In today’s world, something as simple as purchasing a new shirt carries a significant environmental impact. As the fashion industry is becoming increasingly more aware of this, they are beginning to look for eco-friendly approaches to the production process. We can now look to fashion’s foray into the causes and effects of climate change, and the efforts in redefining industry practices.
1. The Warming Fashion Industry
The fashion industry is rapidly embracing current trends. Consumers increasingly demand eco-friendly, sustainably-sourced clothing, highlighting the effects of climate change and how fashion directly impacts the environment. But fashion and sustainability do not have to be mutually exclusive – fashion brands are finding new and inventive ways to produce clothing without compromising style.
- Recycled materials: Fibres such as recycled polyester, rayon, and nylon are becoming increasingly commonplace in fashion, allowing consumers to feel good about making clothing purchases in terms of environmental consciousness.
- Animal-free materials: Synthetic leathers such as faux leather and vegan leather are becoming mainstream. These materials often resemble real leather remarkably well, without requiring any animal skins.
- Eco-friendly fabrications: Fabrics derived from organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, and other renewable materials are becoming increasingly popular amongst fashion-focused companies, allowing them to produce clothing without using chemicals or toxins.
In addition to adopting more sustainable materials, fashion brands are finding ways to reduce their carbon footprint when it comes to manufacturing and production. Low-impact production techniques, such as using fewer chemicals, less water, and fewer energy-intensive processes are becoming standard, ensuring that clothing is produced as sustainably as possible.
The fashion industry is changing, and companies are taking steps to ensure their clothing and production methods are more sustainable solutions so they can practice responsible sourcing and production techniques. With trends always shifting, there’s no better time for the fashion industry to start embracing sustainable practices.
2. Crafting a Carbon-Conscious Fashion Future
It’s time for fashion to evolve. As the years progress, we must continue to be conscious of our planet and its needs through our daily lives and habits. We can no longer ignore the pressing need for a carbon conscious fashion future.
This journey starts with what’s on the inside:
- We can move away from virgin man-made materials such as polyester, nylon, and PVC and switch to sustainable natural materials like linen, hemp, bamboo, and organic cotton.
- We can use recycled or upcycled materials to reduce the problem of textile waste and fashion’s excessive water consumption.
On the outside, what matters is how we care for the items we own and make them last as long as possible. This means reviving the lost practice of timeless wardrobe curation, instead of buying more clothes just for the sake of it.
We must remember that conscious fashion is also a movement for social justice and ethical labor practices. We must search for brands that are transparent and accountable for their actions and actively support sustainable production and labor policies.
3. Dressing Sustainably in the Age of Climate Change
1. Choose Sustainable Fabrics
As the fashion industry’s impact on climate change grows, an increasing number of companies are finding solutions to create clothes made out of sustainable fabrics. Better-known materials include organic cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo, lyocell and polyester, among others. When choosing your wardrobe pieces, paying attention to the fabric is important. Conduct research to find which fabrics are more sustainable and which are not.
2. Reduce and Reuse
The amount of clothes we consume has been rising drastically. Rather than replace clothes, it’s more sustainable to reuse items for as long as possible. Repairing clothes, restyling clothes and swapping clothes with family and friends are some strategies that can be used to increase the life of garments.
3. Make it Last
When you do choose to buy new clothes, consider quality before quantity. Buy from more expensive clothing stores where the clothes are made to last. Higher quality clothes will last longer and will increase the amount of wears of each individual item.
4. Buy from Sustainable Brands
Check the labels and look for features such as:
- Product transparency
- Eco-friendly materials
- Animal-cruelty-free production
- Ethical working conditions for their suppliers and employees
By buying from sustainable brands, you are helping to create demand for these companies and encouraging their production of more sustainable pieces.
4. Innovative Solutions in a Changing Climate
As the climate continues to shift, it is important for us to stay up to date in the world of innovative solutions and practices. We must work hard to stay ahead of the curve and utilize the most effective solutions for our changing conditions. Here are four unique and novel ways to combat climate change.
- Alternative Energy Technologies: Solar, wind, and hydroelectricity can provide clean, renewable energy with far fewer environmental impacts. Investing in infrastructure to make these technologies more widespread can drastically reduce emissions.
- Resource Efficiency: Implementing energy-efficient design and practices can save money, energy, and emissions in the long run. Businesses can have regular energy audits and take advantage of incentives offered by governments for installation of energy-efficient technology.
- Zero-Waste Policies: Companies can shift to a more sustainable model by instituting a “zero waste” policy, in which all materials and resources are reused, recycled, or composted whenever possible.
- Citizen Science and Education: Lack of awareness of the issue is part of the problem. Governments and non-profits can work together to create more educational opportunities and resources for citizens to understand and appreciate the importance of taking action.
Innovative solutions have the potential to transform our climate for the better. By investing in resources, education, and green practices, we can create a healthier, more prosperous future for generations to come.
5. Reimagining Fashion for a Greener Tomorrow
Global fashion brands are slowly taking steps towards building a more sustainable industry. Clothes made from eco-friendly materials such as bamboo and hemp are increasingly available in stores, although they can be pricier than traditional materials. But price is just one obstacle to buying sustainable clothes – often, the item just isn’t available in the style future fashionistas desire.
Innovation has been key to making eco-friendly products more accessible and stylish. For example, the company Corellia recently designed a modern hoodie made from recycled plastic bottles and coffee grounds. Recycled materials are becoming the fashion materials of tomorrow.
Moreover, changing consumer behaviors is another imperative part of the transition to a greener fashion industry. Rentals and reusing garments are becoming more and more popular. Thrift stores and online clothing rental services such as Flyrobe and Switching Clothes are playing critical roles in creating a “greener” fashion landscape. Companies such as Patagonia even buy back their own products.
- Look for items made with recycled materials or eco-friendly materials such as bamboo or hemp
- Consider second-hand or rental options
- Find companies that use methods such as “Buy-Back”
The fashion industry still has a long way to go, but with progress and the right intentions we can build a more sustainable and fashionable future.
As we look towards the future, the fashion industry has an opportunity to embrace sustainable practices. By setting the bar for how businesses can become more sustainable in regards to the environment, the fashion industry is redefining the status quo and modernizing production. Our world’s future depends on the industry’s transition to sustainable production. Let’s continue to lead the way by embracing green practices.
