A Sustainable Fashion: Make Fashion Circular
As a little girl, I remember my mother as a seamstress, hunched over yards of fabric cutting and sewing while humming softly to herself. She designed and sewed costumes for her clients.
She worked sometimes up to 16 hours a day to meet her deadlines. The clothes my mother made were stunning and the ladies admired and were grateful for the wonderful job she did. Especially, when they walked through the town, carrying themselves with new confidence and elegance.
The money was scarce to buy a new piece of textiles. So, if some of her clients got tired of the dress, or skirt, she would reuse the fabric and create something new.
That was a sustainable fashion!
After the fall of Czechoslovakia, democracy brought cheap, replaceable clothes made in China. Unfortunately, my mother was forced to close her business.
Everyone started buying cheap clothing, very few could afford brand names.
Why this Obsession with Fashion?
To this day I have never understood the point of fashion or was attracted to it. I could never shop endlessly or spend money on some clothing brand names. For me, it is futile and nonsense. I am not a fashionista. But I understand most women enjoy shopping and even adore spending money on new clothes.
I believe in living sustainably without endless shopping. I was never big on spending. During my life, I have never gone shopping on Black Friday. Shopping literally gives me a headache.
We all know very well that climate change is real and our environment is changing for the worse. Cutting fast fashion shopping will decrease pollution. The fashion industry produces an alarming amount of waste, worldwide.
Facts about Fashion Waste
· The average consumer throws away 70 lbs of clothing each year
· Globally we produce 13 million tons of clothing
· Less than 30% is donated but we still have piles of second-hand clothing in stores
· 20% of water waste comes from the fashion industry
· 10% of greenhouse commission is from clothes production
Fashion is NOT the second most polluting industry. The first two are oil and animal agriculture, fashion is the 3rd.
Sustainable Brands in Fashion
The brand North Face announced last month, with its team of designers to join a Renewed Design Residency that will last for 6 months. A company called Renewable Workshop will help to remix, redesign, and resell their older styles instead of burning them or sending them to landfills. Also, you can find clothing companies that follow sustainable protocol.
For example, I buy clothes from a Moldavian Textile Company called IUVAS that makes simple clothes from 100% reusable cotton. I am not only supporting a local company but their clothing is durable and lasts a long time. Something I can wear for at least 10 years. It is affordable and extremely comfortable.
Also, I only buy clothing once or twice a year and when I don’t want them anymore, I donate them to second-hand clothing stores.
Innovations in Textiles Economy
(Make Fashion Circular Project)
How to Start Dressing Sustainably
- Think long-term, buy only clothes you need and will wear for a long time ( at least a few years). Buy a good quality for a reasonable price.
2. Recycle is the new trend. Forget about brands and trends. You can use the fabric from your old clothes and create something new instead of throwing clothes away. If you absolutely must buy brand name choose a sustainable or local brand.
3. Secondhand Stores. You can always recycle your old piece of clothing if you get tired of it. Here in Granada, I get credit for the clothes I bring and I can get new clothes from the store. My yearly budget for clothes doesn’t exceed 100 Euros. If you are a creative type like me you can always make your own clothes.
The new trend in the fashion industry should bring back seamstresses, creating our own designer clothes, or wear sustainable brands. This way we as nations, communities, families, and mothers can teach our daughters to dress the right way for our future and the planet.
This is a day 7 in 30 Day to sustainability articles.