Fashion is one of the biggest industries in the world with billions of garments being made every year, so it’s understandable that more people are looking for ways to be more sustainable and buy from more ethical brands. With more and more people becoming more ethically minded and the push towards being more sustainable, it has pushed bigger brands to change their policies. This is a good thing and shows how consumers have the ability to direct the bigger agendas of companies.
When it comes to fashion, sustainable fashion is a term that is becoming increasingly popular and a term that you have probably heard a lot, but what does it actually mean!? Sustainable fashion relates to clothing that has been made in an ethical way and this includes a range of areas such as the premises that they are made in, fair pay for workers, the use of recyclable materials or materials that don’t harm the planet etc.
There are plenty of ways that people make sure they are being ethical when it comes to their clothing, not just buying from an ethical brand, but also by ensuring that they re-use or recycle any unwanted items.
Everyone has bought an item of clothing that they have sadly fallen out of love with, so instead of throwing it away, there are lots of ethical ideas you can do instead. You may want to list your item on pre-loved sites such as Facebook marketplace, vinted or Ebay. All of these sites will allow someone else to get enjoyment from your old clothes and also means you get a little bit of money in return! Alternatively, if money isn’t an issue to you or you want to do a random act of kindness, you may want to donate your old clothing to a charity shop or even list them on apps such as Olio that allows you to give away anything including clothing, home items, or even food items that you no longer want, as long as they are still in date!
These are all great ways to make sure that you are reducing waste, but it also gives the items of clothing a second life and allows someone else to enjoy them too. If you have a special occasion and are looking for something to wear as a one-off, then you could look at renting clothing rather than buying something new, this is also a great way to reduce your spending.
There are lots of high street brands out there who are now looking to incorporate sustainable and ethical procedures into their lines. H&M has always been forward thinking as a brand but has recently launched a new sustainability concept called Science Stories where each collection launches a different sustainable concept. This includes looking at new materials such as Desserto which is a plant-based alternative to leather. This is something you need to consider when looking for vegan materials that contain synthetics, as some of these can actually cause more harm to the planet.
Another project that they launched was called bottle2fashion which transformed plastic bottle waste from Indonesia into recycled polyester. Not only is this a great initiative that recycles plastic waste and gives it a new lease of life, but it also allows them to lower their carbon footprint of their clothing, by using recycled materials.
Marks and Spencer is another retailer who has been leading the way on sustainability for a number of years and was the first retailer to be ‘Certified to all three Carbon Trust Standards for our achievements in carbon, water and waste reduction’. They source 100% of their cotton from sustainable sources and have also launched school clothing which has been made from recycled plastic bottles.
Indigo Swan can help businesses who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint and / or switch to a ‘Green’ energy supplier. We have access to a wide array of tools and resources and can help offer support and advice to help businesses on their low carbon journey.
We work with an array of energy suppliers so from finding the right supplier, to checking and negotiating contracts we are here to help your business be greener.
Contact us today to see how we can help you on your journey to becoming Net Zero.
