As we are all aware, the world has gone through and is still going through a lot of problems like climate change, deforestation, pollution, and deterioration. You may not believe this but the fashion industry also causes problems that harm our environment. Sustainable fashion aims to provide fashion in a way that removes, or if not, at least lessens the negative environmental and/or sociological impact.
Knowing what you could change and being aware of what is right and wrong can lead to a healthier planet. When consumers start to act, big changes follow. Sustainable fashion requires non-stop work and phases to improve the final product’s life cycle starting from the design, manufacturing, sales, usage, repair, and recycling of the product. Now, let us cite a few reasons why sustainable fashion is important.
Sustainable fashion helps save the lives of animals.
It is not uncommon that the industry of fashion kills animals in order to come up with a material or product to sell to the market. For example, hundreds of millions of animals are killed annually just to satisfy the leather industry where they make your leather pants, shoes, belts, and bags. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has spoken up many times about animal cruelty present in the fashion industry. Now, sustainable fashion offers animal cruelty-free materials and products and uses waste materials. This includes polyester made from plastics or trash found in the ocean, fabric from pineapple leaves, and yeast that can produce silk. Imagine how many beavers, leopards, elephants, and tigers can be saved from these alternatives.
Sustainable fashion uses lesser chemicals.
During the manufacturing of fashion items, they undergo time-consuming and extreme chemical processes. A lot of these clothes, bags, or shoes are bleached, dyed, and processed in thousands of different chemicals. Not only does this negatively affect the people (especially workers in that said manufacturing), it is not healthy for our planet too. These chemicals can cause cancer to employees and may also result in painful skin infections and conditions. Sustainable fashion tends to use lesser chemicals which make things better both for the people and the environment.
Sustainable fashion aims to help save the planet’s natural resources.
With all of what’s going on with our environment, it would be of great help if we can contain and save our natural resources. It is said that almost only 3% of the materials used in making clothing is recycled, while the rest are all new resources. The use of recycled materials does not only help save the planet’s natural resources, but it helps resolve the earth’s undying issues about waste management.
Sustainable fashion uses lesser water.
It is said that about 71% of the earth is water. Sounds like we have a lot, right? However, it is always best advised that we conserve water. In the fashion industry, water is one of the main resources used throughout the process. Water is needed to dye clothing and it is also used in the finishing process. Sustainable fashion uses sustainable fabrics that require very little to almost no water during its production.
Sustainable fashion helps avoid abusive human labor.
As you may know, when people experience poverty or hunger, they are forced to work for anything that can help them provide their necessities in life. Even when health and safety conditions are unacceptable or even when the workload is endless and they’re forced to work beyond their time, they will settle, just to keep themselves or their family alive. Brands that advertise sustainable fashion advocates fair and safe working conditions for their employees. They develop providing acceptable, above-average working conditions and health care for their people.
These are just a few reasons why we all should choose and embrace sustainable fashion. We are all entitled to look good and feel good through the clothes we wear and the fashion we choose. But wouldn’t it feel better if we know how these were made? In under what conditions were they created?
You, as a consumer, can start with little changes like embracing sustainable fashion or even buying second-hand items you can find in thrift and vintage stores. This simple act will truly make a huge impact, especially if more people embrace it. It is best that we find balance in our thirst for beauty and initiative to help the planet.