, shopping secondhand, and borrowing from friends or swapping with them.
Why is Sustainable Fashion So Important?
Simply put, fashion has had negative effects on the environment and society for a very long time. During the Industrial Revolution, the first factories that later became known as sweatshops emerged in England, where the primary fuel was coal.
Additionally, as textiles became more industrialized, cotton became more in demand, which was a major factor in the spread of slavery.
However, issues with modern fashion, such as contemporary slavery, toxic pollution, and excessive carbon emissions, are due largely to the relatively rapid surge of fast fashion.
Fast fashion is a term used to describe trendy, affordable clothing that is produced in large quantities very quickly. Fast fashion brands, such as Fashion Nova, Zara, GAP, Uniqlo, and Primark are examples.
Fast fashion is based on a never-ending cycle of excessive production and high consumption. Fast fashion retailers can only offer low prices because they produce in such large quantities. Despite the fact that the companies don’t make much money off of each garment, they are still able to make hundreds of millions thanks to their massive production.
About 840 million garments are produced annually by Inditex, the parent company of Zara, and 3 billion by H&M. Even though some fast fashion companies are beginning to use a (modest) amount of organic and Eco – friendly materials in their items, this method of production is inherently unsustainable.
The rise of fast fashion has also sparked intense competition in the industry as a whole, as companies try to produce clothing as quickly and cheaply as possible in order to sell trendy items for low prices.
As evidence of the current state of the fashion industry, consider the following statistics:
1) In 2015 alone, 1.2 billion tons of CO2 equivalent were produced by the textile industry. This exceeds all emissions from international travel, including air, sea, and land transportation.
2) The European Environment Agency’s research indicates that textiles are the fourth-largest “cause of environmental pressure” in the EU.
3) By 2050, if current growth rates continue, the fashion industry is expected to account for 25% to 30% of the world’s remaining carbon budget.
4)Fossil fuels are crucial to the fashion industry. Nearly 70% of all clothing is made of synthetic materials like polyester or other fibers derived from non-renewable resources like crude oil.
5) Up to 35% of the world’s microplastic pollution is caused by clothing made of synthetic fibers.
6) Every year, 98 million tons of non-renewable resources and 93 billion cm3 of water are extracted for the manufacture of textiles.
7) Between 2000 and 2014, the amount of clothing produced more than doubled, reaching a record-breaking 100 billion garments produced annually in 2014.
How to Choose the Best Sustainable Fashion Brand
There are a couple of things to look for when buying from a sustainable brand.
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Materials
- Cotton: Ensuring the brand uses organic cotton over conventional cotton is critical. This is because no harmful chemicals (as well as less water) are used to grow the fiber. One of the best options on the market today is GOTS Certified Cotton. It guarantees a clean fabric and an honest process from beginning to end.
- Hemp: This fiber has a lot of potential and a lot of unique properties. Pesticides are not needed, they take up less space, are incredibly durable, work well when combined with other fibers, and even the hemp plant itself soaks up more carbon than other plants. Brands like aungcrowngreen use hemp, organic cotton, and other sustainable products for their items.
- Wool: Wool can keep you warm better than anything else in the winter. This fiber is produced by many farmers, and it has the potential to be an excellent method of regenerating the soil.
- Micromodal: Due to its pulp being made from sustainably harvested beech trees, micromodal is the only kind of modal you ought to buy.
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Recycled Materials
It is always a wise decision to use pre-existing materials to make new clothing because it avoids the need to mine new resources from the planet and instead makes the best use of materials that might otherwise be thrown away.
Pro tip: Look for clothing made from deadstock fabric, upcycled materials (such as repurposed fabric), or fabrics made from recycled fibers (such as recycled nylon, recycled polyester, or recycled cotton) (materials created, never sold nor used and would otherwise be thrown away). aungcrowngreen makes caps, hoodies, and bucket hats with recycled materials
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Dyes and Certifications
Natural, plant-based dyes, certified nontoxic dyes, and water-saving digital printing dyes are all examples of environmentally friendly dyes. Additional certifications to look for include OEKO-TEX 100 and Bluesign.
Final Words
The fashion industry has a vast impact on the environment, and we hope this blog post will help you make more informed decisions about the clothes you buy. If you have any questions about our sustainable fashion brand, don’t hesitate to contact us anytime. We are always excited to help our readers find new ways to improve their lives!
