Making Fashion Sustainable

By Dakiyah Floyd
Staff Writer

There is a conversation around fashion that’s changing the way people look at the clothes they’re wearing. Fashion connoisseurs are not just talking about new styles, designers or brands. They are talking about sustainability too.

Sustainable clothing is not a new idea or even a new topic, but in the last few years, more and more people are talking about it, and just as many of those people are getting into it too.

According to The Good Trade, People Tree, Pact, and Boden are just some of the eco-friendly companies named in a list of 35 ethical and sustainable clothing brands. These smaller brands aren’t the only ones creating sustainable clothing; popular and well-known names such as Levi’s and Stella McCarthy are also leading the way to make the fashion industry more ethical and better for the environment.

While many people are taking the time to learn about sustainable living and eco-friendly brands, some people don’t know much about Sustainable Fashion or why it makes a difference. So, what’s Sustainable Fashion, and why should anyone be willing to spend their money on it?

Green Strategy defines Sustainable Fashion as “…clothing, shoes and accessories that are manufactured, marketed and used in the most sustainable manner possible, taking into account both environmental and socio-economic aspects”.

Fashion companies are paying more attention to what material is used, where that material comes from, and the transportation of the final product. According to Motif, brands such as Stella McCarthy are using renewable and natural products like cashmere and organic cotton.

Sustainable Fashion encourages brands to consider the environment and be more careful with natural resources to maintain an industry that doesn’t run on an overuse of those resources.

Green Strategy also discusses the socio-economic perspective, which means that brands will ensure that the working conditions for the employees making their products and transporting them are improved. Sustainable Fashion doesn’t just take care of the environment or lessen a brand’s carbon footprint; it also means more ethical and cruel free options are accessible.

Although the fashion industry is not the leading cause of the environmental issues the world is now facing, the switch to sustainable and reusable clothing is a step in the right direction to improve the current circumstances.

The latest generation of teens and young adults have shown resilience when facing the state of the environment. Many have already shopped from more sustainable brands, and others are ready to consider more eco-friendly options.

Sustainable clothing has a long way to go before its normal routine for every brand, but it may just be the future of fashion.