The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest industries, which allows people to express themselves in unique and creative ways through different colours, textures and trends. These trends are constantly changing from season to season and use a wide range of materials. Whilst customers are concentrating on these trends, It is key that buyers think of the effects these trend turnovers are having on our environment.
The industry, much like other industry, does have some negative environmental effect on our planet. As consumers it is essential for us to understand these effects. Around 10% of the carbon emissions worldwide can be attributed to fashion production. It is important that companies within the industry make the change over to Sustainable fashion.
But the true question is, what is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion is the movement and process of making changes to fashion products and the fashion system towards greater ecological integrity and social justice.
Tips on how you can be more sustainable:
1. Re-wear, Repair, Recycle:
We as fashion enthusiasts also need to make some changes. We are sending 85% of textiles to the dump every year in order to keep up with the latest fashion trends. Critics argue that consumers must prolong the active life of garments by two in order to reduce the climate impacted by 49%. This can be done by giving garments to charity or by using platforms such as Depop, Vinted and Shopify to sell unwanted items.
2. Buy clothes from sustainable brands:
Sustainable brands are currently on the rise. There are so many ways consumers can now purchase the latest trends in a sustainable way. Most of our favourite brands are starting to take this route; some being:
H&M conscious
Zara
BEEN London
Patagonia
Fanfare
3. Renting clothes:
Clothe renting has had a large following in recent years. Consumers are releasing that may not need that one item in their wardrobe 24/7 and are turning to the renting avenue. Most companies are also offering a monthly fee which allows consumers to constantly renew their wardrobe. Some of these companies include:
My wardrobe HQ
Rent the runway
Selfridge’s rental
Hirestreet
It is evident that a sustainable future is the only future for the fashion industry. It is crucial that both consumers and retail companies make a dramatic change to the way garments are handled.