If you’re like me, you take an interest in how things are made and the impact they have on our planet. As a fashion blogger and lover of clothes, I’m always looking for ways to make my wardrobe more sustainable.
The environmental impact of fashion
When it comes to sustainable fashion, there are a lot of questions. What does it mean? How do I know if a garment is “eco-friendly”? And how can I make sure I’m making the right choices when shopping for clothes that will last me and the planet longer?
The answer lies in understanding the environmental impact of our clothing choices–and what we can do about it. To help you get started on your green journey, here are some key facts about sustainable fashion:
Sustainability in the global textile industry
The textile industry is one of the largest polluters in the world. It accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions, uses up more water than all other industries combined (about 70% of all waste water pollution), and produces about 300 million tons of toxic waste each year.
Even if you don’t think about it as much as you should, what you wear has an impact on your environment–and everyone else’s too. That’s why it’s so important to buy clothes that are sustainable: they’re made from natural fibers like cotton or linen instead of synthetic materials like polyester; they’re dyed with low-impact dyes rather than harsh chemicals; they’re manufactured locally so they don’t have to travel as far; etcetera ad infinitum.
Sustainable fashion design
Sustainable fashion design is about more than just the materials used. Designers can also use their creativity to find ways to reduce waste and increase sustainability.
One way for designers to improve sustainability is through technology. For example, 3D printing allows designers to create unique pieces without having them mass produced in a factory. This means less energy is used during production as well as less waste generated by shipping supplies around the world.
Trends and sustainability
- Trends are a good place to start.
- Trends can be a good way to get started with sustainability.
- Trends are often sustainable, ethical and both!
Fast fashion vs. slow fashion
Fast fashion is the opposite of slow fashion. It’s a term used to describe the current trend in the industry, where low-cost clothing is produced quickly and sold at high volume. Fast fashion represents a response to consumer demand: we want new clothes all the time, so companies have responded by making them more accessible than ever before–and this has led to some serious environmental consequences.
Fast Fashion’s Environmental Impact
The production of cheap garments requires large amounts of resources like water, energy and materials such as cotton or polyester (which comes from petroleum). When these materials are used in excess or without consideration for their impact on our planet’s health, they can cause pollution and contribute significantly toward climate change–not just during production but also when discarded after use or recycling efforts fail because they were made from nonrenewable sources like plastic bottles instead of organic fibers like hemp or bamboo which would biodegrade over time rather than sit in landfills indefinitely!
Ethical Implications of Fast Fashion
How to choose sustainable fashion
Sustainable fashion is about making ethical choices and reducing the impact of your wardrobe. Here are some tips to help you get started:
- Avoid fast fashion by buying fewer pieces, but purchasing quality items that you can wear for years or even decades to come.
- Buy secondhand clothing from thrift stores or online resale sites like eBay and ThredUp. This helps keep unwanted items out of landfills while also providing you with unique finds at affordable prices!
- Reuse, repair, recycle what you already own before buying new pieces (and keep those old T-shirts!). If something needs fixing or mending, learn how to do so yourself instead of throwing it away; if something needs replacing entirely–such as worn-out shoes–try reusing parts from other things around the house (like old belts) as well as recycling materials like plastic bottles into new products such as bags or purses made from “plarn”.
Eco-friendly fabrics and fibers
Cotton is a fiber that’s been used for thousands of years, but it’s not the most sustainable option out there. Cotton is a natural fiber that comes from the cotton plant and requires large amounts of water, pesticides and fertilizer to grow. Plus, because it isn’t biodegradable (meaning it doesn’t break down on its own), once you’re done with your garment or accessory made from cotton–you can throw it away!
Wool is another popular material found in many eco-friendly clothing brands’ collections because wool comes from sheep who spend their lives grazing on grasslands or pastures rather than being raised in factory farms like other animals raised for food production purposes such as chicken or pigs are treated before being slaughtered for meat consumption purposes only.”
There are many ethical choices you can make for your wardrobe, from buying vintage to avoiding animal products.
If you’re looking for some suggestions, here are some easy ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable:
- Buy vintage. If you love a particular brand or designer but want to avoid animal products or other unethical manufacturing practices, buy pre-owned clothes from the secondhand market instead of buying new. You can also check out local vintage shops for affordable options and unique finds.
- Buy second hand. Similarly, if you’re not bothered by animal products in clothing (and there are plenty of people who aren’t), then shopping at thrift stores is another great way to reduce waste and cut down on production costs! The best part is that when someone else buys it first and then gives away their old clothes when they don’t need them anymore, everyone wins–you get an awesome new outfit without contributing further towards pollution or overfishing; they get some extra cash in exchange for something that would have otherwise gone straight into landfill (or worse). Plus there’s no risk involved since everything has already been worn at least once before coming into your possession so there’s no need worry about whether anything will fit properly either!
Conclusion
Sustainable fashion is a great way to make a difference in the world. By choosing eco-friendly fabrics and fibers, you can reduce your impact on the environment while also supporting ethical production practices. These choices are also better for your health and wellbeing because they don’t contain harmful chemicals like pesticides or formaldehyde that may be found in conventional clothing items made from synthetic materials such as polyester. So if you’re looking for ways to live more sustainably, consider how your wardrobe impacts the planet–and start shopping!
