Sustainable or ethical fashion refers to garments that are produced with consideration for the environment, social responsibility, and ethical treatment of workers throughout the supply chain. Here are some key aspects of sustainable fashion:
Use of Sustainable Raw Materials: Sustainable fashion uses raw materials that have a lower environmental impact compared to conventional fabrics. This includes organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, linen, Tencel (made from sustainably sourced wood pulp) and reclaimed or upcycled fabrics.
Reduced Chemical Usage: Manufacturers of sustainable fashion strive to minimize the use of harmful chemicals in the production process. This can involve opting for natural dyes instead of synthetic ones and employing eco-friendly dyeing and finishing techniques.
Water Conservation: Traditional textile production can be water-intensive. Sustainable fashion brands implement water-saving technologies and processes to minimize water usage throughout the manufacturing process, such as water recycling and using rainwater harvesting systems.
Fair Labour Practices: Ethical fashion brands prioritize fair labour practices, ensuring that workers involved in the production of clothing are treated fairly, paid a living wage and provided with safe working conditions. This often involves partnering with factories that adhere to labour standards and certifications, such as Fair Trade or WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production).
Reduced Waste: Sustainable fashion aims to minimize waste throughout the production process. This can include reducing fabric waste during cutting, designing garments with longevity in mind and repurposing or recycling materials at the end of a garment’s life cycle.
Transparency and Traceability: Sustainable fashion brands seek to prioritize transparency in their supply chains, providing consumers with information about where their clothes are made, the materials used and the environmental and social impact of their production processes.
Circular Fashion: Sustainable fashion brands embrace the concept of circular fashion, which aims to create a closed-loop system where clothing is designed, produced, used and recycled in a sustainable manner, minimizing the need for new resources and reducing waste.
Overall, sustainable fashion seeks to offer consumers a more sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional fashion, contributing to environmental conservation and social responsibility in the fashion industry.
