Sustainability within Fashion

The way the majority of fashion is produced and manufactured today, is simply not sustainable. So much so, that it has caused the fashion industry to be the second most polluting industry in the world right after oil. This is all thanks to an ever-growing epidemic called ‘Fast Fashion’. Fast fashion is used by thousands of brands to rapidly produce cheap clothing for consumers in response to the latest and most popular trends. Similarly, one might find an mFortune Review - FreeSpinsUK used by thousands of online visitors to determine which online games to try their luck on, just like fast fashion, one thinks that he needs to be updated with the latest trends.

There are environmental hazards that were not taken into consideration when the fast fashion epidemic was first introduced into the world. Today, almost three decades into the fast fashion epidemic, the planet is witnessing the visible consequences that have occurred due to the manufacturing operations such as landfills filled with non-biodegradable clothes. According to a new study conducted by Oxfam to discover the true environmental impact of the UK’s fast fashion epidemic, every minute, new clothes that are bought in the UK generate more carbon emissions than driving a car around the planet six times.

Whether the general public wants to be involved in environmentally friendly movements or not is not the issue. Our modern lifestyle is purely unsustainable and problematic, and it needs be solved immediately.

Thankfully, there are solutions to these issues, for example, buying second hand, recycling and reusing garments that are no longer wanted by their owners. However, for this to happen, recycling needs to be more accessible for the public, and perhaps have government involvement.

Nonetheless, the bigger concern with this world-wide issue is the general public’s attitude towards sustainability, which tends to be negative. Some quotes taken from a 2008 university report on consumers attitudes towards sustainability are quite shocking but still significant to be heard. For example, one participant saying, “I don’t get too emotional about clothes after six months”, this kind of attitude needs to change in first world countries, clothes are meant to serve as barriers between weather and skin and are a necessity, however over the years clothes have turned our own garments to materialistic possessions and as a result, people are having an emotionless and detached relationship with their clothes.

Another female participant said (talking about unwanted clothes) “Throw it. If it’s ready for the bin. The proper bin. Not recycling. It’s good riddance. You know?”. This sort of behaviour shows why we should to have major law changes regarding sustainability. Either make everyone recycle their unwanted clothes or make garment manufactures produce clothes made from only sustainable fabrics.

So far, giving the choice to the public on whether they want to live a more sustainable lifestyle doesn’t seem to be a solution. Instead, it has been proven time and time that it is not sufficient for the wellbeing of the planet.

Nevertheless, until there are significant law changes regarding consumers and fashion sustainability, it is the fashion industry’s responsibility to change their production, distribution and marketing practices. It will take a while to alter decades of modern lifestyle habits that they provided us with, however, with some creative and innovative thinking, fashion businesses should be able to operate in a sustainable manner.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.