Rock Your Style and Save the Planet
Gone are the days when looking good meant sacrificing the environment. Sustainable fashion is certainly having a moment, proving we can all be both fashion-forward and eco-conscious. So, why not reconsider the fast fashion guilt and dive into the world of sustainable threads instead?! Get ready for some fun facts that will have you rocking your style and saving the planet, one outfit at a time.
The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion
Did you know the fashion industry is the world's second-largest polluter, just behind the oil industry? A single cotton t-shirt can use up to 700 gallons of water to produce [Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation]! Fast fashion, emphasising cheap, trendy clothes with a short lifespan, is a major contributor to this environmental damage.
Sustainable fashion offers a stylish solution.
Sustainable Fashion: More Than Just Hemp Clothing
Sustainable fashion isn't just about wearing itchy hemp clothing (although, hemp is a pretty cool eco-friendly fabric!). It's a whole movement focused on creating clothes that are good for you and the planet. Here's what it's all about:
Eco-friendly materials: Organic cotton, recycled polyester, and Tencel (made from wood pulp) are just a few examples.
Ethical production: Fair labour practices ensure workers are treated well and paid fairly.
Reduced waste: Sustainable brands aim to minimize waste throughout the production process.
Quality over quantity: Sustainable clothing is built to last, so you can buy less and wear more.
Sustainable Fashion Fun Facts: Get Your Eco-Geek On!
The global clothing market has doubled since 2000. That's a lot of clothes!
Enough textiles are thrown away globally each year to fill a landfill the size of a football field every single week [Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation].
Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth, making it a great sustainable fabric source.
King Charles, a surprising style icon for sustainability, has been rocking the same pair of brown suede shoes for over 30 years! [Source: The Guardian]
When Vogues’ Edward Enninful met King Charles III, he asked King Charles of his opinions on sustainable fashion. King Charles replied “Buy Once, buy well! It’s why I have been going on for so long about the need for a circular economy.” Read the whole interview.
Weforum.org shared their facts
It takes about 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt. That is enough water for one person to drink at least eight cups per day for 3.5 years!
It takes about 2,000 gallons of water to produce one pair of jeans, equating to one person drinking eight cups of water per day for 10 years!
But why? Well, they are made from cotton, a highly water-intensive plant.
Fast fashion items are often worn less than five times, kept for roughly 35 days, and produce over 400% more carbon emissions per item per year than garments worn 50 times and kept for a full year.
Microfibres from synthetic fabrics generate 16-35% of microplastics going into our oceans. It’s no surprise that companies are investing in sustainable materials development, coming up with surprising innovations like mushroom-based leather and plant-based nylon. (European Environment Agency)
69% of consumers feel that the importance of sustainability has grown over the last two years. Yet, they acknowledge cost, access, and lack of clarity, as the main barriers to adoption. (NielsenIQ)
The Circular Fashion Model
As mentioned earlier, the fashion industry is well under way to bring sustainability to the forefront of fashion brands. This makeover in the fashion world will definitely have the planet thanking us.
Instead of “take-make-waste” the circular model focuses on allowing brands to thrive without always selling new clothes. This could be resale, rental, repair or remaking services. The longer clothes are in circulation, the more gases we can slash from the atmosphere, they are not quite there yet, but it is a positive step in the right direction. Look out for our next blog where we will share our favourite circular fashion brands with you.
How to Rock Sustainable Fashion on a Budget
Sustainable fashion doesn't have to break the bank. Here are some tips:
Shop second-hand: Thrift stores and vintage shops are treasure troves of unique and affordable finds.
Invest in quality pieces: Buy fewer, well-made clothes that will last for years.
Support sustainable brands: Many offer affordable, eco-friendly options.
Get crafty! Learn to mend clothes or upcycle old pieces into something new.
Or think like King Charles, re-wear and reuse items from your wardrobe, he has even set up a thrift house at Dumfries House, encouraging people to start small businesses that repair, maintain and reuse materials. Why not find your local seamstress, cobbler or crafty friend to help keep re-wearing your clothes?
Sustainable fashion is about looking good and feeling good about the impact you're making. By making small changes in your wardrobe choices, you can be a part of the solution. So go forth, rock your unique style, and save the planet, one outfit at a time!
Looking for More?
This blog post is just the beginning of your sustainable fashion journey! Here are some resources to keep you inspired:
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation The promotion of and information on a Circular Fashion Industry
Sustainable Apparel Coalition A global, non-profit alliance of 300 consumer goods brands, retailers, manufacturers, sourcing agents, service providers, trade associations, NGOs, and academic institutions.
King Charles and Vin + Omi Collaboration Recycling with a sustainable fashion label.
WeForum Information on how unsustainable the Fashion Industry is.
