WHY SHOULD YOU INVEST IN SUSTAINABLE FASHION?
Updated: Feb 5
As the veil is lifted on textile production, many brands are buckling under the pressure to offer sustainable options. Why should we follow suit as consumers?
With the textile industry’s significant contribution to worsening climate conditions, leading brands in fashion must practice environmentally responsible methods of production.
"Fast fashion is not free. Someone somewhere is paying." -- Lucy Siegle, journalist and author of books including To Die For: Is Fashion Wearing Out the World, and We Are What We Wear: unraveling fast fashion and the collapse of Rana Plaza
With fast fashion brands like Shein or Zaful offering outfits for cheaper than a meal, customers can constantly replenish their wardrobes with the latest looks. The speed at which these trends cycle conveniently allows the consumer to look past the fabric falling apart after just a few wears. While trends may come and go, wasted clothing remains stagnant in landfills, posing one of the greatest threats to our planet.
Why does it matter?
Sometimes it feels like our individual footprint is insignificant compared to the monumental decisions that corporations are making daily. As a collective, consumers drive the choices that these brands make. Customers have the power to change the course that the fashion industry is headed toward. The Apparel Industry’s Global Emissions are estimated to increase by 50% by 2030 - this alarming statistic is a call to action on behalf of the consumer's vote.
What can a consumer do?
Although the average person is no match for the billion-dollar corporations driving damage, there are ways to keep a clean wardrobe without breaking the bank. Investing more money into fewer pieces of higher-quality clothing is one way to break the cycle. Capsule wardrobes have become increasingly trendy as consumers seek out timeless pieces that coordinate effortlessly. Purchasing from brands that prioritize fair practices concerning both worker conditions as well as sustainability supports the increasing demand for ethical wardrobes. Thrift stores are an affordable alternative to prevent clothing pieces from going to waste in a landfill.
"If you pay a little more, we can live a little better." -- Sharti Atka, garment worker from Bangladesh
Who is prioritizing sustainability?
Many brands are stepping up to the plate and prioritizing sustainability in their production practices. See below for a list of 10 cleaner brands for environmentally conscious customers:
Reformation
Patagonia
Levi's
Everlane
Allbirds
Girlfriend Collective
Outerknown
Adidas
Veja
Naked Cashmere
References
06, January. “30 Sustainable Fashion Quotes.” Kinds of Grace, 6 Jan. 2021, https://kindsofgrace.com/blogs/vegan-fashion/30-sustainable-fashion-quotes.
Igini, Martina. “10 Stunning Fast Fashion Waste Statistics.” Earth.Org, 18 Nov. 2022, https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/.
Comments