Fashion and our Planet
Will our love of fashion be at the expense of the planet’s future? Let’s examine how the fashion industry is developing towards sustainability and the circular economy, one of the four important pillars.
With its ever-changing trends and quick manufacturing cycles, the fashion industry has a substantial environmental impact. The fashion industry is a resource-intensive and frequently wasteful sector, from raw material extraction to production, distribution, and disposal. However, in recent years, there has been a growing trend towards sustainability in fashion, motivated by environmental and social concerns. The circular economy is a crucial pillar in this movement.
Pollution in the fashion business is well-known. While 85% of textiles fills landfills (21 billion tonnes per year), toxic dyes and chemicals used in textile production harm water sources. Synthetic fabric fibres shed tiny plastic particles into our oceans, which disturb ecosystems and get into our food chain. The fashion industry is a major contributor to world pollution, statistics say damages done by human activities need to cut down by 50% by 2030 in order to start seeing a change. You might be asking how when the industry is rising so quickly. You can make a change. Globally only 12% of textiles ends up being recycled. You can help by reducing the amount of clothes you own, reusing and recycling appropriately.
The Circular Economy:
The circular economy is a concept that emphasised reducing waste and maximising the value of resources by keeping products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible. In the context of fashion, the circular economy seeks to address the industry’s wasteful practices by promoting the reuse, recycling, and up-cycling of clothing and materials. It challenges the traditional linear model of “take, make, dispose” and replaces it with a more sustainable approach that priorities resource efficiency and minimises environmental impact. “Redesigning materials, systems, and products for circular use is a fundamental requirement of a circular economy, and therefore represents a giant opportunity for companies, even in product categories that are normally considered innovative” (Nguyen, Stuchtey & Zils 2014, 15). Creativity is needed within the Fashion industry, by exploring new ways to create clothing with minimal waste and environmental impact.
Sustainability:
Sustainability and fashion are inextricably linked as the industry shift toward more environmentally and socially responsible practices. The use of sustainable materials, circular economy, principles, ethical labour practices, transparency, and consumer awareness of are all contributing to a more sustainable fashion future. This involves a relationship demonstrates the industries growing commitment to addressing a plan, its complex challenges while expressing creativity and style. On September 25, 2015, all 193 United Nations member states adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sustainable development, goals, or a set of 17 global goals aimed at addressing various environmental, social and economic challenges in order to achieve a more sustainable an equitable world by 2030. One SDG that particularly stood out to me is number 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. This goal emphasises the importance of ensuring long-term consumption and production patterns. Sustainable fashion, promotes the use of environmentally friendly materials. Reduces waste and up-cycling and encourages responsible consumer behaviour such as clothing rental and secondhand shopping. Unfortunately not all brands adopt this SDG. H&M, Zara, and forever, 21 have been criticised for the vast fashion business models, which emphasise rapid production low prices and frequent collection turnover. These practices frequently contribute to textile and waste and over consumption.
However, some brands have made significant strides in integrating sustainable practices into their operations. An early adopter of sustainability include Patagonia, for decades, Patagonia has been a pioneer in sustainable fashion with a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility to use recycled, materials provide repair services and give a portion of their profits to environmental organisations.
Patagonia Sustainability ad:
As consumers become more conscious of their purchasing decisions, fashion brands are responding by implementing more sustainable practices. This transformation is more than a passing fad; it represents a fundamental shift and how we approach clothing and style, making thoughtful choices, valuing quality over quantity, and respecting the planet’s finite resources are all part of sustainable fashion. We have the power to accelerate this change by supporting brands that prioritise sustainability, demanding transparency and making thoughtful fashion purchases. It is also up to fashion brands and industry stakeholders to reshape how fashion is produced distributed and consumed. It’s a journey that has begun, and together, we have the power to make it a thriving reality, where fashion becomes a beacon of sustainability, creativity and empowerment.