Can the fashion world become more sustainable?

It may be difficult to believe, but the fashion industry is one of the world’s largest polluters, accounting for around 10% of the global CO2 emissions. In 2022, the apparel sector was single-handedly responsible for 879 million metric tons of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, a number that is expected to increase to well over 1.2 billion metric tons by 2030. That is, of course, if no action is taken against those responsible and if the system doesn’t change in any way. In fact, it is impossible to make fully accurate estimates in this regard because many brands choose to withhold the full extent of their damage, while others refuse transparency altogether and don’t publish their figures at all. 

Yet, as dire as the situation may be, there is hope for a better future. In order to see it materialize though, concentrated efforts will have to be made across the entire supply chain, from the manufactures and retailers to the shoppers. 

Sustainable materials 

Sustainable materials are the cornerstone of sustainable fashion brands, but what exactly constitutes an eco-friendly fabric will vary depending on the case. Recycled or upcycled textiles are sustainable by default since no additional resources (such as water, dyes, or pesticides) had to be used in their creation. Recycling can sometimes be challenging, though, given the fact that most clothes nowadays are made from a blend of several different fabrics, some of which are of poor quality, resulting in fragile, flimsy yarn that snaps easily and is not suitable for new clothing. While technology definitely needs to develop in this sense by designing and implementing the use of machines that can make the process more efficient, experts estimate that roughly 95% of the textiles existing at the moment could be reused with the techniques available right now. 

Unfortunately, less than 1% of the fibers used to make clothes have been recycled. Organic fabrics such as cotton are also a great sustainable alternative, as they come from crops that weren’t treated with pesticides, substances that are bad for air quality, the health of workers, and the safety of nearby water sources. Natural fibers such as linen, wool, and bamboo are preferable to synthetic alternatives as they are biodegradable, as well as more resilient, meaning that they can be worn for longer and don’t break down into microplastics if discarded. 

Water usage 

Water is not a limitless resource, and its importance for all aspects of life on Earth should be enough to make everyone more responsible when it comes to using it. At the moment, the fashion industry uses roughly 93 billion cubic meters of water on a yearly basis, or 4% of all the freshwater extraction on the planet. The quantity will double by 2030 unless sustainable measures are enforced in no uncertain terms. Focusing on fabrics such as linen, hemp, organic cotton, and bamboo would decrease consumption as these require much less water to grow and process. 

The use of natural dyes is another important aspect, as these substances can often end up polluting drinking water in areas where clothes are manufactured. Natural dyes are made from plant or mineral sources that are not harmful to the environment or human health, and which can also provide the clothes with a more unique appearance. 

Customer education

Clothing consumption trends indicate that the average individual buys four times as much clothing today than in 2000. The rise of fast fashion and even ultrafast fashion is a large part of the problem, with the former adding about 2,000 new styles in the span of a month and the latter bringing a whopping 10,000 items to the site every day. As many as 600,000 different clothing styles can be found on the sites at any given time, as it can take as little as ten days for a prototype to become a garment. Prices are typically very low, with customers having the ability to buy an incredible amount of clothing for exceedingly low prices. 

Clothes are only worn a couple of times before being discarded, with some worn just once before ending up in the bin. This trend has led to these clothes being referred to as “throwaway fashion” as well, and in some instances, the garments are thrown away without ever being worn because the trend expires before they can be put to good use. The microtrends fueled by social media platforms rarely last more than three months, at the end of which the clothes feel outdated, and content creators dispose of them in order to maintain their viewership and avoid being shunned for not keeping up to date with the trends. 

The low prices also mean that the clothes are typically of low quality, ending up losing their shape or becoming discolored after being washed a handful of times. The diminutive price tags are so alluring and fulfill the need for impulsive purchases to such a degree that most customers fail to think about the fact that someone, somewhere does pay the full price for the clothes, only in a different manner. Employees often work excruciatingly low hours and receive inadequate pay for their labor. The work conditions are often improper as well, with people being at risk of interacting with hazardous substances or the buildings in which they operate being improper for activity. 

If your business operates in the apparel industry, you need to make sure that the garments you provide are created in ethical environments and don’t cater to microtrends. Make sure to include comprehensive information about the best ways to care for them, such as whether a clothing piece should be washed by hand and the type of detergents that can be used in order to prolong the life expectancy of all clothes. It would also help if you developed an additional service that can cover repairs so that people can send their items to be mended for a fee instead of buying something new. 

The bottom line

There’s a pile of discarded clothes in the Atacama Desert that is so large it is visible from space. This should be enough to understand that the current ways in which clothes are manufactured and bought aren’t sustainable. Something needs to change in order to ensure everyone has the chance at a clean and healthy future. 

Remember that quality is always better than quantity and that it is better to have fewer items that you can wear for longer instead of regularly throwing away bags full of clothing only to shop for more later. Fast fashion has trained consumers to expect incredibly low prices and a constant flow of new clothes, but good tailoring takes time and may be pricier. That’s because the clothes are well-made and sturdy. 

Sustainability won’t be achieved in a day, but it’s essential to start taking practical steps towards a better world.