Sustainable fashion is becoming an increasingly important topic, as people are starting to become more aware of the negative environmental impact of the traditional fashion industry. More and more people are looking for ways to be eco-friendly in all aspects of their lives, and fashion is no exception.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the reasons why sustainable fashion matters. We’ll look at the damage that the traditional fashion industry does to the environment, as well as the social and economic benefits of sustainable fashion. So if you’re looking for an excuse to switch to sustainable clothes, read on!
What is Sustainable Fashion?
Sustainable fashion is one of the latest revolutions in the textile industry. It’s defined as the design, manufacture, and purchase of clothing and other textile products with an eye to minimizing the negative environmental impact of the industry.
In other words, sustainable fashion is about creating clothing in a way that doesn’t damage the environment. This includes using sustainable materials, supporting fair labor practices, and reducing waste throughout the whole process.
The negative environmental impact of the traditional fashion industry is well documented, which is why sustainable fashion has become such an important movement. Here are a few reasons why you should switch to sustainable clothing!
1. Sustainable Fashion Helps Save Water
The traditional fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters of fresh water. It takes a huge amount of water to grow cotton, which to this day is still one the most used materials in clothing. The amount of water you need to create a single, traditional t-shirt is simply mind boggling!
By switching to sustainable fashion, you can help reduce the demand for water-intensive materials like cotton. There are plenty of sustainable materials that use far less water to produce, such as bamboo and hemp.
2. Sustainable Fashion Reduces the Amount of Produced Waste
If you didn’t think poorly enough of the traditional fashion industry, you should know it’s also one of the most wasteful manufacturing areas in the world. Every year, around 13 million tons of textile waste is produced.
Most of this waste comes from clothes that are thrown away after only being worn a few times. Sustainable fashion is a way to reduce this waste by creating clothing that is designed to last.
When you buy sustainable clothes, you can be sure that you’re investing in something that will stand the test of time. This means fewer clothes ending up in dumpsters, and you’ll end up spending less on replacements, too!
For example, Lutz Schwenke, CEO of sustainable clothing brand TWOTHIRDS, has this to say about the company’s clothes:
“When we start designing a new women shirts collection, for example, we try to find the perfect mix between durability and fashion. That way, we’re able to easily reduce waste and lower our environmental impact”.
In fact, in their products you can see how being environmentally friendly doesn’t have to take anything away from your style!
3. Sustainable Fashion Supports Fair Labor Practices
The traditional fashion industry has a long history of unjust working conditions. In many cases, clothes are produced in developing countries by workers who are paid very low wages and work in poor conditions. Choosing sustainable fashion is a way to support more ethical production practices.
When you buy sustainable clothes, you can be sure that the people who made them were treated fairly and paid a living wage. This is because sustainable fashion brands are often much more transparent about their supply chains than traditional brands.
For example, Fairtrade is an organization that works to ensure fair working conditions and pay for workers in the developing world. They have a certification system that sustainable fashion brands can use to show that their products meet certain standards.
4. Sustainable Fashion Helps Fight Climate Change
The traditional fashion industry is responsible for a huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, it’s estimated that the traditional fashion industry produces around 2 – 10% of the whole world’s greenhouse effect emissions.
This is because the production of clothes requires a lot of energy, and most of this energy comes from highly polluting fossil fuels. Switching to sustainable fashion is just a nice way of reducing your direct impact on climate change.
By choosing to buy and wear sustainable clothes, you can help lower the demand for energy-intensive materials and processes. You can also support brands that use sustainable methods of production, such as using renewable energy or investing in carbon offsetting projects.
So there you have it! These are just a few of the reasons why sustainable fashion matters. We hope this article has inspired you to make the switch to sustainable clothes. Remember, every little bit helps when it comes to saving our environment!
