Planet
Focusing on the planet when thinking about fashion is one of the most vital things you can do. Sustainability is of increasing importance with less that 10 years to get to a point of irreversibility. The 21st century’s turn to over consumptions has led the industry to the become one of the world’s largest contributors to killing the planet, as textiles production produces 1.2 billion tons of C02 each year alone.
It is clear from scientific research (e.g., UNs IPPC report), fashions impact on climate change is accelerating, now we need to collaborate and re- design the system to try and save the planet. Reacting to the SDGs and creating a circular economy.
Now is the time to move away from a linear to circular economy, we must tackle the system using it as an opportunity to challenge current concepts and values of what we already have. With 3 main functions in mind, we must design out waste and pollution; keep products and materials in use; and regenerate natural systems (Ellen MacArthur, 2017). Adopting this approach means using better designs, materials and practices to stop waste and damage in the process, making the garments life endless.
Brands need to commit to a Corporate Social Responsibility and measure the success of their business in terms of the TBL not just the bottom line, enabling organisational and ethical triumphs. Sustainable strategies need to be implanted to prolong the lifecycle of the garment (Gwilt, A 2020). Brands such as Patagonia, Levi, Selfridges understanding of this way of thinking can help pass knowledge forward enforcing the idea of collaboratively creating a circular economy. Informing customers to make more educated decisions, choosing to use – resell pages, learning how to look after their clothes or ensuring they purchase they make are the best for the planet.
The SDGs collectively work together to create a more sustainable approach of living. SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production, is an influential goal for brands to take notice of due to the influence on other SDGs. Meaning less consumption and less production lead to less water usage and less chemicals such as dyes and microfibres polluting the seas (SDG 6 and 14). Enabling us to decrease fashions current output, contributing of 10% of C02 emictions and 20% of water pollution.
Considering the planet should one of the most important factors to how we see fashion and how the strategies we implant today will alter the life cycle of a garment, supporting the industry’s output on the environment. And think is the fact that ‘5000 children die each due to a lack of clean water.” (Corner 2014) worth having a new outfit each season?
Bibliography:
Gwilt, A (2020), A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fashion, Bloomsbury Publishing USA, London. Chapters 1 and 2 (Accessed 5 October 2023 (online))