Key Takeaways

• Curious how your closet can save the planet? Discover the surprising impact of sustainable fashion on the environment, workers' lives, and even your wallet!
• Sustainable style isn’t out of reach like you think. Learn easy, budget-friendly hacks to make eco-friendly fashion work for you!

What Is Sustainable Fashion?

Sustainable fashion is a comprehensive approach to making, selling, and wearing clothes in a way that's kinder to the planet and fairer to people. It’s basically fashion that sustains – both the environment and the people.

But what is sustainable clothing in practice? Let's break it down:

Key Aspects Of Sustainable Fashion 

Eco-friendly materials: The first and most vital part of sustainable fashion goes to the origins. That is, materials that do minimal harm to the environment, namely organic cotton, recycled, or plant-based fabrics like Tencel or hemp. Common points? They require little resources (with little to zero harmful chemicals!), are biodegradable, and promote a circular economy.

Environmentally friendly fabrics. Sources: Canva (1) (2) (3) (4).

 

Durability and longevity: Ever had a shirt fall apart after a few washes? Not cool. One of the aims of sustainable fashion is to make clothes that stick around. When your clothes last longer, you don't need to buy as much. Way to go protecting the environment and your wallet!

Ethical production processes: Nobody should suffer for the sake of a new outfit, especially those who work hard to deliver clothes to us consumers. That’s why supporting fair labor practices goes hand in hand with the fashion factor.

 

Types Of Sustainable Fashion Practices

What is sustainable fashion in real life? It comes in a few flavors, all of which support the key aspects we have explored previously:

• Ethical fashion: This is all about the people who made the clothes. Brands that believe in this viewpoint care about their workers and often support local communities.
• Circular fashion: Fashion that goes on and on with nothing goes to waste, literally. This approach centers around the continuous use of clothes through reusing, fixing, and recycling. Designing clothes in a way that creates less trash also counts.
• Slow fashion: This is the opposite of fast fashion, and it’s exactly what you think it is. Styles that last for years, not weeks. Make fewer clothes, but make them better. Or on the consumers’ side, buy less but buy better.
• Conscious fashion: This looks at the whole life of a piece of clothing, from the drawing board to your donation bag. Brands doing this try to make good choices every step of the way and be transparent about it.

Why Is Sustainable Fashion Important?

Environmental Impact

Frankly, the fashion industry is a major polluter. We're talking serious environmental damage. Hence, the sustainability of fashion is crucial because it lessens the severity of these problems:

• Water pollution and consumption: Making clothes uses a ton of water, and often, that water gets pumped back into rivers full of nasty chemicals. We’re running short of water, clean water at that.
• Carbon footprint: To put it in perspective, if you add up all international flights and shipping, they make up about 4-5% of global emissions combined. Double that, and that’s how much carbon emissions the fashion world accounts for on the planet.
• Textile waste: We're drowning in clothes we don't wear. In the U.S. alone, we’re talking millions of tons of textile waste each year. Most of it ends up in landfills and can take centuries to decompose. Surely outliving your great-grandchildren.
• Microplastic pollution: Every time we wash our synthetic clothes (like polyester), tiny plastic bits wash into our oceans. These microplastics are now showing up everywhere, probably even in the fish on our dinner plates!

Sustainable fashion tackles these issues head-on, as it should! It uses eco-friendly materials, cuts down on waste, and aims to clean up the industry's act.

Social Impact

Fast fashion often relies on sweatshops where workers (often women and children) are paid peanuts and work in unacceptable conditions. Sustainable fashion says "no way" to this and pushes for:

• Fair wages for all workers in the supply chain
• Safe and healthy working conditions
• No child labor or forced labor
• Transparency in the production process
• Reasonable working hours
• Letting workers join unions if they want
• No discrimination
• Learning hances for workers

Old sweatshop. Source: Wikipedia.

Another thing to note is that many sustainable firms collaborate closely with local communities to uphold traditional skills and provide permanent jobs. This can provide a lifeline for communities that might otherwise be left behind.

When you choose to buy sustainably, you're backing brands that care about paying their workers a fair wage to thrive, not just get by. We're practically saying we care about the hands that make our clothes, not just how they look on us. A little selflessness goes a long way.

Animal Welfare Considerations

Why is sustainable fashion important for our furry (and not-so-furry) friends? Well:

• Cruelty-free materials: Sustainable fashion often goes hand-in-hand with ethical treatment of animals. That means no fur from animals raised in tiny cages. Plus, vegan alternatives to animal-derived fabrics for a change, such as pineapple leather or bamboo wool.

Pineapple leather. Source: CNBC. 

• Eco-friendly farming: When sustainable fashion does use animal products, it tends to come from farms that treat animals well and don't trash the environment. Go team animal!

Long-Term Benefits For Consumers

Now, we know what you're thinking – sustainable clothes can be pricey. But here's the deal:

• Quality over quantity: Sustainable clothes are often better made. They last longer, which means you're not constantly replacing cheap stuff that falls apart after a few washes.
• Health benefits: Sustainable clothes often use fewer harmful chemicals, which is better for your skin. Less irritation, less concern, and less money spent on skin treatments!
• Timeless style: The center of sustainable fashion is always, well, sustainability. This goes for styles, too, as it focuses on classic looks instead of trendy items that people will throw away once the hype dies down. As we’ve established, you're investing in pieces you'll love for years, not weeks.
• Mindset changes: It encourages us to be mindful consumers and think before we buy. Do we really need that 10th pair of jeans? Maybe not. We would probably value sustainable pieces enough to care for them, repair them, and keep them longer as well.

Fashion Industry Impact

• Transparency: Sustainable brands are often more open about how and where their clothes are made. This pushes other companies to be more honest, too, later creating a much healthier atmosphere among consumers.
• Circular economy: The sustainability of fashion is encouraging a shift from a linear "take-make-waste" model to a circular one. This means designing clothes that can be easily recycled or biodegraded and creating systems to make this happen.

How Can You Make Sustainable Fashion Less Expensive

You can make fashion sustainable with a reasonable budget. Explore these sustainable fashion tips:

Quality Over Quantity

In the context of sustainable fashion, less is more. Instead of loading up on cheap tees that'll shrink after two washes, invest in pieces that'll stick around. What is sustainable clothing, if not stuff that lasts, right?

If you need some suggestions, brands like Everlane and Organic Basics offer basics that won't break the bank but will outlast your average fast fashion haul. Give them a try, and you might just find your new fashion BFFs!

All in all, you're already nailing what is sustainability in fashion just by choosing quality.

Care And Maintenance

The quality of the clothes itself isn’t enough to get you through thick and thin. You have to mindfully take good care of them, too. Some maintenance tips for you:

• Cold is cool: Wash your clothes in cold water to keep colors bright and fabrics happy.
• Hang loose: Air dry your stuff when possible. It's gentler on clothes and also your energy bill.
• Store smarter: Fold knits, hang wovens, and use padded hangers for delicates.
• Spot clean: Tackle stains right away with natural methods (lemon juice, salt, etc.) instead of full washes that only smear the stains further.
• Rotate to elevate: Give your clothes a break by rotating your wardrobe. We know everyone has their favorites, but it’s for their sake. Too frequent wear equals wear and tear.
• Brush up on care: Read those little instruction manuals for clothing longevity we call the care label.

Love your clothes, and they'll love you back!

Clothing Swaps And Rentals

Who says you need to own everything in your closet? Go on treasure hunts with clothing swaps. Gather your pals or hit up local swap events to trade your "meh" for someone else's "yeah!"

Clothing swaps. Source: Unsplash.

For those fancy occasions, rental services like Rent the Runway let you rock designer looks without the designer price tag. It's a smart way to explore what is sustainable fashion without committing to a lifetime relationship with every piece.

DIY And Upcycling Projects

Turn those jeans with holes in the knees into the coolest cut-offs in town. Or jazz up a plain tee with some patches or embroidery. Saving money is one thing, this is about creating unique pieces that scream 'you.' 

This hands-on approach really drives home why is sustainable fashion important – you keep creating, not just consuming.

Thrift Shopping And Second-Hand Stores

Tell your mom this isn’t a phase. It’s a lifestyle. Platforms like ThredUp and Poshmark are goldmines for pre-loved fashion finds at bargain prices. You might score that Patagonia jacket or Reformation dress you've been eyeing for a tiny fraction of the original cost and in decent condition!

Why let such beautiful clothes go to waste just so the environment has to take a toll, right?

ThredUp website. Source: ThredUp. 

Sales And Discounts

Real talk. High-quality, sustainable fashion can be pricey upfront, but sales and discounts give you some leeway.

Sign up for newsletters from eco-friendly favorites like People Tree or Thought Clothing. They often dish out sweet discounts to loyal fans. Additionally, Black Friday isn't the only time to score deals – keep an eye out for end-of-season sales or Earth Day promotions.

Supporting Affordable Sustainable Brands

Not all heroes wear capes – some wear affordable, eco-friendly threads. Sustainable brands like H&M Conscious, PACT, and Kotn are proving that clothing doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. 

These brands are the pioneers in the industry. They’re living proof that style, sustainability, and affordability can go hand in hand. So, what are you waiting for? Vote with your wallet for a more sustainable fashion future.