We all know fashion as a means of self-expression and keeping up with what is ‘in’ at the moment. Whether we ordered online or bought physically at a store, we don’t think about where the clothes were sourced before they came to us.
If we’re buying fur, leather, or animal skin garments and shoes or if we’re just buying velvet pants or clothes made from synthetic materials, as long as it looks good, it fits.
What has been talked about but needs to be more is that global warming and carbon emissions are not just caused by cars, deforestation, fossil fuels, and mining.
Like other industries where manufacturing and production and sourcing raw materials are essential, fashion plays a role in this.
Why isn’t good
Fast fashion is one of the reasons to blame, were cheap, easily accessible, and trendy clothes are sourced through global production chains and sold through retailers such as Shein, H&M, Zara, and more.
Many companies are responsible for greenhouse gas due to the production of synthetic materials and the use of gallons and gallons of water.
Another reason fashion may contribute to global warming is that over sixty percent of clothes end up in landfills simply because people don’t like them. The textile and fashion industries are ranked #2 as one of the largest pollutants globally.
The pollution mainly comes from dyeing fabrics using chemicals, microplastics found in oceans coming from clothing industries, fossil fuel extraction for materials like polyester, etc.
Switching to Sustainable Fashion
People have been making a conversion from usual fashion to sustainable for eco-friendly purposes. Most sustainable fashion garments are made from organic and recycled materials. The idea is to make the most of what you already own and revamp them in clean ways.
Generally, natural fibers are used to make such clothes, such as organic cotton, soy, hemp, bamboo, etc., and organic pesticide and chemical-free dyes are also used. Faux fur and animal skin are also popular.
People have used the internet to their benefit, and many thrift startups have opened up where people sell secondhand garments at a reasonable price.
Upcycling materials and converting them into something new rather than buying a new outfit is also a fun DIY method of sustainable fashion. Donating old clothes instead of discarding them also helps society and the environment.
Brands to Lookout For
Some high-end Indian sustainable fashion companies include Nicobar and Ka Sha. Smaller. But equally respected brands include Pomogrenade, Incresent, Renge, and Hemp Kari.
Internationally, fashion designers like Stella Mccartney, Eileen Fisher, Katie Holmes, and more have adopted sustainable fashion and pride themselves on the success of their brands.
Sustainability is more innovative, better and adds more life to our environment. It makes us feel good for being a part of something that leads to the betterment of society, even if it’s just by our fashion choices.
Read More : POST PANDEMIC COUTURE FASHION: FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE?
