With so many issues going on these days There are a myriad of issues to be faced today – Climate Change, Plastic Pollution and Deforestation, the loss of Coral Reefs & Biodiversity, water Scarcity to name some – The Fashion Industry isn’t always top of the list for most people in terms of a challenge or Solution. Unfortunately, we have A Few Bad News To Share – The Fashion Industry is dirty and a major contributor to environmental and Human damage. The Good News is that sustainable fashion tackles a variety of these issues in ways that you may not think of.
What is Sustainable Fashion?
Sustainable clothes brands produce fashion in a way that is most considerate of humankind And the Environment, while reducing the environmental impact wherever possible. The ultimate goal is to have a system that functions Without leaving a negative footprint. Do you want to know more? Here are 8 Reasons to Why Sustainable Fashion matters.
1. Sustainability-friendly Fashion Saves Natural Resources
A study from 2015 shows that 97% of the materials that goes into making clothes is new resources, with only 3 percent of it being recycled materials. This equates to an Annual Resource Input of more than 98 million tons – which includes synthetic fibres that are made from oil as well as fertilizers to grow cotton and an endless list of Chemicals Required To Dye and Finish Fabric.
Recycled fibers have been proven to be a more sustainable Alternative, as they reduce pressure on Virgin Resources And Tackle The increasing issue of waste management.
2. Sustainable Fashion Helps Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
In the Global Fashion Industry Emits A huge amount of greenhouse gases Each Year, thereby contributing massively and actively to global Warming. One reason is that the vast majority of Our cherished clothes are made of petroleum and are made from fossil fuels including Acrylic, Polyester and Nylon (Check the labels of your clothes and you may be surprised). They require considerably more energy to produce than natural or recycled fibers.
Sustainable brands on the other One hand, they often use materials from natural or recycled fabrics that require significantly less to no Chemical Treatment, Very Little Water and energy consumption, and no pesticides or fertilizers to grow.
3. Sustainable Fashion Helps Save Animal Lives
It’s not news for you, but the Fashion Industry loves to kill for Fashion. One common misconception is that Leather, For Instance, Is A by-product of the Meat Industry. But, this isn’t the case in all cases. It’s estimated that the Leather Industry is the only one that is killing more than 430 million animals Each Year.
Sustainable Fashion Brands have begun to increasingly embrace the use of cruelty-free alternatives, and There’s a solution for nearly every piece of fashion material Polyester made from trash from the Oceans (Sounds familiar, doesn’t It? ) Bags made from recycled seatbelts, plant-based compostable Sneakers, Silk Made From yeast, and Bio-fabricated Vegan Wool. However, one of the most demanded leather alternatives comes from Pineapples. The fabric is produced by using the leaves Of Pineapples In The Harvesting process, giving waste from the harvesting An entirely new use.
4. Sustainable Fashion Requires Less Water
Water is a major resource for the Fashion Industry. It is used in the Dyeing and Finishing process for the majority of our clothing. It takes an astonishing amount of 2,700 Litres of water to create a single T-shirt. Cotton is especially dependent on water, however it It is usually grown in hot and dry areas where water is a scarce resource.
Contrast that with Organic Cotton is less water-intensive by 91% when compared to conventional cotton. Yet, only 11% of global cotton production is organic to date. This is primarily due to the higher cost of non-gmo seeds, which typically require further investments into Materials & Machinery, Which farmers only use for their organically grown Crop.
Other sustainable fabrics that require minimal or no water in the production process include Hemp, Linen Refibra(tm) and Recycled Fibers Similar to recycled cotton.
5. Sustainable Fashion Supports Fairer & Safer Working Conditions
You may not believe it You’re not alone, but Modern Day Slavery Does Exist. Minimum wages (If at all) and endless working hours Inacceptable health & Safety Conditions And The Inclusion of Workers Unions is what the reality for the majority of Garment Workers In The Fast Fashion Sector Looks Like. Additionally, Verbal And Physical Abuse are still commonplace in various areas of the Industry. There are a few informative documentaries on the social injustices of the Fast Fashion Industry.
Eco-ethical Brands advocate for providing decent working conditions, health care and fair wages for Their employees, which are generally above average. They generally have a Greater Interest in providing economic opportunities to those who are in need of ending poverty. Everyone wants to feel At Home in Our Clothes Which includes feeling good about knowing the conditions under which They were Designed. The well-being of the people involved are just as important as Animals and the Environment Do You Not Think?
6. Sustainable Fashion Is Healthier For People & Planet
Fast Fashion items typically undergo An extensive and intense chemical process prior to being placed on our hangers. Around 8,000 Synthetic Chemicals are employed to dye Bleach, Wet Process and other garments. Chemicals like these can lead to diseases and even deaths among farmers and can cause serious birth defects on their children.
Certain chemicals pose a real threat to our Health , as our skin absorbs everything we apply to it, which includes the chemicals in our clothes.
7. Sustainable Fashion Doesn’t support Child Labour
More than 170 million children are involved in some type of Garment Work , according to recent statistics from UNICEF, which is defined as ” “work for which the child is either too young or is not of the Required Minimum Age or Work that, because of the negative nature of it or the conditions generally considered to be unacceptable for children and is prohibited”. This is a major red-flag and the idea that children are sent to factories and Perform Work That Reminds Of Modern Day Slavery To Meet the demands of fashion in the Western World Is Simply Unacceptable.
8. Sustainable Fashion shows us how to Re-Love Our Clothes
It’s so easy to look at a beautiful and Finished Piece of Clothing In A Shop and not realize the story and the life cycle behind it. The truth is, we are Exiled from the Industry because it encourages Us to Be This Way. But being aware of the downsides to this industry will hopefully lead to more mindful consumption. One that Is Planet, Animal & People Friendly.
It’s time to acknowledge the Effects of Our Purchases. It’s not just a minor aspect of our modern lifestyles that changes with each season However, as an Environmental and Human Responsibility that could greatly impact the future of Our Planet. At the End of The Day, We Have The Choice whether we want to be A Part of the Problem or be a part of the solution. And to quote Anne Lappe “every Time You Spend money, You Cast A Choice for the World You’d Like”.
Menu