During your various forays on the internet, you will undoubtedly come across the term “sustainable fashion.” People are literally obsessed with it right now. But what is it, exactly?
By Team Savant
Image: Jess @ Harper Sunday
There are actually several definitions. One is that sustainable fashion is a term that describes the actions that processors and distributors take to improve their impact on the environment, animal welfare, social justice and so on. In other words, it’s all about coming up with a system for distributing fashion that causes the least harm possible to people, animals and the planet. Another definition views sustainable fashion as addressing consumer’s concerns about the environment. Ecologically speaking, it aims to make sound decisions across the supply chain to support wildlife. Lastly, some definitions focus almost exclusively on the materials themselves. For instance, organic cotton might be more sustainable than fossil-fuel sourced polyester.
Why Are People So Obsessed With It?
There are many reasons why people are obsessed with sustainable fashion. We discuss them below.
1. It Reduces Waste
Every year, consumers throw out millions of garments. Many of these are made of plastic derivatives, which means that they don’t break down easily and eventually make their way into the sea.
Sustainable fashion, by contrast, is substantially less wasteful. It uses materials that naturally break down in the ground and focuses on local production, instead of shipping internationally. Furthermore, many brands, such as Everyday Cashmere, make clothes out of higher quality material so consumers don’t need to change their wardrobes so often.
2. It Pays Workers A Living Wage
Sweatshops suck. They take advantage of people who have no other opportunities, forcing them to work at wages that are often below what they need to survive.
Sustainable fashion, though, helps to change all that. It pays a decent amount — at least enough for a worker to support themselves — and eschews child labour. Fair, sustainable brands also implement safety policies to prevent workers from injuring themselves.
3. It Cuts CO2 Emissions
According to scientists and various government bodies, there is too much CO2 in the atmosphere. And clothes manufacturing is a significant contributing factor. Large quantities of carbon are embodied in the majority of garments people buy from the store.
Sustainable brands try to reduce their CO2 emissions. They’re not perfect, of course. But they tend to employ practices that reduce the overall CO2 content of their products. For instance, they locate their factories close to raw materials and local markets, so that they don’t need to ship items all over the world. They also reduce their use of polyester and acrylic, favouring natural materials instead. They also try to cut down on water and pesticide use.
4. It Saves Animal Lives
Nobody wants to see animals suffer unnecessarily. That’s why sustainable fashion looks for ways to reduce the impact of clothing production on animals. Higher welfare is a major goal. Many sustainable brands also market themselves as vegan, confirming that they do not use any animal products during production.
Overall, sustainable fashion is a somewhat confusing topic. However, it is gaining steam and will likely become dominant in the next few years.