What is Sustainable Fashion? I’m exploring this questions in my post today…I think it’s an important one and I hope you’ll read to the end! My information comes from several reputable web sites that I’ll give credit to at the end of the post. Here we go…
This post originally started out as a post about fashion trends for 2020. Sustainable fashion is a “trend” for this year and when I started to research, I stumbled on several articles that were very captivating so I decided to do a full post on this trend.
In one of my latest blog posts, I shared ways to shop your closet because it’s stuffed with things that I don’t wear very often. We’ve all heard, reduce, reuse and recycle,…in that order, and it makes perfect sense. The more we keep out of the landfill, the less we impact our fragile environment.
I once asked when I took a load of unwanted clothing to our local thrift store where the things went that no one bought. The answer was…we put them on a boat and ship them overseas. I remember wondering why that would be but didn’t ask probably because I was in a hurry. When I started writing this post, I did a little research and here’s what happens…”The majority — 45 percent — of the clothing that ends up in thrift stores is either re-sold within the United States’ clothing industry or shipped overseas. While this may sound better than getting sent to the landfill, “re-selling clothes into the U.S. secondhand market just encourages them to make the cycle all over again” and “sending clothes overseas can majorly hinder the textile industries in developing countries, robbing locals of jobs and income.”
Sustainable fashion can be a difficult topic. It’s so much more environmentally friendly to purchase something that will last for many seasons, but everyone can’t afford that option. Should people bypass feeling well dressed and stylish because they can’t afford to buy the designer brands? I talk so often about fashion being a creative statement that we make when we go out into the world and how you just feel better when you have on an outfit that you love! Sure, you could scour thrift and consignment stores and go on websites like Poshmark, but doing that is very time consuming. Most women (and men) are very busy raising children, working full time, preparing meals and just keeping up with life and they simply don’t have time to put that much effort into getting dressed!
We are however, sent mixed signals when it comes to sustainable fashion. Just what is it anyway? Is it local production, renting clothing, clothing made with organic cotton or recycled bottles. It can be overwhelming!
Did you know that fashion contributes over 8 percent of all greenhouse gases (that’s the same as the beef industry just in the US according to the New York Times) and if things continue, by 2050 that number will be 25 percent? Probably not…I had no idea! And, just in case you’re not up to speed…greenhouse gasses cause global warming which causes climate change.
“MUCH OF THE FASHION INDUSTRY IS STILL A FLAMING HOT MESS WHEN IT COMES TO HUMAN RIGHTS, TOXIC MATERIALS AND CLIMATE POLLUTION.”
In order for a company to be sustainable, they must be lowering the carbon footprint of their mills. That means making the mills more energy efficient and changing the energy supply to renewable energy. More than 75 percent of the carbon footprint in the entire lifecycle of our clothing takes place in the mills. Levi’s and American Eagle are among the few companies making a commitment to change their carbon footprint.
Eco-friendly luxury brands like Stella McCartney, Mara Hoffman and Eileen Fisher have been dominating the space, and their clothes don’t come cheap. Even Reformation, which uses recycled fibers to make its clothes, can be pricey for the average consumer. These companies are great, but they’re not the most accessible.
“The vast majority of the industry’s climate pollution is hiding in global supply chain networks – manufacturing products in factories and mills and shipping goods across the world. Many of these factories are often in places like China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh, where the majority of the energy grid is powered by coal. If we’re going to tackle global climate change and keep the world below catastrophic warming, we must transform the entire fashion industry.”
Most garment workers are women and are some of the least paid laborers in the world. This is yet another reason to support companies that are trying to lower their carbon footprint. For a list of the companies who are trying to do their part, read this article.
“The average consumer bought 60% more clothing in 2014 than in 2000, but kept each garment half as long.
Americans are throwing away 81 pounds of clothing per person per year.” ~ New Standard Institute
Another mixed message that we’re being sent is that shopping stimulates the economy, creating jobs and therefore making the world a better place. This might make you feel better as you’re making your purchase, but the truth is that even sustainable fashion has enormous environmental and social impact worldwide. And it still doesn’t address our carbon footprint or the issue of underpaid workers in bad working conditions.
Here are a couple of ways that you can make a difference and support the sustainable fashion trend in a positive way.
THRIFT SHOPPING AND DONATING (IT’S STILL A GOOD OPTION EVEN WITH THE PROBLEMS)
Thrift shopping and donating keep clothing out of the landfills, which obviously is good. Also, many thrift stores support local charities which is another benefit. If you have the time, you can update your thrifted items with new buttons, or tailoring. Selling and shopping on websites such as Poshmark is also a good way to recycle perfectly good clothing.
You can also shop designer brands through websites like The Real Real, Vestiaire Collective, What Goes Around Comes Around and Rebag.
CAPSULE YOUR WARDROBE
Capsule wardrobes have become very popular over the past couple of years. The idea is that you can make multiple outfits from a few pieces of clothing that you already own and reinvent them by switching up the way they’re styled. The best way to do this is to buy high quality basics that will last longer since you’ll be wearing them more frequently..
Hopefully, by continuing to bring light to the problems in the fashion industry we can come closer to a solution. Every little step taken to become more environmentally aware is a step in the right direction.
I’d love to know what you think of this post! Please leave a comment below and let me know…are you a thrifter, do you use capsule wardrobing?
Information from Harpers Bazaar – https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/designers/a30185938/sustainable-fashion-explained/
https://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/trends/a4361/best-vintage-consignment-websites/
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/25/climate/cows-global-warming.html
https://www.stand.earth/sites/stand/files/StandEarth-FilthyFashionScorecard.pdf
Measuring Fashion – Global Impact – https://quantis-intl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/measuringfashion_globalimpactstudy_full-report_quantis_cwf_2018a.pdf
Stand Earth – https://www.stand.earth/sites/stand/files/StandEarth-FilthyFashionScorecard.pdf
NSI Fashion 2030 – https://www.instagram.com/nsifashion2030/
Hi, I would like to share that, yes I am a thrifty shopper, and vintage stores as well. I have been doing this as a single mom of two , now teens. Because I couldn’t afford to shop in even some department store back when. I was on a low budget, but still wanted to like our best, for not spending over what I had to take care of others expense. So then came my creative lifestyle for less brand for myself, taking thrift pieces of clothing, garage sales items, and vintage clothing, to recreate my own fashionable looks for less. Take a moment and check out my page on Instagram, and see how I’m reveintin my on looks on a budget, even now. I knew this back when, that people would take notice to the whole recycling and thrift shopping thing. Not me, Creative lifestyle styles for less,
Hi April! I can’t wait to look at your page and follow you! I need some inspiration and I’m sure others do as well. This post has made me rethink the way I’ve been shopping! Thanks so much for your comment!
Creative lifestyle for less,… thrifty shopping for less.
aprilgayles on Instagram
Thank you for this post! I was aware of the issues in the industry and that my clothing obsession puts upon our planet, but this was a good kick in the rear to remind me to be much more attentive when buying in the future. I’ve already made a commitment to not buy as much this year, but I will be especially cognizant of buying a lot of the cheaply made, cheaply priced products many bloggers are highlighting lately. Thank you!
Hi Debbie
I need a kick in the rear as well! It’s easy to get sucked into buying the inexpensive things but they really don’t last. It’s good to know that H & M has things that are more sustainably made. I’ll be posting more about my journey with this! It seems to be something that resonates with everyone!
Suzanne I am all over this post!! Definitely so many angles to this and the fashion industry has to reinvent itself totally it seems (and how realistic is that?). We have to do our part- and shopping wisely is first! Thrifting and capsule wardrobes as well. Oof…we have a real challenge on our hands! Great post!!!!
Hi Lucy!
I agree that the industry has to reinvent itself, but that probably won’t happen until our shopping habits change. I’m definitely going to start looking at thrift and vintage stores! Thank you for reading!
What a great post! Thank you for the reminder about the harm to our planet that our "disposable" mentality can have. I love your blog and would love to see you do a post on capsule wardrobe. As I get older I do shop less and would love to transition to a capsule wardrobe for my sanity and the planets health 😀 Thanks again
Hi Cindy! It’s so funny you mentioned a capsule wardrobe because I’m thinking of doing a 30 day challenge! I do want to do my part to change the fashion industry! Thank you for reading!
I am a thrifter and have not bought any new clothes since mid 2017. I still feel I have enough clothes and only throw them out when they are showing holes etc. Alternatively I bring old clothes to a thrift store. I am appalled by big shopping chains like Primark and I don’t go there.
I knew that the fashion industry was bad, but I didn’t realize how bad until I started doing a little research! I’m definitely going to start going to thrift and vintage stores and try a capsule wardrobe challenge. I admire you for being so disciplined!
Such an interesting post Suzanne! I have been thrifting for years but it has been mostly for the “thrill of the hunt” and finding something out of the ordinary that isn’t in all the mainstream stores. One of my resolutions this year was to spend less on clothes and put the money towards travel and making memories instead. I have been hearing the term sustainable clothing a lot more lately and it was interesting to read a more in-depth take on it. Thanks for helping to educate us on this subject!
Hi Ruth
What a great idea…making memories is so much more important that shopping! I’m really going to try to shop more thrift and vintage stores and I can’t wait to find some treasures! Thank you so much for reading!