Our Planet and Fashion industry: 2 areas in need of dire help
Decaying, declining and diminishing. These are all verbs that can be used to accurately describe the state of our current planet. Currently the fashion industry is responsible for over 10% of annual carbon emissions making it more destructive than international flights and maritime shipping (World Bank, 2019). This and many other frightful figures are the reason why the planet is one the four pillars of sustainability and we as an industry need to reflect on how we can combat this issue. Subsequently leading me onto what is a circular economy and how might this be the solution?
A circular economy is where materials are reused and recycled therefore eliminating waste and the need for overconsumption of already depleting resources. This may be the solution in combating the growing contribution the fashion industry is having on the planet as it is ‘estimated that 40% of all items produced by the sector are sold at a markdown, and tackling overproduction could reduce carbon emissions by 158 million tonnes a year (Moran, 2022). In order to progress as an industry a CE is a key player in changing our production and design practices to ensure a better future and align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustainability is the long term goal of being able to prosper economically without compromising resources for future generations. Now if we put this into context within the fashion industry it can be hard to predict due to the disease of fast fashion creating hundreds of micro trends each season. Therefore retailers are forced to keep up leading to overproduction and further waste of materials as many consumers throw away garments once trends have passed, quickly ending the garments life cycle. Consequently, solutions such as a CE can help increase a garment and its materials life cycle by recycling, reusing or re-purposing. Whilst social media has been encouraging the disease of fast fashion many are striving against this and have promoted the use of shopping second hand through apps such as vinted and depop as well as even charity shops. Tik Tok can be thanked for the promotion of more sustainable shopping due to influencers spreading awareness of the environmental impacts as well as glamoursing second hand shopping which used to be looked down upon.
The UN developed the Sustainable Development Goals ‘to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity’ (United Nations, 2015). Goal 12 is one that heavily relates to the fashion industry as it focuses on Responsible Consumption and Production. An example of a brand that has implemented more responsible practices is Nona Source founded by 3 LVMH employees and reduces high quality fabric waste by selling deadstock fabrics to other brands in need of smaller quantities. It has also proven highly beneficial as artists are instead inspired by fabrics available rather than trying to find their perfect match (Moran, 2022).
Bibliography
Moran, G. (2022) Drapers, Collaborating for Change: Sustainability Report 2022. EMAP Publishing Limited. Available https://www.drapersonline.com/guides/collaborating-for-change-sustainability-report-2022
(Accessed: 7/10/23)
United Nations Development Programme. (2023) Sustainable Development Goals. Available at: https://www.undp.org/sustainable-development-goals
(Accessed 7th October 2023)
How much do our wardrobes cost to the environment?. [Online]. World bank. Last Updated: September 23 2019. Available at:
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-ambiente
(Accessed 7/10/23).