Why is sustainable fashion so important?
It’s no secret that the fashion industry especially fast fashion is destroying the as fashion industry is accountable for over 10%greenhouse emission. To mention a few the ongoing problems, Climate change, plastic pollution, deforestation, loss of coral reefs and biodiversity, water scarcity, Human right abuses and more, the clothing industry is a significant contributor to most of these problems. The waste from the fashion industry pollutes the air and water. Dumping in the oceans puts aquatic life in danger. On a serious note, the fashion industry does more bad than good for the environment.
Fortunately, positive changes in the fashion landscape are happening more ethical brands, customers demanding sustainable clothing brands. But changes do not come easy, not at least in the fashion industry and any change that drift from the industry’s economic projection is rejected or postponed. The only viable solution is slow from fashion without impacting finances too much.
Sustainable brands: sustainable brand create fashion in a way that is most considerate humanity and the environment, reducing their environmental impact wherever possible or without leaving any negative footprint.
Here are 6 reasons why sustainable fashion is important:
1. Sustainable fashion saves natural resources:
A study done in 2015 shows that only 3% of material is being recycled while 97% of resources used in the cloth-making process are new materials. Sustainable clothing industries follow the concept of 5R’s (Reduce, Repair, Recycle, Repurpose and Reinvent) to make their processes efficient, less cost-intensive, and with a little requirement of virgin raw material. When adopting sustainable clothing, you make an eco-conscious choice for a planet where people and nature can thrive. This helps in resource conservation and improving the brand image.
2. Reduces carbon footprint:
The global fashion industry emits a hefty amount greenhouse gas contributing actively and massively to global warming. The reason is most of the clothing are petroleum based and made from fossil fuels which requires significantly more energy in the production phase than the natural and recycled fibres. On the other hand, sustainable fashion utilizes biodegradable materials from natural or recycled fabrics. These materials require little to no chemical treatment, less energy, less water, and no pesticides or fertilizers to grow.
3. Sustainable fashion saves animal lives:
A misconception is that leather for instance, is a by- produce of meat industry however this is not always true. It is estimated that the leather industry is slaughtering and killing over 430 million animals per year. Sustainable fashion has made animal welfare a priority and ensure that the process is cruelty free, therefore they adopted to alternatives such as making fabric from the leaves of pineapple, recreating bags from recycled seat belts, and producing plant-based compostable sneakers.
4. Sustainable fashion saves water:
It’s shocking how much water does the fashion industry for instance, to produce a single cotton t-shirt, it takes an incredible amount of 2700 litres of water. Cotton is highly dependent on water but usually is grown where there is already a scarce of water. By contrast organic cotton reduces water consumption by 91% as opposed to conventional way but only 1% of global cotton production to date is organic. By choosing clothes made out of organic cotton or sustainable production methods, you not only minimise water and carbon footprint but also help leave a liveable planet for future generations.
5. Sustainable fashion support fairer and safer working condition:
Harsh chemical and dust from the production process cause disease among the workers and sometimes result in childbirth defect among children who are involved in child labour for on-field work. Fast fashion has kept prices low at the cost low pay and poor working condition in developing countries. Ethical practices by brands ensure that worker is paid proper wage and has safe and fair working condition.
6. Sustainable Fashion is healthier for people and planet:
Fast fashion items often goes under intense and long chemical process before ending up on our hanger. Around 8000 different synthetic chemicals are used to dye, bleach and wet process garment, which often causes diseases or even death among farmers and inflict serious birth defects in children. Some of chemical not only it causes disease among the production worker but also pose health threat to the people wearing those garments.
Therefore, it’s time to recognize the impact of our buying decisions as consumers. It is easy to look at gorgeous and finished pieces of clothing in store and forget that there is a story and lifecycle behind it. We are so detached form those stories behind it because the fashion encourages us to be so. But being aware of the ugly side of this industry will hopefully lead us to more conscious choices that is planet, animal, and people friendly.
At the end of the day, we have the ability to choose if we want to be part of the problem or the solution.
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thanks for reading :)
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