A sustainable lifestyle encompasses all aspects of life, including fashion and shopping, areas people might not associate with their carbon footprint. However, to people that may not be familiar with sustainability, I think sustainable fashion is something that people could easily learn and understand, and moreover change in their lives. I know that once I learned the impact of some big fashion corporations, I stopped shopping from them because not only do they negatively impact the environment, but their manufacturing tactics are also inhumane. Brands like Zara, H&M, Forever 21, and Shein are slowly getting exposed for their bad practices, but that doesn’t necessarily stop people from shopping from them. Cheap prices are great in the moment, especially for college students, but I think an education on the long-term impact of “fast fashion” and the importance of shopping with the environment in mind would be beneficial for us all.
CBS published an article in 2019 stating that “Fashion industry’s carbon impact is bigger than airline industry’s” which I think puts things into perspective. It attributes the problems to fast fashion, or the business of encouraging consumption with low prices and fast changing new collections of clothing proving to be (Wagner 2021) detrimental to the environment (CBS 2019). The article also offers potential solutions, like consignment and resale of clothes. Once people understand that shopping is more of an investment, and that spending in a smart way can benefit them now and down the line if they choose to buy and sell used clothes, it is a win-win for the consumers and the environment.
This awareness and mindfulness of the processes and resources required in fashion is called slow fashion, the opposite of fast fashion. It is considered sustainable and ethical fashion that focuses on the reduction of consumption and production, along with good quality and fair treatment of people, animals, and the environment (Good On You 2021). One can participate and advocate for slow fashion by shopping secondhand, using consignment and resale, doing research on the brands you buy, and upcycling. Local thrift or consignment stores are a great place to start, and the website https://goodonyou.eco/ can help you research your brands.
Like I mentioned, upcycling is another great way to recycle clothing, a way of reusing something in a way that makes it of higher value or quality, like sewing an old piece of clothing to make a new product. This is close to my heart specifically because I upcycle clothing myself! It is something I started over the summer, and I now have my own Etsy page; I thrift shirts and pullovers from secondhand stores and embroider or add patterns to make them original pieces! This is a small way that I have encouraged slow fashion, in that now when people buy from me, they receive an original piece without any environmental impacts.
Original Bookshelf Embroidered Sweatshirt
https://www.etsy.com/shop/EcoFriendlyFits?ref=profile_header
While the use of the “Good On You” website or simply buying secondhand clothes may seem like a small and insignificant change you’re making in your life, think about the possible outcomes if it is done by others and on a large scale! I hope this has encouraged you to be mindful when shopping and practice more sustainable fashion!
Sources:
“Fashion Industry’s Carbon Impact Bigger than Airline Industry’s.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/earth-day-2019-fashion-industrys-carbon-impact-is-bigger-than-airline-industrys/.
“Good on You.” Good On You, 1 Oct. 2021, https://goodonyou.eco/.
Wagner, Words by: Luisa, and Words by: “The Environmental Impact of the Fast Fashion Industry: Infographic & Stats.” Sanvt, 16 Mar. 2020, https://sanvt.com/journal/environmental-impact-of-fast-fashion-infographic/.
“What Is Slow Fashion?” Good On You, 8 July 2021, https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-slow-fashion/.