With a ‘consume now, throw away’ mindset creating huge amounts of textile waste and almost 85% of all textiles now ending up in landfill each year, there has never been a better time to choose sustainable options. Fashion is the 2nd or 3rd most polluting industry in the world and makes up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, drying up water sources, polluting rivers and affecting peoples health in the process. Making fabric uses water, energy, chemicals, and other resources that the majority of us don’t give much thought too.
Washing clothing containing fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic can send thousands of microfibres into the ocean without us even realising it. Once in the ocean, marine animals often mistake them for food and alarmingly, these can find their way back into our food chain and adversely affect our health.
Making a conscious decision to shop with more sustainable and ethical brands can make an enormous difference to the planet, the people within it and future generations.
At Fern & Fia we want to give the best possible choice to our customers and the planet. We believe that we can do better and be kind in the process . We care about the future of the clothes we make and their impact on the world.
These are some of the major reasons why you should choose sustainable fashion.
- Better Quality = Increased Durability
By using eco-friendly processes, non toxic chemicals and organic or recycled materials the quality of sustainable products are more durable and are made to last longer…. and who doesn’t want that 😉 As we have experienced at some stage in our purchasing lives, fast fashion isn’t really made to last. It is cheaply produced and has a ‘wear once’ feel to it. Many of our t-shirts and sweaters have gone “bally” after a few washes and have ended up in the bin. By choosing sustainable brands that provide quality, we can reduce our waste as well as the amount of clothing we buy, thus saving money in the long run. Think about your favourite item of clothing and the fact that you could have it for years if you choose sustainability.
This is a win win for everyone : -)
2. Better for our planet.
Fast fashion leaves behind a huge environmental footprint. From the impact on power and water consumption to the pesticides and insecticide used in growing cotton, there are many negatives to purchasing non sustainable clothes. And as well as releasing micro-plastics, oil based synthetic materials do not decompose. However, by choosing better materials and making sustainable fashion part of your life you can reduce your own environmental foot print and have safer, cleaner options for you and your family.
3. You don’t have to follow seasonal trends.
You don’t have to follow trends and be a slave to what’s ‘in fashion’. Many sustainable brands focus on creating great quality pieces that survive fashion seasons and enable to you to follow your own trend and wear what you want. Create your own personal style, say Adidos to fashion trends and wear clothes that feel good on your skin and reflect you and your lifestyle.
Livia Firth, the founder of Eco Age and executive producer of the True Cost, began the #30Wears campaign to end a culture of buying cheap outfits and wearing once. She says we should “re-engage with the clothes we wear, thinking of them as investments rather than disposable easy come, easy go pieces.”
“Buy less, choose well, make it last’.
– Vivienne Westwood
4. It’s better for People (including you!)
Companies which offer cheap clothing made from cheap (non sustainable) materials strive to keep their costs down with low pay and harsh labor practices in developing countries. By switching to ethically made brands you are ensuring that the clothing you choose to spend your money on hasn’t taken advantage of workers and has given them a chance at life. Buying clothes labeled as Fair Trade is sustainable on several levels: They are produced under safe working conditions, are sweatshop free, and the person who made it earned a fair wage.
Sustainably produced clothing is also better for you, the person wearing it! You can be secure in the knowledge that there are no harmful chemicals on your skin which adversely effect your health.
What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in our bodies.
Many of the dyes used contain chemicals that are known skin irritants. Many people think of cotton as “natural,” but between the pesticides and herbicides, chlorine bleach, and toxic finishes, even “natural” fiber clothing isn’t so natural. Consumers are particularly prone to developing rashes from harsh chemicals used in making athletic clothing and underwear because sweating opens the pores and allows the body to absorb more chemicals.
We can’t live without clothing, but we can make the pieces we choose to invest in count.
In conclusion, it makes sense to choose sustainable fashion in an effort to help the planet and reduce the effects of climate change.
Further Reading:
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