For sustainable designer labels, fashion means striking a balance between designing, manufacturing and functionality of clothes. It implies not only avoiding natural resource depletion, but also avoiding exploitation of individuals and communities. It combines usage of eco-friendly materials along with ethically sourced manufacturing. Here are three main methods for selecting sustainable fashion:
1. Know the materials: Check the tags
It's important to know about the fabrics first. It takes about 2,700 liters of water to make just one cotton t-shirt, which is enough water for one person to drink for 900 days! Can you imagine how many t-shirts are in our city, towns, state, country, globally, and on this planet? Organic cotton, on the other hand, uses far less water from germination to fabric processing.
Did you know heat is a problem with synthetic fibres? The majority of synthetic fabrics are harsh on the skin and do not absorb moisture well and become sticky.
Although, recycled polyester derived from recycled water bottles, fishing nets, and other waste products aid in the removal of plastic waste from landfills and the ocean. There is also a viscose rayon alternative made in a closed loop process from eucalyptus trees. These are all biodegradable. These are just a few examples of fabrics. There are numerous others! Check the tag for materials next time before you shop!
2. Maintenance and transparency: Spy on the label
It is critical to examine brand policies when choosing sustainable fashion. The outfit's upkeep will be printed on a tag. It also demonstrates green washing. It could be a false promise at times. Transparency in fashion refers to whether the brand tells us who made the garment and how. This is something that the consumer should be aware of. The information about the factory and their product journey from the fabric level to the packing level.
3. Certification check
Finally, a third-party evaluation is a must. Unlike the food industry, most textiles will not require certification before being released into the market. So, in order to be sustainable, a consumer must check the brand and its products for certifications of sustainability like Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Recycle Standard (GRS), Bluesign, Oeko-Tex Standard 100 among others. This ensures that the garment has met the criteria for being a sustainable product.
The goal of sustainability is to use and keep the products rather than use and discard. So, when shopping, consider both the need and want. For the time being, Earth is our only home. As responsible citizens, we must take action. The impact on the environment and biodiversity is rapidly spreading to humans. People working in the leather and tanning, synthetic dyes, and footwear manufacturing industries, in fact, are much more vulnerable to the negative effects of the fashion industry. The need for sustainability is urgent.
The above steps will help you not only choose fashion sustainably but also to have a durable wardrobe, help reduce the air, land and water pollution. It will add value to your life along with many artisans & craftsmen communities! Shop eco & ethical fashion when you plan to shop and make this world a better place to live.
Want to know about fabrics which are eco and skin friendly? Check this out.