What is Sustainable Fashion

January 17, 2023

Sustainable Fashion: A Step Towards Eco-Friendly Clothing

There is no disagreement that 'fashion' and 'sustainability' have been at odds. The perceived incongruity of sustainable fashion might seem stark.

However, the reality is quite different. Recent years have seen a significant shift as numerous companies strive to make their production ways more eco-friendly, creating stylish, trendy clothing from green materials[1].

Understanding Sustainable Fashion

Firstly, green fashion is the outcome of ethical and better practices in the production of stylish clothing[2].

This ethos embraces the entire life of fashion - from finding raw materials, through creation and distribution. This includes the disposal or recycling finally.

Furthermore, More than just the use of materials, sustainable fashion factors in considerations such as water consumption during production, avoidance of hazardous chemicals, and adherence to fair labour practices.

This commitment to sustainability can change the bad image of the fashion industry.

The Appearance of Sustainability in Fashion

The implementation of sustainable practices in fashion varies between companies. Furthermore, it typically aligns with a set of core values.

These include to choose natural fibres like organic cotton or bamboo over synthetics like plastic, including repaired waste materials in new designs, adopting renewable energy sources in production locations, and promoting for garment recycling through donations or resale[3].

For instance, some brands such as Reformation now offer rental options.

This allows customers to enjoy the variety and quality of fashion while making a small amount of waste, a win-win for style and sustainability[4].

Encapsulating Sustainable Fashion

In essence, sustainable fashion does not follow a rigid structure.

Additionally, it is important on companies to find balance to have a small environmental footprint while continuing to offer stylish options for their customers.

Through the adoption of greener actions like material reuse and consuming of renewable energy sources in production, companies can spearhead the movement towards a friendly future, all while remaining to make money.

Customer knowledge about the importance of sustainability is also growing, influencing purchasing decisions. Companies that follow these basics are created to prosper in the changing landscape of consumer preferences[5].

As we move forward, it is clear that sustainable fashion is not just a trend. Rather it is a long-term commitment towards a more diverse and better industry.

References

[1]: Wicker, A. (2016). How to get sustainable fashion into the mainstream. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/mar/10/sustainable-fashion-linking-science-cotton-report-industry [Accessed 10 Jul. 2023].

[2]: Niinimäki, K. (2020). Sustainable Fashion in a Circular Economy. [online] Available at: https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-38545-3_6 [Accessed 10 Jul. 2023].

[3]: Joy, A., Sherry, J., Venkatesh, A., Wang, J., & Chan, R. (2012). Fast fashion, sustainability, and the ethical appeal of luxury brands. [online] Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256012200_Fast_Fashion_Sustainability_and_the_Ethical_Appeal_of_Luxury_Brands [Accessed 10 Jul. 2023].

[4]: Reformation. (2023). Sustainability. [online] Available at: https://www.thereformation.com/pages/sustainability [Accessed 10 Jul. 2023].

[5]: Bain & Company (2020). Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study. [online] Available at: https://www.bain.com/insights/luxury-goods-worldwide-market-study-fall-winter-2020/ [Accessed 10 Jul. 2023].