Technology as Sustainable Fashion’s Precious Ally, Supporter and Enabler
Both futuristic but not just that. What does ethical fashion have in common with tech? A lot more than we may gather.
If you think this topic is only for green fashionistas, let me clarify that. It’s not. Fashion consumption involves everyone. Indeed, we all cover ourselves the moment we step out of our privacy. Don’t we? What we purchase, wear and put forward in the environment has an impact. It carries a statement. It says something of ourselves. It’s not just about style and appearance. It’s expression, choice, belief. Sustainable fashion has been much discussed since pre-pandemic times and it is a growing trend in the fashion industry. To be precise, it is currently worth over $6.5 Billion and is on track to grow to $10.1 Billion by 2025. By 2030 that number is expected to hit $15 Billion (source: The Round Up). The shift is primarily driven by consumer demand for environmentally conscious clothing but also represents the turning point in our collective consumeristic consciousness. Clothes indeed touch our body rather closely, intimately in a sense. And like the body can be considered the garment of the soul, clothing can be seen as something that completes us, makes us functional and presentable to the outer world.
Younger generations, especially, are naturally more inclined to care for ethical environmental choices, including their wardrobe. As we all become increasingly aware of the effects of our behaviors, the sustainable fashion trend continues to grow its mark. At its core, there is a desire for the minimization of the environmental footprint. This includes using materials that are sustainable, such as organic cotton, recycled polyester and hemp. It also involves using production methods that reduce waste and conserve energy. The organic segment, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 16.2%, is expected to be the fastest-growing fashion segment. And the goodness doesn’t stop here. A transition to a sustainable textiles industry could create 18 million additional jobs globally by 2030, as well as solve the issues associated with fast fashion, by providing a $192 billion boost by 2030 (source: The Round Up).
Technologies
Supply chain timelines and low marginality have been dysfunctionally fostering overproduction. Each year, 150 billion units of clothing are made. This equates to producing 20 garments for each living person globally. The saddest part is that about 21% of all garments remain unworn, unsold, or get thrown out brand new. To make it even more dramatic, every year, an average US resident throws out 70 lbs. (31 kg) of textile garments (source: FashNerd). To answer this crisis, one of the most important technologies for sustainable fashion is 3D printing, which is known for speeding up production times and producing clothes using minimal amounts of material. Also, designers can create more complex designs with lesser resources, reducing the environmental impact of their clothing. Additionally, personalization and customization limit the need for mass-production and consequent inventory surplus.
In addition to 3D printing, there are many other innovations in fashion technology that are helping the industry proceed towards sustainability. Smart fabrics, for example, are becoming increasingly popular. According to Reports and Data, this futuristic market amounted to $1.46 Billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $10.64 Billion in 2028, registering a revenue CAGR of 28.3% during the forecast period, 2021–2028. What makes these fabrics specials is that they are embedded with sensors that can detect changes in the environment and provide feedback to the wearer. The need for energy-intensive production processes consequently decreases, as the fabric is already embedded with the necessary information. AI is also being deployed to create more efficient production processes. By analyzing data from production lines and consumer behavior, AI can help contain the environmental impact of production and ensure that only the necessary materials are used.
Strategies
Although technology is enabling the transition from commercial blindness to sustainability, there are still many challenges. One of the hardest ones is cost. Sustainable fashion technology can be quite expensive to develop and implement, making it difficult for smaller companies to enter or compete. Another obstacle is finding or engineering the right materials. Sustainable materials are often more expensive and harder to retrieve, making it difficult for companies to make the switch. Companies also need to invent ways to ensure their alternatives are produced without harming the environment or creating unwanted side effects in the ecosystem.
Despite the complications, there are many strategies that can be used to incorporate sustainable fashion technology into industrial operations. Firstly, companies can invest in research and development, as well as focus on customer education. Through positive influence, they can raise awareness among their customer base and encourage more people to embrace the trends. If not ready to make the change or introduce greener choices, they can still become good actors in the space, by optimizing their inventory. Queen or Raw for instance, through their AI-powered supply chain tools, helps fashion brands and retailers eliminate and monetize textile waste. By tracking and analyzing data, they keep unused raw materials out of landfills and turn pollution into profit.
Brands
There are many examples of sustainable fashion technology and brands that are revolutionizing the fashion industry. Here are some of them! Positive Fibers, for example, makes regenerative clothing that’s completely compostable at the end of its life, leading with their Bio-circular blazer™. Along those lines, 94% of Bamford’s collection is made using natural, renewable and biodegradable fibers from the soil, produced responsibly and crafted by regional artisans. Girlfriend Collective uses recycled ocean plastic to make its clothing. Pangaia has developed materials such as FLWRDWN™, a down alternative to feathers created from wildflowers, and C-FIBER, a water-saving and biodegradable material developed from eucalyptus pulp and seaweed.
On average, it takes 1,500 gallons of water to produce one pair of jeans, but New York denim company DL1961 is changing that. Using ‘waterless’ technology, the brand manages to produce its premium denim using just 10 gallons, of which 98% is factually recycled. Levi’s WaterLess jeans are also made using a water-saving process that can reduce the amount of water during the manufacturing process by up to 96%. Other companies are leveraging technology to create more sustainable fabrics. Modern Meadow, for example, is a company that uses biotechnology to create leather-like fabrics from yeast. These fabrics are more sustainable than traditional leather and can be produced with minimal waste.
The benefits of adopting a sustainable fashion philosophy are multiple and despite some challenges, they are most certainly worth it. Renewable materials, for instance, limit wastage levels and stimulate earth conscious behaviors. Eco-friendly production methods also promote a more ethical and socially responsible direction for the whole industry. Consumers have much to enjoy too. First and foremost, it is about the ability to make choices that are aligned with their values and consequently feel better about the impact of their purchases. Ethical fashion also cuts down the amount of clothing that ends up in landfills, as more sustainable options often last longer and are more resistant to wear and tear. Clearly, technology has a key role to play in driving this worthy movement forward. From production and manufacturing, to marketing and consumer engagement, tech applications can lead the way and that’s exactly what we like to see. Tech for good, tech for renewed consciousness. Thanks for reading and as always, I’ll tech to you soon!
