The Eco–Wear: Sustainable Fashion

The concept of Eco–Wear Fashion as we know it seems very simple. We see something online or on the runway, we go to a store take our pick and bring home what looks right on us. Many of you would not agree with this at all. Shopping involves so much more than just walking in. You need to consider the designs, the fabrics, the fittings, and of course value for money. It would be a disaster if the stitching comes undone of your favorite green blouse right within a week and you haven’t even uploaded any post on Instagram in that top!

With the burgeoning trend of fast fashion, owning new designs is as easy as it gets, what you see on the runway is going to be in the stores that too available at considerably highly affordable prices. As charming as the concept seems, what goes behind all the fast fashion is what is putting our planet in grave danger. And if you think that denying a carry bag when you shop and not asking for a printed customer copy of your credit card transaction is your idea of being environment friendly, think twice because they harm your $10 shirt does to the environment is irreversible. Make sure your clothes are actually old when you are throwing them away.

The idea

Sustainable fashion can be called more of a movement to take the phrase “fashion sense” in the literal meaning. The fashion industry produces 21 billion pounds of textile waste per year. The next time thinks twice before discarding a t-shirt because of a coffee stain. Sustainable fashion is a fashion that makes sense to the people and leaves the least harmful impact on the environment. Quite recently the fashion industry has realized the massive impact and has started modifying the production cycle, incorporating more reuse and repair in the textile life cycle instead of straight out dumping.

Although the concept is new and a little more expensive because the prices are not be entirely paid by the environment. This can be called an attempt to recover the tarnished image of the fashion world or a righteous more considerate path that they are taking up but this is an amazing initiative which by all means should be promoted and put into practice as much as possible. Instead of chalking out waste disposal plans, sustainable fashion is an approach to curb the problem right at the root. Not an easy task but a little more effort can bring about a considerable change.

Closed-loop fashion

A system that was innovated keeping in mind that the dire need and the only solution to curb the problem at hand is to improve the business process and tackle the root cause instead of making amends. After all “prevention is better than cure”. So as the name goes the closed-loop system is applied to the supply chain of the business. It implies that the businesses use the same materials, again and again, to create new products for the market.

Clothing giants like Zara, H&M and Forever 21 who have been thriving in fast fashion have been under heavy scrutiny because of their business model and unethical practices. Fashion brands are either adopting or have already incorporated the closed-loop system into their supply chain process. They are using biodegradable fabrics like cotton and wool instead of commercial polyester. Using better fabrics, emphasizing repair and upcycle, redesigning using the same fabrics, and using vintage designs. The closed-loop system involves the following steps.

Fashion for everyone

With the coming of age and social media, people are becoming aware of what the whole idea is. Also what all is at stake if we keep going on at the pace that we are. That there are some serious changes that we need to bring into effect immediately. We openly blame the companies for advertising their propaganda so you shop more at cheaper prices. But it is us consumers who buy the products.

We need to be the change we want to see. Bringing about little steps of change in the way we shop or the brands we usually buy we can in turn change a lot. Just to appease our minds we think what difference would one top make? But that is all that makes the difference. Shop quality products and brands that use natural fabrics. Upcycle, do not be that carefree that you throw away a cloth you bought last week because it was out of fashion. Donate your old clothes to charity. If everyone would start following even one of the practices it would definitely cause a huge impact.

Sustainable fashion brands

You would be surprised as to how many brands are out there that are 100% environment friendly. Ethical fashion on a budget is definitely a challenge. The natural raw materials and good quality of processing used in the making of outfits hike the cost. Some brands offer you both style and peace of mind.

A few of them are People Tree who provides fair trade and certified organic clothing. Another high-end fashion brand Stella McCartney is a 100 eco-friendly brand that offers a wide range of ready-to-wear apparel for men and women. A lot of other noted sustainable fashion brands are Pact, Kotn, Able Ethics, Thought Clothing. Many others are in the line joining them.

This is more of a fashion movement, taking the industry towards the right and ethical path. Every small step ultimately makes a huge impact. Let us try to make it big enough to impact our planet to get better rather than wreaking havoc. It is time to stop this stupidity and actually have some sense!