Why Fashion Needs to Be More Sustainable

 Why Fashion Needs to Be More Sustainable

The pandemic slowed fast fashion to a standstill. Now as the world opens up and we are socializing and going places, we want to dress up again. But after living a confined and simpler life during COVID, this is a good time to take stock of the implications of how we dress. Fashion, and especially fast fashion, has enormous environmental impacts on our planet, as well as social ones.

Since the 2000s, fashion production has doubled and it will likely triple by 2050, according to the American Chemical Society. The production of polyester, used for much cheap fast fashion, as well as athleisure wear, has increased nine-fold in the last 50 years. Because clothing has gotten so cheap, it is easily discarded after being worn only a few times. One survey found that 20 percent of clothing in the US is never worn; in the UK, it is 50 percent. Online shopping, available day and night, has made impulse buying and returning items easier.

According to McKinsey, average consumers buy 60 percent more than they did in 2000, and keep it half as long. And in 2017, it was estimated that 41 percent of young women felt the need to wear something different whenever they left the house. In response, there are companies that send consumers a box of new clothes every month.

How can fashion be more sustainable?

As opposed to our current linear model of fashion production with environmental impacts at every stage, where resources are consumed, turned into a product, then discarded, sustainable fashion minimizes its environmental impact, and even aims to benefit the environment.

Less waste

Since 80 to 90 percent of the sustainability of a clothing item is determined by decisions made during its design stage, new strategies can do away with waste from the get-go.

To eliminate the 15 percent of a fabric that usually ends up on the cutting room floor in the making of a garment, zero waste pattern cutting is used to arrange pattern pieces on fabric like a Tetris puzzle.

Designer YeohLee is known as a zero waste pioneer, employing geometric concepts in order to use every inch of fabric; she also creates garments with the leftovers of other pieces. Draping and knitting are also methods of designing without waste.

3D printing can be used to work out details digitally before production, minimizing trial and error; and because it can produce custom-fit garments on demand, it reduces waste. In addition, recycled materials such as plastic and metal can be 3D printed.

Dutch company, has developed a dyeing technique that uses waste CO2 in place of water and chemicals. The technology pressurizes CO2 so that it becomes supercritical and allows dye to readily dissolve, so it can enter easily into fabrics. Since the process uses no water, it produces no wastewater, and requires no drying time because the dyed fabric comes out dry.

Environment Impacts of Fashion

1) Carbon Emission

2) Water Pollution

3) Chemical Use

4) Landfill Pollution

5) Animal Cruelty

6) Deforestation

Examples of sustainable fashion

1)Implementing sustainable materials

Many companies use materials that are more sustainable compared to conventional options. For example, rather than using cotton that requires the use of pesticides or water, companies can opt for organic cotton and other sustainable materials like hemp, bamboo, etc.

2)Recycling and Upcycling

Many companies use upcycling of waste materials to turn old products into new ones. It reduces waste and promotes circularity. Brands like Paaduks are leading this field by producing upcycle footwear using old waste rubber tyres to create new sustainable goods.

3)Maintain Transparency

Many companies now provide transparency about their production process and the materials used. As a result, they are allowing customers to make informed choices. For instance, a company like Paaduks uses vegan materials free of animal cruelty to make an informed decision.

4)Opt for Green Energy

Investing in environment-friendly resources such as renewable materials helps in reducing carbon footprint. Moreover, it makes it easier to take the initiative to become more sustainable and reduce the fashion industry's negative impact on the environment.