Sustainability | Fashion
What Nobody Tells You About Sustainable Fashion
Exploring the myths and misconceptions of this industry
I’m sure we’re all aware of the negative impacts of the textile industry on the environment and have come across the term ‘sustainable fashion’ but, the world of sustainability is complicated, it is laden with myths and misconceptions and due to that, sustainable fashion is often misunderstood.
Sustainable fashion refers to the apparels that are being made in a way that is mindful of the many environmental issues caused by the fashion industry.
High levels of water consumption and contamination, excess of energy and chemical usage in production and enormous waste creation are some of the major ill effects that are created by fast-fashion.
However, even after acknowledging these facts, we do little to change this trend just because of some common doubts and beliefs.
Therefore, here I’ll be debunking some widespread myths and misconceptions about sustainable fashion that’ll surely change your perspective.
Let’s begin!
1. If you donate your clothes then you don’t have to worry about sustainable fashion.
Donating anything is great but, most individuals use it as a way to justify overconsumption. And the sad truth is that’s not fully sustainable as well.
When you donate your old garments to clothing charities, they’ll extract as much value as they can from it to run their operations smoothly. Only 20–40% is sold again, the rest will be diverted to recyclers or will be sent to developing countries, where it puts local workers out of jobs.
Only 20–40% of donated
clothes sold again.
Buying and donating is still considered as consuming. So, it is important to be mindful of your purchases and choose only those clothes which you will use for a longer period of time.
2. Sustainable fashion is expensive
Yes, items of clothing made out of sustainable material are a little expensive as compared to fast fashion but, price should not be a deterring factor when it comes to quality.
Raw materials used in eco clothing are usually planted and harvested in one place, then they are sent to factories for processing, designing, colouring and finally packaging. At every stage, it involves a workforce who are paid fairly for their labour.
These garments are not mass-produced because sustainable materials and low-impact dyes are available in limited quantities. Plus, the techniques used to avoid the inclusion of harmful chemicals in the process makes the complete cycle more expensive.
But usually, Eco garments are very well made, they are extremely comfortable, and have a longer life span as compared to conventional options. Moreover, the designs are timeless so they will remain in your wardrobe for many years.
3. Sustainable fashion is unattractive
The assumption that ethical garments are ugly is completely false. This is because beauty is totally subjective and its definition changes from person to person.
In fact, the problem is sustainable fashion should never be connected with style because it is about creating eco-friendly processes and creative techniques to reduce the environmental effects of the fashion industry and not about aesthetics.
Besides, today many sustainable brands have their own identity, uniqueness, and style which are working innovatively to shift the perspective of people.
4. I can’t change things
This is not true at all because as a consumer you have the power to make or break a brand. So, do your bit, and support sustainable and ethical brands by purchasing from them and spreading the word.
Just take a second to think that it takes around 2700 litres of water to manufacture and process just one t-shirt, which is enough for a person to consume for almost 2.5 years. If you even buy one less t-shirt or a pair of jeans, it will save thousands of litres of water.
It takes around 2700 litres
of water to manufacture
and process just one t-shirt.
Don’t worry about the outcomes just focus on putting your money where your ethics are. Because the textile industry is driven by demand, and if the consumers demand change, change will happen.
Though this is a slow process, the shift is already happening, be an active part of it. After all, doing a little bit of something is always better than doing nothing at all.
5. You can’t buy fast-fashion at all
This is simply untrue. It can never be either this or that because it is a process where you consciously take small steps to achieve your ultimate goal.
It can happen that you may not find a well-stitched suit made out of sustainable materials for your next business meetings. So, it’s OK if you buy a suit manufactured with conventional materials.
Don’t be hard on yourself, make small shifts and try to develop your own unique style with time that resonates with your sustainability goals.
Consider doing some research online before the next time you go shopping to have an idea of their environmental impacts and then decide whether you should purchase them or not.
Remember adding conscious fashion to your wardrobe is a thing of progress and not perfection. So, it’s fine to have a few fast-fashion garments in your closet because perfection is impossible.
6. Natural fibres are better than their synthetic counterparts
Many of us believe that natural fibres like cotton, wool, silk etc, being derived from nature are better than synthetic materials. However, this isn’t always true.
The production of these natural fibres has its fair share of environmental issues. For instance, the manufacturing process of no-organic cotton involves the use of a large amount of water and toxic chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides etc) which has been linked to health problems in farmers who grow it and many other environmental issues.
Moreover, cotton, linen, silk and other natural fibres go through an intense process where they are coloured with toxic and high-impact dyes. So, even if they end up in landfills or in your compost bins they can leach these toxic chemicals into the soil and cause pollution.
Therefore, it is recommended to purchase only organic natural fibres which are processed ethically.
So what do you now think?
Remember that ethical fashion is more like an investment, and by choosing it you are consciously making a decision to make this planet a better place to live. So, feel good about it and wear your new style with pride.
I would love to know what you think of these myths and misconceptions or is there anything that I missed?
Why do fashion designers never have any good ideas?They’re too clothes minded.