It’s more than just slowing down fast fashion.
For many millennials, what we wear is an important part of our lives. Evolving from simply protecting our bodies, clothing has become an indicator of culture, profession and even social status; and more recently as a means of self-expression. As such, fashion touches everyone on the planet, literally, and we can even call it our second skin.
Thanks to industrialization and the advent of fast fashion, fashion is now more accessible and affordable than ever before. However, it has also made the fashion industry one of the most polluting in the world. Not only is it the second largest consumer of water supplies in the world, but the fashion manufacturing process is responsible for 10% of our carbon emissions. As reported by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe in 2018, 85% of textiles go to landfill each year.
Recently, awareness about climate change and environmental degradation is gaining importance. Therefore, sustainable fashion is gaining momentum in the industry, showing the world that we don’t have to sacrifice sustainability for fashion. From using eco-friendly fabrics to relearning how to wash our clothes, there’s so much we can do to be fashionable in a responsible way.
Traditional textiles over synthetic fibers
Synthetic fibers are materials that are commonly used to make clothes today. The reasons are simple – they are cheaper and easier to clean and store. They can also last a really long time – maybe too long. Most of the synthetic fibers we use every day, such as rayon, nylon, fabric (synthetic leather) and polyester, are plastic-based, meaning they are non-biodegradable and can remain in the soil for hundreds of years. without being adequately broken down. Fabrics, such as faux fur, while extremely stylish, can be major polluters, sending microplastics into waterways with every wash.
In light of this, designers around the world are working together with artisans and craftsmen to create quality fabrics using traditional techniques embedded in different cultures. Indian designers, for example, have increasingly laid emphasis on reviving the rich handloom traditions across the country by incorporating artisanal fabrics into their collections. This not only supports artisan communities and endangered art forms, but is also more environmentally friendly. This is because these traditional fabrics are created using mostly natural and biodegradable materials with little or no use of modern industrial machinery.
Some prime examples of handloom revival efforts by Indian designers include: Ritu Kumar’s Banaras Revival Programme, Anita Dongre’s collaboration with NGOs (eg Self Employed Women’s Association) supporting independent artisan groups, Sabyasachi Mukherjee’s Save the Sari Project, etc. Traditional fabric, made sustainably on an international scale can go a long way in changing perceptions and spreading awareness.
Recently, there have also been efforts to create sustainable synthetic fabrics, such as apple eco-skin, fish skin, pineapple skin, mushroom skin, etc. Currently, the production of these fabrics is time-consuming and expensive, and therefore they are not readily available to the public yet. However, with experts working tirelessly to improve formulas and techniques, they may become more accessible to everyone in the near future.
Revival of vintage fashion
The recent shift towards sustainability has put vintage fashion in the spotlight. The increased awareness and acceptance of “pre-loved” or second-hand clothing has given rise to the popularity of “thrift” culture. This trend is especially popular among millennial and Gen-Z fashionistas, who are creating beautiful new pieces for their wardrobes by upcycling their thrifted finds. Some of the vintage trends that are making a big comeback are athleisure, chunky knitwear, corsets and baguette bags.
Buying vintage gives new life to objects and saves them from being sent to landfill. Many retro finds can also be significantly cheaper than buying brand new items, making self-expression less of a burdensome expense. Especially for high quality vintage items, most of them are still in good condition as they are meant to last the wearer as long as possible under proper care. With second-hand clothing meeting one’s fashion needs, the demand for new, fast-fashion clothing decreases, which reduces the pressure on our valuable resources used to produce it.
Quality and maintenance over quantity and disposal
Fast fashion is an apt moniker, considering how fast trends move these days. The rate at which trends change has made fashion a disposable commodity. After all, fast fashion is really cheap using significantly lower quality fabrics – and of course, exploiting workers. Also, they are not designed to last beyond their intended “season”. This deterioration in clothing quality, as well as the taboo of being “out of style”, translates into high rates of consumerism, causing people to buy cheaper, lower quality clothing to replace those they already have in their wardrobes. Theirs. It is a vicious circle that is difficult to break.
One of the key aspects of sustainability is not only buying sustainably made items, but also maintaining the items we already own. In the case of fashion, this is where the oft-ignored washing instructions label comes into play. Understanding how to store and clean your clothes can significantly extend their lifespan, allowing you to get more wear out of them over a long period of time while still looking presentable. For example, avoid drying your clothes, as this can shrink and damage the fabric. It also saves electricity because dryers are very energy intensive, with an average of 4 kWh of energy consumption while producing 1.8 kg of carbon dioxide.
Reducing the number of washes per garment can also slow the breakdown of fibers in the garment. A regular cotton t-shirt can be worn up to three times before needing to be washed. A general rule of thumb would be to wash clothes when they are either stained or smelly. Some ways to keep clothes from smelling are to put them in the fridge or hang them in the sun for a while.
The constant and rapid evolution of the fashion industry, along with the ability to adapt to the circumstances, has inspired many young people to take the world by storm – and look absolutely amazing while doing it. However, we cannot turn a blind eye to what our industry and habits have done to the environment, especially when we see so many shocking natural disasters occurring around the world in just the first half of 2022. While shopping sustainably for clothes is not will solve the problem once and for all, being aware of our impact from fashion consumption on the environment is still a good place to start.
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