SUSTAINABLE FASHION: The Future of Fashion Industry

Source: https://in.fashionnetwork.com/news/H-m-strengthens-india-presence-with-its-50th-store,1270660.html

Did you know that the fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world and is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions?

Did you know that a pair of jeans takes a whopping 1800 gallons of water to be produced and a t-shirt takes 400 gallons?

Did you know that half a million tons of plastic microfibers are dumped into the ocean every year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles?

Did you also know that your favorite fashion brands like Zara and H&M score less than 10% on the Fashion Transparency Index?

Scary, huh? There is a lot more to the list..

Due to constantly changing fashion trends, brands tend to manufacture bulks of clothes using cheap quality material at a very fast rate for them to be sold at low prices. And because of this, many consumers wear an outfit a few times and dispose it of leading to wastage and more toxins in the environment. Many fashion brands like Zara, H&M, Forever21, etc follow such practices and their unsustainable patterns of production are contributing significantly to climate change and pollution.

In such a scenario where fast fashion is on the rise, spreading awareness about green fashion practices i.e. sustainability amongst people is the need of the hour.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/mar/14/dont-want-no-slubs-how-to-pick-high-quality-natural-fibres

Sustainable fashion refers to clothing that is environmentally friendly in its design, manufacturing, distribution, and use. It not only reduces the impact on the environment but is also mindful of the people who work to produce the garments. Put simply, it is fashion that is ethically made and environmentally friendly.

Nowadays, sustainability and eco-friendly practices are rapidly gaining popularity and becoming the core focus for various brands and designers. More and more brands like Grassroot by Anita Dongre, Levi's, Pact, Quince, Able, etc are launching products that use eco-friendly materials, engage in fair trade, and reduce waste transportation to landfills.

However, following sustainable practices is not just a duty of fashion brands, it’s ours too. There are numerous ways in which we can switch to having an eco-friendly and sustainable wardrobe:

• Buy better: Buying better means investing in sustainable fashion brands and supporting designers who are promoting eco-friendly practices. Yes, sustainable pieces are more expensive but they are durable and not harmful to the environment.

Source: https://www.ecolabel.com/en/committees/textile-technical-committees

• Try renting: Instead of buying a new dress for an occasion, we can rent a dress. Clothes rentals is also an ethical and rapidly growing industry. This is a great option, especially for clothes that you will not wear for a long time or often. This will not only help the environment but also saves us money.

Source: https://www.aispi.co/rental-fashion-vs-retail-what-will-be-the-future/

• Care for clothes: By taking good care of our clothes, we can extend their life and also minimize environmental footprints. 

Source: https://medium.com/@eleni.georgiadis/sourcing-secondhand-d6456ac29cb7

• Don’t throw your clothes: Don’t throw your clothes in normal bins. Most of them consist of synthetic fibers and chemicals that will just pile up in landfills. Instead, try to repair torn garments, donate clothes or upcycle them.

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/my-friend-gave-daughter-clothes-28533033

“Sustainable Fashion is not a trend but the future”

- Antonia Böhlke