Written by Bruna Gabriele
Edited by Othaila Abuzaid & Emil Koch
Fashion is in constant change. Have you ever wondered why the fashion trends are something in one season and then in the next another completely different thing? The answer is quite simple. The large fashion industries need you to keep consuming from them repeatedly, and why would you do that if the trends are the same as the previous season?
One example is the 00s trends coming back furiously to the 20s, and before that, everyone would constantly criticize those old and polemic trends. And then it might come to your mind those stores that are always following those trends of the moment. They want to profit as any type of industry, but unfortunately, most of those stores are only concerned about that.
Back in the 18th Century, the clothing-making process was quite difficult. However, the 1st Industrial Revolution in England led to the textile machines that improved the entire process. For example, the sewing machine allowed clothes to be made faster and in larger amounts. That sounded incredible back then, but the 1st Industrial Revolution was the beginning of an era of resource exploration and climate change.
The term that everyone should be aware of is called Fast Fashion. It emerged in the 90s and led to a cheapening of labor and also of clothing materials. Many industries started to invest in clothing pieces that reminded consumers of expensive luxury brands. They were indeed cheap for the buyers. But they would last less time because of the awful quality materials.
Fast Fashion has become even more popular worldwide throughout the years. That allowed the Fashion Industry to become the second most pollutant sector in the world. New seasons, different trends, and yet the same propaganda from many businesses keep encouraging consumers to buy more and more. The use of synthetic textiles derivatives of fossil gases such as polyester and nylon and most plastic-based textiles have a significant impact on the environment and climate throughout their life cycle due to emissions of greenhouse gases and pollutants.
This sector not only contributes to the thrown-away habit, but also makes up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams, besides the exploitation of underpaid workers.
“We need circular industries where old looks are made new." Less packaging, more reuse. Threads that last.” - Beatrice Kariuki
Sustainable Fashion is possible only if the world population is educated about climate change and how waste contributes to it. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is spearheading an initiative towards a zero-waste world. And the sustainability in fashion is directly aligned with it. Their initiative is focused on shifting the narrative to strengthen demand for a positive fashion future. It focuses on leading with science, changing behaviors and practices, reimagining values, and driving advocacy.
Everyone has the option of also contributing positivity to fashion. Thrift stores are a good option for it. Buying clothes there not only helps the planet but also helps small businesses, reduces waste, saves natural resources from being used, and stimulates reuse. You can also look for stores that produce clothes with sustainable materials, such as organic cotton or recycled polyester. The Good Trade made a list of 99 sustainable fashion brands that prioritize eco-friendly practices, ethical production standards, timeless design, and high-quality essentials that never go out of style.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
References:
[1 ] Cline, E. L. (2019, November 5). Opinion | Wear clothes? Then you’re part of the problem. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/03/opinion/climate-change-clothing-policy.html. Accessed 12/20/2023.
[2] Shifting the Fashion Narrative: Rethinking aspiration in a world of overconsumption. UNEP - UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/events/online-event/shifting-fashion-narrative-rethinking-aspiration-world-overconsumption. Accessed 12/20/2023.
[3] Têxtil, D. (2022, June 21). O que é fast fashion e quais são seus impactos? Digitale Têxtil. https://www.digitaletextil.com.br/blog/o-que-e-fast-fashion/. Accessed 12/20/2023.
[4] United Nations Environment Programme. The environmental costs of fast fashion. UNEP. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/environmental-costs-fast-fashion. Accessed 12/20/2023.
[5] Environmental sustainability in the fashion industry. https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/sustainable-fashion/. Accessed 12/20/2023.
[6] Our Editors. (2023, December 15). 99 sustainable fashion brands ranked according to Budget (2023) - the good trade. The Good Trade. https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing/. Accessed 12/20/2023.