Fashion and Sustainability: Balancing Style and Ethics
Introduction
In recent years, consumers have become increasingly aware of the environmental impacts of their shopping habits. As shoppers grow more concerned about sustainability, brands are responding by making changes in their production process and supply chain. Consumers are also taking matters into their own hands by supporting brands that use sustainable materials and manufacturing processes.
The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest consumers of natural resources and one of its biggest polluters.
The fashion industry is one of the world’s largest consumers of natural resources and one of its biggest polluters. According to The Guardian, “The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of all carbon emissions, uses more water than any other industry (around 8% globally), and uses more resources than any other sector.” It’s estimated that for every kilogram (2.2 pounds) of clothing produced, about two kilograms (4.4 pounds) of waste are also generated — most commonly in the form of textile scraps left over from manufacturing processes or discarded clothing from retail stores and consumers alike.
The global apparel industry produces about 60 billion pieces of clothing each year on average, according to data from market research firm Statista Inc.
The global apparel manufacturers industry produces about 60 billion pieces of clothing each year on average, according to data from market research firm Statista Inc.
But the fashion industry is also a major polluter: it accounts for 10% of global carbon emissions and uses up 80% of all water consumed in manufacturing processes, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s report on “The New Plastics Economy.”
In addition to being wasteful and polluting, the fashion system is unsustainable because it depends on cheap labor overseas — often by workers who face unsafe conditions and poor working conditions — and ever-increasing amounts of virgin materials like cotton and wool that require large amounts of land space for growing crops (as well as pesticides).
As consumers become more aware of the environmental impacts of their shopping habits, they’re looking for new ways to address their concerns.
As consumers become more aware of the environmental impacts of their shopping habits, they’re looking for new ways to address their concerns. In response, retailers and brands have begun to offer clothes made from sustainable materials like organic cotton and recycled polyester. These items may cost more than conventional ones but are often worth it — and not just because they’re better for the environment: Customers often find that they last longer, too!
In addition to making ethical choices when purchasing garments (and accessories), there are other ways you can help reduce your carbon footprint as a fashionista. For example:
Buy less clothing. This is a good rule of thumb for anyone who wants to reduce their carbon footprint, but it’s especially important for fashionistas. When you have a closet full of clothes, you’re more likely to impulse-buy new ones (even if you don’t need them).
Although shoppers’ concern about sustainability varies by brand and product category, many are willing to pay more for products that are produced sustainably.
Although shoppers’ concern about sustainability varies by brand and product category, many are willing to pay more for products that are produced sustainably. In a recent survey conducted by the Sustainable apparel manufacturers coalition, 86 percent of Americans said they would be willing to spend more on an item if it was made without harming the environment.
When it comes down to it, consumers care about how their clothes are made and how they affect the environment — and this matters more than ever as we move toward an era where climate change is no longer something we can ignore or dismiss as “the future.”
This is a shift that all brands need to take seriously. More and more consumers are demanding to know where their clothes come from, what they’re made of, and how those materials affect the environment — and it’s not something we can ignore or dismiss as “the future.”
“I think we need a greater sense of urgency,” Gottlieb says. “We have all this knowledge now that can be translated into action if we want it.”
“I think we need a greater sense of urgency,” Gottlieb says. “We have all this knowledge now that can be translated into action if we want it.”
It’s true: With every new article you read about the world’s climate crisis and what it means for your future, your mind starts racing with questions. What can I do? How can I help? Will any of this matter in 10 years? These are valid questions — but they’re also ones that might leave you feeling paralyzed by the enormity of what lies ahead and unsure where to start.
Consumers care about how their clothes are made and how they affect the environment.
The demand for sustainable clothing manufacturers in fashion is growing, and it’s no longer just the domain of environmentalists. Shoppers are increasingly concerned about how their choices affect the planet, and they’re looking for new ways to address that concern. Many consumers are willing to pay more for products that are produced sustainably.
Consumers are looking for more than just environmentally friendly products, though. They want to know where those products came from and how they were made. The majority of consumers say that knowing the origin of a product is important when deciding whether or not to buy it.
Conclusion
In the end, it’s up to us as consumers to make sure that our clothes are sustainable. We have the power to demand better from our favorite brands, and we can choose less harmful fabrics like organic cotton when shopping for new clothes. But we also need governments around the world — including in countries such as the UK, USA and India where much of our clothing is produced — to ensure that their regulations on pollution control are strong enough so that companies don’t just ignore them when making their products.
