Here are the Facts:
The average consumer buys 60 percent more clothes than they did in 2000, and keeps it half as long. And in 2017, it was estimated that 41 percent of young women felt that they needed to wear something different whenever they left the house.
Another recent survey found that 20 percent of clothing in the US is never worn; in the UK, it is 50 percent and 24 hours online shopping, has made impulse buying and returning easier than ever. Fashion is responsible for 10 percent of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and 20 percent of global wastewater, and uses more energy than the aviation and shipping sectors combined. Let that sink in for a second! Fashion uses more energy than the aviation and shipping sectors “combined.”
What can we do?
The pandemic slowed down our consumption for a bit, but now that world is opening up again and we all are socializing and have places to go, we want to look nice. So how do we look nice and do our part to save our planet?
Consume less is at the top of my list. An obvious solution right? But is it realistic in 2023? I believe it is – if we limit our consumption, move away from trends and realize that less is more. Fast Fashion is killing the planet. We need to think before buying, and buy better quality pieces that last longer and not feel embarrassed to repeat an outfit or two. These little changes won’t solve for global warming, but at the very least, we are helping to slow things down a bit. When you make your next purchase, look for a less impactful alternative.
Affordable brands you may want to consider:
1. FAITHFULL THE BRAND works with home industry suppliers who rely on less machines for less energy emissions. Believing in being community minded and family focused, the brand allows most sewers to work from home in husband/wife duos so they can work whilst taking care of their families. This helps empower the disadvantaged in Indonesian society. Each garment is designed, sourced and produced in Bali using techniques such as hand-dying and hand printing. 80% of the fabrics they use are certified “Ecovero” fibres from renewable wood sources that use an eco-responsible production process by meeting high environmental standards. The brand aims to educate customers on proper garment care and repairs on their website to prolong the product life, thus reducing negative environmental impact.
2. MARCELLA New York, has got to be one of the best kept secrets in fashion and I don’t want it to be. Co-founded by husband and wife SIYANA HUSZAR and ANDY HUSZAR – They just get it! We all want to look nice, but we don’t want to break the bank for it. We also don’t want to ruin the environment and we want their workers to earn true living wages, with benefits. Their pieces are handcrafted, edgy and sophisticated. They do all of that while still maintaining a social impact for women globally.
3. SAMARA creates elegant, cruelty-free and minimalist bags and accessories. Their products are created with premium eco-friendly materials. Most vegan handbags on the market are made out of PVC but SAMARA limits their use of PVC and uses water-based PU and microfibres, which are less toxic for the environment. Believing that fashion doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment, SAMARA uses a wide range of sustainable materials, including recycled ocean plastics, recycled plastic bottles and bamboo.
4. Wolven is a team of artists and activists working to reduce carbon footprints on Earth. They celebrate creativity, diversity, body positivity and sustainability through colorfully designed activewear. Their fabrics are produced from a cellulose fibre derived from beechwood pulp that’s twice as soft as cotton, and sustainably harvested wood-pulp fibers. These carbon-neutral fibers also require no toxic pesticides, no clear-cut farm land to grow, and substantially less water than cotton. Wolven also gives plastic bottles a second life by transforming them into new thread, weaving them into non-toxic fabric. All the orders are wrapped in reusable, 100% recycled poly mailer or a biodegradable paper box.
5. Sezane this little French brand when I was in search of the perfect pair of jeans and I found them AUGUSTO TROUSERS – just not in my size. So, I started looking around and found some of the cutest pieces, so elegant and feminine, I wanted to purchase almost everything. Founder Morgane Sezalry birth Sezane in 2013. What makes me feel great about purchasing from Sezane is their sustainable commitments. 3/4 of their materials are eco-friendly. And they’ve mad the commitment to donate 10% of their global sales to support access to education and equal opportunities for children all over the world. They offer free shipping on orders over $200 and returns are pretty simple just follow the instructions.
Luxury brands you may want to consider:
1. Stella McCartney’s commitment to advocating for sustainable and ethical fashion has made it one of the eco-friendliest luxury brands on the market. The fashion label has long been using eco-conscious materials, non-toxic dyes and polyester recycled from plastic bottles. It is on track to replace nylon with eco-nylon made from recycled fishing nets. Stella McCartney uses organic cotton which comes from farms developed by social entrepreneurs, farmers and NGOs who eliminate the use of toxic chemicals. They are also reducing the use of oil-based synthetics, and are working only with suppliers that meet the brand’s standards of quality and sustainability.
Luxury Consignment Online:
1. The Fashion Edit is a consigned collection of clothing, footwear, handbags and accessories that is distinctively curated by industry experts and award-winning stylists. Their pieces are hand-selected with the purpose of presenting a distinct and contemporary assortment to their clients at a competitive price point. TFE aims to preserve and extend the life of fashion and related goods and to support the global movement towards sustainability.
