Is Fast Fashion Sustainable?
The fashion industry has been criticized for its production of cheap clothing. The fast-fashion sustainability cycle is a major contributor to the increase in global emissions and pollution, according to a study from Greenpeace International.
The average American throws away approximately 70 pounds of clothes every year, which end up in landfills or incinerators. Fast fashion brands contribute to this problem by encouraging consumers to buy more clothes that ultimately end up being thrown away- creating an unsustainable cycle where companies produce vast quantities of cheaply made clothing that are often not durable or sustainable enough for long-term wear.
But there are ways we can reduce our impact on the environment while still showing off our personal style! This article will give you a few tips to incorporate new styles into your wardrobe while still being mindful of the environment.
New Business Model For Fast Fashion
People want to change the way fashion is made. Right now, some people make clothes with parts from animals and other people make clothes without those parts. People want to stop making products from animals because it's bad for the environment and health of the world.
A new business model would be to make clothes from man-made parts instead of animal parts. This way, the environment will become a lot cleaner and there will be less methane in the air because animals won't have to die for people to wear them.
This new business model would impact the fashion industry because it would mean that more people could afford nice clothes because they wouldn't have to buy a new animal-based part every time an old one wore out. People wouldn't have to spend as much money on fashion because they would be able to wear the same clothes over and over again instead of buying a brand new outfit each season, so fashion companies could make more clothes from fewer parts.
So there are four phases that indicate that process:
High-Quality Material
A wholesale clothing supplier guarantees the quality and cost-effectiveness of materials, in order to lower production costs.
As a result, all our garments are manufactured from high-grade materials by experienced manufacturers who ensure the supply of high-quality products at the most competitive prices.
Designing & Production
A wholesale clothing supplier provides unique and exclusive designs that are made available to our partners for production.
Our design team continuously produces new and innovative products, which will help you update your fashion look at any time.
Recycling
A wholesale clothing supplier can help you recycle your old garments.
And it’s not only good for the environment but recycling your clothes will save you money because you won't have to buy new ones.
Reduction
A wholesale clothing supplier will help you reduce costs by getting rid of suppliers and retail outlets.
Through a wholesale clothing supplier, you can avoid the supply chain and buy goods directly from the manufacturer.
As a result, you'll save both time and money while being able to shop for high-quality clothes 24/7 without leaving home.
Sustainability Strategy
A wholesale clothing supplier can help you reduce costs by getting rid of suppliers and retail outlets.
So through a wholesale clothing supplier, we find that we have the most impact on fashion brands with our roles in the supply chain.
To learn more about our strategy click here.
Dyecoo
Dyecoo is the first company in the world to provide dyeing techniques without water or process chemicals.
We understand that our fabrics at their core are composed of natural resources, and we want to ensure that those resources remain available for future generations by way of sustainable production processes. We provide a unique dyeing technique called “Waterless Dyeing” (AATD), which is developed by the Dyecoo lab team jointly with China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and we achieved a waterless dyeing technique on cotton fabrics for the first time in the world. By using this technology, we offer you ways to reduce one-third of water and chemical use as well as CO2 emission compared with conventional processes, which significantly contributes to environmental protection.
Re: new cell
A Swedish company invented a way to reuse used clothes and it's called Re: new cell. It's great because we won't need as many materials to make new ones.
This strategy is something that we would see in more sustainable fashion industry.
They create new clothes from old ones by breaking them down, which means they can use about 90% less of the resources to make new clothes.
Alternative Material
Can fast fashion be stoped? There are many ways to make the world better. One way is changing how clothes are made. A new way might be to think about using different materials for clothes that are both sustainable and biodegradable. Sustainability is about more than just fast fashion.
One such material is Seacell, which is made from algae and seaweed.
Algae has the ability to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere; it’s absorbed through its cell wall and when it photosynthesizes, the CO2 gets trapped inside. Then by harvesting, you can get a product that can be used to make clothes.
And of course, if the product is biodegradable, it’s more sustainable than non-biodegradable products.
While this seems like an ideal solution, the cost is higher than cotton and so I’ve never seen one of these items for sale.
Organic Hemp
Hemp has been cultivated for thousands of years and has many uses.
It’s a fiber that is sustainably grown without the use of pesticides, so it’s a great choice for those who want to go environmentally friendly yet still have stylish clothing.
When an organic hemp item is made from hemp grown in Europe, it’s a good choice for consumers who want to look stylish without supporting the use of pesticides and harming the environment.
Another reason why I like this material is that it has antimicrobial properties.
Organic-Linen
Linen is also another great choice because it’s made from flax, so it’s sustainable and biodegradable.
However, there are only a few items available to the public that are made of 100% linen.
One is Alternative Apparel. Their clothes are affordable but high-quality at the same time. They’re a great choice for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint and still look good at the same time!
Tencel
Tencel is made from eucalyptus trees which grow very quickly, so using this material would help eliminate water shortages that are plaguing many countries.
However, the cost is still relatively high compared to other materials currently on the market.
Carbon Credits
Another way you can support sustainable fashion while still looking great is to buy clothes that have been made with sustainable practices.
We call this slow fashion.
One such company is Everlane. Their clothes are both stylish and affordable, and they use a social impact index to ensure that their factories uphold the brand’s values of transparency, fairness, and sustainability.
Pinatex
A company called Pinatex creates clothing from an alternative material called pineapple leaf extract. They use the fiber of the pineapple leaves to make leather-like products.
Since they use a byproduct, it’s more sustainable than traditional leather.
Another positive point is that it doesn’t contain any allergens, so you won’t have to worry about going near a pineapple while wearing this material.
Organic Cotton
This is another great alternative for cotton because it doesn’t contain any chemicals and is grown without pesticides. They’re also biodegradable, so they won’t contribute to water pollution like other materials might.
It is a great sustainable choice, but not all natural-looking clothes are made from organic cotton. So it’s important to read the label carefully before you buy anything!
Econyl
A great option for those who want to look stylish is Econyl.
This material is made from recycled plastic that has been used in the fishing industry, also known as ‘ghost nets.
The great thing about this material is that it’s still fashionable, but it uses a sustainable material at the same time.
It’s also easy to clean, so it’s a great choice for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint but don’t have the time or patience to constantly wash their clothes.
Impact Of Fast Fashion On Environment
The fashion industry and enterprise is plaguing many countries and have had a great impact on the environment. The major impacts of this trend on the environment include water shortage, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emission.
Many of these environmental problems can be traced back to the companies that manufacture these garments that are then given to communities around the world who cannot get access to affordable clothes that are made from sustainable materials or pay for the resources required to clean them.
What makes eco-friendly clothing more expensive is all of the resources it requires to produce them such as chemical manufacturing processes that use less energy and fewer carbon emissions. The processing is also slowed down so that it can take about twice as long as other clothes being produced quickly by machines.
The water and energy used to make clothing is becoming an issue in countries around the world including India, Mexico, and South Africa.
Another impact of fast fashion on the environment is deforestation. Many forests around the world are being cut down to make room for more farms that will feed livestock that produce leathers and furs.
One of the biggest environmental impacts of fast fashion comes from greenhouse gas emissions. If we continue this pattern then there will be a rise in CO2 levels that can cause global warming and climate change for future generations.
- Huge Utilization Of Clothing
A great impact on the environment of fast fashion comes from how much clothing is being consumed in the world.
Every year, around 80 billion garments are purchased worldwide and up to 400 million garments are thrown away each year according to a study cited by The Guardian.
Clothing production doubled. This utilization rate of clothes has become an issue because it can lead to more deforestation.
In addition, the more clothes that are made from sustainable materials will require more resources and time which can be costly and raise the price of clothing in stores.
As of 2019, the contemporary document suggests that sixty-two million metric lots of clothing had been consumed globally. T-shirts and trousers are the most commonly obtained clothing items, with every one of four garments being a t-shirt or trousers.
- Excessive Usage Of Water
Another major impact of fast fashion is the excessive usage of water. One of the biggest areas that have been impacted by the current pattern of clothing production is water. The textile industry consumes about one-tenth of all the water industrially used to run factories and operate easy products. For example, it takes 2 tons of water or 1,080 gallons to produce a single cotton shirt. This is equivalent to bathing 25 people for an entire year!
- Plastic Microfibers
Some of the most obvious offenders are paints, pesticides, and clothing. Paints and pesticides are often sprayed in the air, but because they only come in contact with water after being used, they don’t pose much of an issue- unless rain or irrigation causes them to be washed into rivers. Clothing is a different story. Within the industry, it is well known that synthetic clothing materials shed thousands of tiny fibers when in the wash- even in cold water! This may not seem like much to you, but these fibers end up in drains and sewers that eventually lead to waterways without treatment.
- Use of Rayon
A study, cited by The Guardian, found that the environmental impacts of fast fashion are becoming increasingly apparent. These impacts include water shortage, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emission. One of the main concerns in the area of the environment with the people in Uttar Pradesh, India is the allocation of third-party financing. It is not specified and detailed as to how financing is implemented within the region.
- Alternative to Viscose
There are some other options to choose from instead of viscose. These include sustainable and cellulosic fibers. There will be a more detailed explanation under this heading for those who want to know more about the impact on the environment from fast fashion.
Fast Fashion, Serious Consequences
The apparel industry has been growing and with this growth, there has been a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the depletion of resources such as water. There are many other external factors that can contribute to these issues, but those include electric production and transportation.
A study done by The Guardian found that there were three major impacts of fast fashion: water shortage, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emission. Water shortages can be caused by excessive usage of water. Forests are being cut down to make room for more farms that will feed livestock that produces leather and fur and it takes 2 tons of water or 1,080 gallons to produce a single cotton shirt which is equivalent to bathing 25 people for an entire year!
Businesses have aggressively reduced prices and streamlined their furnish chains. This has precipitated the rate of apparel to fall relative to the expenditures of different consumer items.
Ways To Reduce Fashion Environmental Impact
A single change can make a difference. By minding the garment care instructions and washing your clothes less, you can decrease the amount of water used per load by up to 90%. Since a lot of pieces are made from synthetic materials, putting clothing in a cold wash instead of a hot one will reduce energy usage as well as prolong the life cycle of garments. After all, the better the condition your clothes are in, the longer they’ll last! So don’t be afraid to mend and repair items instead of just throwing them away.
To get started, here are countless approaches you can do to take action to help the planet.
- Shop From Ethical Brands And Sustainable Clothes
Shopping from ethical brands with sustainable clothes will reduce your carbon footprint. You can opt for cotton instead of polyester, or leather without fur.
- Asking Where The Clothes Come From And How They Were Made
When shopping at a retail store, be sure to ask where the clothes come from and how they were made. This lets the retailer know that you care about where your clothes come from and how they are manufactured.
- Donate To A Clothing Charity Or Sell Your Own Clothes
If you have a ton of garments in your wardrobe, don’t throw them away! You can donate them to a clothing charity that will in turn distribute them to the needy. Or you can sell your own clothes to someone who can reuse them.
- Spread The Word
It’s easy for fast fashion not to seem like a large issue when so much clothing is being produced and consumed, but one person could make a difference in the long run by spreading the word on how fast fashion is negatively impacting the environment.
- Opt For Secondhand Clothes And Accessories
You’re supporting local artists and designers who have great pieces for cheap! Also, you’re preventing more of these products from being made and thrown away. Saving money while helping the planet? We all win.
- Repurpose Old Clothing
If you have a bunch of clothes that are either too stained or old to be worn, you can repurpose them. You can make ripped jeans into a purse or turn your old t-shirt into a beach cover-up! The possibilities are endless with a little creativity and time.
- Buy Less
Lastly, we all love a good shopping spree and it can be hard to limit ourselves when we see something that we fall in love with. So if you really want to buy something, go for quality instead of quantity. You’ll enjoy your clothes much more when they look good and fit great! This will help reduce the number of items you have cluttering your closet and prevent the need to buy more.
With this many approaches, we can surely reduce fashion's environmental impact!
Conclusion:
To summarize, fast fashion has a tremendous negative impact on the environment. Water shortages, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions all come from this style of clothes manufacturing. Also, chemicals and dyes that are used for dying clothes directly affect the environment. The whole process of making new clothing releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere! To reduce fashion's environmental impact, it is important to be conscious about our choices of what we buy, where we buy it from, how much water is being used in washing/drying clothes, and more. Additionally, it's important to be conscious about how much we're wearing our clothes, where they come from, and what ethical brands/brands that are sustainable look like.
Conclusively, take these approaches into consideration when you shop for clothes to reduce fashion's environmental impact. It is crucial for us to think about the planet when we're shopping for clothes!
Head over to our site to check out our collection of sustainably made clothing.