Last Updated on 21 May 2021 by Lily
Why sustainable and ethical fashion matters
The fashion industry is one of the major polluting industries in the world. It has a disastrous impact on the environment. However, more and more slow, sustainable and ethical fashion brands are popping up. They are proving that we can still be fashionable and stylish and enjoy without harming the environment.
Want to know what sustainable and ethical fashion are? click here.
Here are 7 reasons to choose a sustainable and ethical fashion that might make you want to transform your wardrobe more sustainable.
1. SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FASHION LOWER YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINTS
The non-sustainable fashion (fast fashion) industry leaves behind huge environmental footprints including the amount of litter that ends up in landfills, water pollution and negative impact on human health and the environment as well. One of the reasons is clothes from non-sustainable fashion brands are petroleum-based and made from fossil fuels, including polyester, acrylic and nylon which require a lot of energy in the production phase.
By contrast, sustainable fashion uses materials from natural and recycled fabrics that require significantly less chemical, less water, less energy and no fertilisers or pesticides to grow. Most organic fabrics such as linen, hemp, organic cotton and Tencel are even biodegradable. That means not the only kind to the planet, but also you. It may not easy to give up on your favourite brands. However, it is definitely worth it in the long run.
Choosing sustainable and ethical fashion is an important choice that we can all make to help address what is a growing and significant issue. Making a conscious decision to shop with sustainable and ethical brands can and will make a difference to the planet and the people within it.
2. SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FASHION SAVE WATER
You will be surprised at how much water the fashion industry consumes. It is used in the dyeing and finishing process for almost all clothes. It takes 2,720 litres of water to make a single cotton t-shirt. 7,000 litres of water to make one pair of jeans. It’s crazy Isn’t it? It not only consumes massively but also pollutes our freshwater. Toxic chemicals washing into waterways and entering the ecosystems is becoming a major source of pollution.
On the other hand, sustainable and ethical fashion brands focus on reducing water usage when producing clothing. They use natural, renewable or recycled materials and fabrics such as organic cotton, hemp, linen, and Tencel™ which require little to no water during the production phase.
Choosing sustainable and ethical fashion brands is a great way to reduce water impact. Especially certified organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, insecticides and fertilisers, which means you won’t be contributing to water pollution.
3. SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FASHION ARE HEALTHIER FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET
In the manufacturers of non-sustainable fashion brands, around 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used in dyeing, bleaching and wet process garments. Many of them are highly toxic and often cause diseases. Many farmers and factory workers have to face these toxic chemicals every day. Can you imagine? These toxins are potentially harmful to our health as well and even though you try washing them away, they can also pollute the water supply.
Therefore, by choosing garments made from natural or sustainable fibres and natural dyes, we can avoid these effects.
4.SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FASHION SAVES ANIMAL LIVES
You may love the look of those leather bags, boots or fur, but the life of the animal that gave up its skin to make a pretty pair of shoes or a coat that will not even keep you warm in the winter should have you thinking twice about buying them. It’s just cruel. Not all the brands, but some sustainable and ethical fashion brands have started to embrace the use of cruelty-free alternatives more and more.
Choosing cruelty-free vegan clothes means you can get dressed without worrying about what went into what you’re wearing.
5.SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FASHIONS ARE FAIR WAGE AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Fast fashion brands keep prices low by producing their garments in factories where workers earn minimum wages (if at all), endless working hours, unacceptable health & safety conditions, and face constant pressure to work faster and produce more. As I wrote in my last post, We should be more aware that there is absolutely no beauty in the finest clothes if it causes hunger and unhappiness.
By switching to sustainable and ethical fashion brands, you can be sure it was produced under safe working conditions, it’s sweatshop-free, and the people who made it earned fair wages. The well-being of the people involved is just as valuable as the environment and animals.
6.SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FASHION DEVELOP YOUR OWN BEAUTIFUL STYLE
Fast fashion is all about trends because the industry encourages us to be so. It should not be though. It should not be about wearing what everyone else is wearing. It should be about being creative, expressing yourself and enjoying your personal styles.
I hope being aware of all the downsides of the fast fashion industry will hopefully lead many more of us to be more conscious consumers for the planet, people, animals and for you! Develop your own unique style and say sayonara to money-wasting fashion trends. Wear great quality clothes that reflect you.
7.SUSTAINABLE AND ETHICAL FASHIONS ARE HIGH QUALITY AND LAST LONGER
You already know fast fashion brands utilise trend replication and rapid, mass production using low-quality materials to produce inexpensive clothing. The strategy is designed for trendy clothes and encourages consumers who want to follow the new trend to shop regularly for a new look.
While sustainable and ethical fashion brands use high-quality materials from natural or recycled fabrics. It might seem a little bit pricey in the short-term. However, these items will last much longer than fast fashion garments. It means, in the long-term, it is definitely worth the money.
Final thoughts on sustainable and ethical fashion
Understanding the impact of our individual purchases is the first step. You have a choice to make. It is all up to you whether you still keep buying the fashion brands that cause damage to our plane, people and animals or invests in pieces that last longer and choosing fabrics that don’t contribute to microplastic pollution.
I hope you enjoyed 7 reasons to Choose Sustainable and Ethical Fashion!
Related Sustainable Fashion Articles:
• 9 Best Affordable Sustainable Fashion Brands for Women and Men
∙ Differences Between Slow Fashion, Sustainable and Ethical Fashion
∙ Conscious Living – How to Live Consciously and Be More Mindful
• 10 Best Cool Vegan Trainers You Should Have
• Top 10 Vegan Women’s Boots From Ethical Brands
Leave a Reply