The term sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is designed, manufactured and distributed from the outset in an environmentally friendly way.
There is also ethical fashion which refers to making garments in a way that respects and upholds the rights of workers and the well-being of society.
Environmentalism and social justice practices are linked, linking sustainable and ethical fashion.
Sustainable fashion is the process and movement of changing fashion products, ecology and social justice systems. It involves the entire fashion system, including the social, ecological, cultural, and financial.
Sustainable fashion is also known as eco-fashion.
What should we look for when supporting sustainable fashion?
Natural and organic materials such as hemp, linen, silk, wool, leather and cellulose fibers tend to be superior to polyester, nylon and synthetic materials such as acrylic. The natural fibers are biodegradable and can be returned to the soil as clean compost. Synthetic fibers, on the other hand, do not biodegrade and simply end up in landfills emitting toxic chemicals and fumes.
The most sustainable materials are linen, hemp and organic cotton.
Tip: Keep an eye out for organic certificates for plant fibers like GOTS and ethical indicators for wool like ZQ certified wool. When it comes to cellulose fabrics, Lyocell or Tencel are always preferred.
It's always a good idea to use existing materials to make new clothes, as it doesn't require getting new resources from the ground.
Therefore, reuse materials as much as possible instead of throwing them away.
Tip: Look for fabrics made from recycled fibers like recycled nylon, recycled polyester, recycled cotton, recycled clothing materials, or clothing made from so-called dead fabrics that are only produced Material, never sold, never worn, or otherwise disposed of.
Another problem with making clothes is the dyes used in the process.
You may be looking for natural or synthetic fibers, but always consider the environmental impact of dyes. Many of these involve the use of toxic chemicals.
TIP: Look for ecological dyes such as digital printing that requires less water, natural vegetable dyes, OEKO-TEX and BLUESIGN certified.
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OEKO-TEX means that clothing is tested for harmful substances.
BLUESIGN is a system that provides a safer and more sustainable environment for people to work and live.
The fashion industry wastes a lot of material, especially cutting patterns, but there are sustainable brands that design patterns that waste nothing.
The other waste is water. Some brands minimize the use of water and energy in the manufacturing process. By using recycled or biodegradable shipping materials, the company reduces excess plastic packaging from the manufacturer to the warehouse and ultimately to the customer.
The manufacturing process from all dyeing, sewing, and shipping leaves a huge carbon footprint. To combat this, some brands are moving garments closer to where they are sold rather than shipping them from abroad, and some are installing solar panels and wind turbines to power their factories and offices with renewable energy.
Tip: Support local businesses that source materials from the area.
We must all strive to be more sustainable consumers. Instead of buying cheap clothes that quickly get thrown out, try to buy used clothes from time to time and always take good care of them to prolong their lifespan. By buying higher quality clothing, it will last longer, which means less clothing will end up in landfills.
Tip: choose second-hand clothes, give preference to quality clothes and greater durability, wash in cold water and hang up
Sustainable fashion should be a priority for every manufacturer, because it helps the environment and all of us.
