Initiatives in the Fashion Industry
When you think of clothing, people often think: “how much does this cost?” As consumers, we should care more about the materials we wear. Becoming more conscious about the clothes you buy will help you feel better in the clothes you wear and will reduce your carbon footprint. Buying clothes that will last you longer and that you can wear for more than one occasion will lead you to a happier lifestyle.
WHAT IS FAST FASHION?
Often, people will buy into fast fashion. Fast fashion refers to clothing stores, such as Forever 21 and Fashion Nova, that sell inexpensive designs that move quickly from a catwalk to stores to meet new trends.
It’s easy to buy from these stores despite their tacky designs because of how cheap they are. People will go into one of these stores and purchase clothes that looked good in the fitting room without thinking about whether they really need it or not.
Would you rather: buy products that are cheap and will go out of style quickly or products that are a little more expensive but will last longer? I am an avid believer in slow fashion and buying products that I know I will use often and will like wearing.
Once you know your preferences, you can ask yourself several questions before purchasing an item:
- What material made this piece of clothing? How durable is this product?
- Do I see myself wearing this often? Does it suit the image I want to maintain?
- Do I need this product? Do I already own something similar?
- What do I already own that I would pair nicely with it?
BUSINESS CARRIES OUT UPCYCLING METHODS
Fashion industries must be creative when sourcing more sustainable and organic articles of clothing. When there are too many companies resorting to selling fast fashion products, it makes it harder for slow fashion businesses to thrive. We need to be more conscious of the resources available.
As mentioned by the World Economic Forum, “collaborative efforts of Parley Ocean Plastic and a shoe brand resulted in a limited-edition range using ocean plastic” (2017).
Upcycling materials is just a start. This initiative proves that the more creative companies get with designing products, the better condition our environment will be. Items that others see as waste can be transformed into something beautiful and will reduce the trash in the world.
YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM
I understand that people want clothes that are cheap. The issue with thinking this way is that you end up needing to buy more cheap clothes after a few months because the quality depletes over time. We need people to be more willing to spend a little more for better quality clothes.
The World Economic Forum states, “A 2015 study released by Nielsen says that 66% of global respondents, aged 15–20, are willing to pay more for products and services from socially and environmentally committed companies, a percentage which shows an increase up from 55% in 2014” (2017).
This exemplifies a growing awareness in our society. By getting more and more people that are willing to buy slow fashion, we can save material for future generations.
IMPORTANT DECISION MAKING
Our world is dying, and we must do something to sustain our environment. Cleaning up the oceans is the first step in bettering our world, and we mustn’t stop there.
In this case, I believe it is a two-way street. Companies want to make profits from the clothes they sell. Consumers look for more durable products.
By sourcing more organic and sustainable fabric, companies can reduce their carbon footprints. As for us individuals, being aware of the items we purchase and by taking care of the items we purchase, we can be more sustainable.
The more organizations that follow the sustainable fashion trend, the higher the impact we can impose on the world.
World Economic Forum (2017, May 11). Waste is so last year: how the fashion industry is cleaning up its carbon footprint. Retrieved from https://medium.com/world-economic-forum/waste-is-so-last-year-how-the-fashion-industry-is-cleaning-up-its-carbon-footprint-24445c1c5888
