A Commoners Guide to Sustainable Fashion

 

 

(Photo by Edward Howell on Unsplash)

We are in the 21st century with a lot of inventions that keep us comfortable so that we don’t have to exert ourselves too much to get the things that we want or need. But an excessive amount of products that provide comfort and luxury are not necessarily good for us or the environment. People are slowly realizing the effects that such products & inventions have on our planet and indirectly on us and it is not a pretty picture. Over the last few decades, we have seen the horrors that our planet is going through and have got a glimpse of the future that awaits us if we do not change our habits. This has forced us to re-think every choice that we are making and create a change in our lives that will have a good and significant impact on Mother Earth and we can have our beautiful planet for many more centuries to come. This is where sustainability comes in.

Sustainability focuses on addressing current needs, without undermining future generations ' ability to meet theirs. It is an individualistic as well as a corporate approach. Corporate sustainability encourages companies to make decisions thinking of the long-term effects on the environment, society and human life instead of short-term effects. It causes them to weigh more aspects than simply the associated immediate benefit or loss. Nowadays a lot of companies are trying to be more sustainable in every possible aspect. Such businesses can fulfil their environmental needs by reducing emissions, lowering their energy consumption, purchasing goods from fair trade organizations, and ensuring that their physical waste is properly disposed of with as little carbon footprint as possible.

 

SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

 

The fashion industry is at the centre of several very big sustainability issues. It is the 2nd biggest consumer of water in the world. By 2030, water consumption in the industry is expected to rise by 50 per cent to 118 billion cubic meters (or 31.17 trillion gallons), its carbon footprint will increase to 2.791 million tons, and the amount of waste it produces will reach 148 million tonnes. Such predictions come despite marks and retailers making considerable progress to mitigate their effect. Sustainable cotton projects are used by several brands to minimize water, energy and chemical use, modern dyeing technologies to reduce water use by up to 50%, as well as other energy and chemical saving schemes across the supply chain.

 

(Photo by S O C I A L . C U T on Unsplash)

 Even though the companies are trying to adopt new sustainable ways, the problem is getter bigger on the consumer side of things. The demand for clothes is increasing exponentially and that has to be met. The clothes are also discarded very quickly as everyone wants the newest fashion has to offer. People are buying clothes very frequently and are not using them a lot. The industry is just churning out clothes to meet the ever-changing demands of the consumers. Many people are talking about the importance of being sustainable but not everyone is taking a step in that direction. After a long time of just addressing the need for sustainable changes, a lot of designers and clothing companies are finally starting to look for alternatives and starting to make a change.

 

 

CHANGING TRENDS IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY

 

Sustainable fashion is about buying clothes that do no or little harm to the environment and the people manufacturing them while being produced and which are not a threat to the environment when they are thrown away. Making sure that the garment workers are paid a fair wage and have safe working conditions is also an important aspect of sustainable fashion. Brands that are not mindful of maintaining and protecting the environment, use an immense amount of natural resources, oil, and chemicals to produce their garments. Growing cotton requires a huge amount of water which is not good for the environment. Some alternatives are proving to be useful and good for the environment like Khadi and Hemp. Hemp is also a very, very environmentally friendly crop. This doesn't need pesticides and needs little water, but with every growth cycle, this renews the soil. The long roots avoid erosion and help keep topsoil intact. For most temperate areas, even, hemp grows readily.

 

With a lot of industry experts starting the discussion on sustainability in fashion and thinking of newer and better ways to produce clothes, there are a lot of trends that are getting popular amongst clothing companies. Companies are trying to develop alternative materials that are less resource-dependant, lasts longer and is recyclable. Designers are also trying to make clothes with a longer lifespan by using high-quality materials. These changes in trends are also because the consumers have started to question the companies and pushing them to go more environmentally friendly. 

 

SUSTAINABLE FASHION IN INDIA

 

Sustainable apparel has already started to make its mark on the Indian market. From equal wages for staff to the use of natural fabrics and colours, brands welcome this modern trend in the textile industry world. This concept is not new to India but it has gotten a little lost over the years due to globalization. But it is making a comeback with a lot of new, sustainable Indian brands that have entered the fashion market. As a response to this – and in general, to the increasing public perception of the critical need for sustainability, many Indian labels and independent designers are attempting to reduce the negative environmental effect of fashion.

 

What we can do as consumers of this huge fashion industry is stop buying fast fashion and look for more sustainable and ethical brands available near us. We can buy from small labels, handmade stuff or just go to our local tailor and get whatever we want to be stitched. Consumers cannot control the entire fast fashion industry but we can make choices in our own lives and reject it from our end. Do your research and go for more durable clothes or materials which will prevent the need to shop every now & then and before you buy clothes, ask yourselves if you really need it and if you don’t, then do not waste your money on it. Trust me you can live without that extra pair of jeans. Start you switch to sustainable fashion now.

 

(Photo by Austin Chan on Unsplash)

 

 

 

-         Rtr. Manali Kanthi

§                              RC Thane East.