Sustainable fashion can be confusing. Is it vegan? Ethically produced? Environmentally friendly? Fair-trade? Is it a catch-all term for anything that relates to fashion that isn’t fast? The short answer is that it can be all those things. The long answer is that it’s much more complicated than that. Sustainable fashion pertains to the sourcing, production and distribution of the garment.
The lifespan of a piece of clothing must be looked at from start to finish. It means understanding that organic cotton is better than regular cotton, as it doesn’t use pesticides or harmful chemicals that are bad for the skin. Also, manmade fabrics (such as polyester) are damaging to the environment, as they’re often made from plastic and are nonbiodegradable. While leather can be eco-friendly, it can still impact the environment due to the chemicals used to finish it.
Then there’s the production: Are the clothes being made in an environment that’s safe for workers? For example, some synthetic dyes can be toxic to people using them during the manufacturing process and can cause health problems. Adding to this, another good question to ask is if the workers are paid fairly and correctly. Then, once made, how far is the garment travelling? What kind of carbon footprint in the brand creating?
All of these questions are vital if you want to know if a brand adheres to sustainable and ethical practices. And as we enter a new year it seems like a great time to think about how you can help the environment by making more considered choices with your wardrobe. Thankfully, there are many organisations dedicated to defining exactly what sustainable fashion is and moreover, which brands are doing it correctly. From the likes of Love Not Landfill to the Environmental Working Group, you can research how to be more sustainable with your clothing and discover fashion labels and designers that are doing a good job already.
But why does it matter? The main reason, of course, is that global warming is a real concern—and the textile industry is one of the most polluting factors. However, brands are waking up to this, and things are starting to change. Earlier this year, Net-a-Porter launched its Net Sustain initiative, a section on the site showcasing more sustainable brands. But there are many other labels doing great work when it comes to sustainability and already being worn by fashion editors.
Ready to find out what they are? Keep scrolling to find out more and shop our edit.
