Apparently, the glitz and glamor of fashion comes with a hefty price. It's no surprise that the fashion business is wreaking environmental havoc, with its carbon footprint responsible for almost 10% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. And as more people support and patronise fast fashion in response to current clothing trends, the problem only grows exponentially from then. However, there’s always a silver lining to it. The detrimental implications of the fashion industry have sparked the sustainable fashion revolution, giving credence to several clothing companies that produce garments from eco-friendly materials and make every attempt to limit their impact on the environment. This alteration in the fashion landscape has reinvented the whole system for conscious patronisers and budding artisans. And it only gets better from here. To take you through the wonders of it, here’s the 4 biggest contributions of sustainable fashion to humanity.
- Reduction of Carbon Footprint
The worldwide fashion sector is responsible for the emission of a great volume of greenhouse gas emissions each year, contributing substantially and actively to the process of global warming. One of the reasons for this is that the overwhelming bulk of our most treasured clothing, including polyester, acrylic and nylon, is derived from petroleum and is manufactured using fossil fuels. When it comes to the production process, these materials demand a substantially higher amount of energy than natural or recycled fibres.
On the other hand, sustainable fashion companies frequently make use of materials derived from organic or repurposed fabrics, which uses little to no chemical modification, very little water, lesser energy usage, and generally avoid the use of fertilisers and pesticides to grow the materials. Most of the materials we use for our products are all organic, including linen, hemp and organic cotton, and are even capable of decomposing naturally over time. These eco-friendly textiles are great sustainable options because they are gentle on the environment.
- Human Health Protection
The majority of fabrics that are used in the fashion business today are extremely inefficient, directly contribute to pollution and are detrimental to people's health. They are loaded with dangerous chemicals that put the lives of employees, consumers and the families of both groups in danger. When it comes to purchasing food, a lot of individuals choose organic options. It is essential for both the textile and clothing industries. Sustainable fashion is better for both our bodies and the earth.
Cotton is used to make around half of all textiles. The cultivation of conventional cotton typically involves the use of poisonous pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. During the processes of washing, bleaching, dyeing and treatment of textiles, a large number of potentially harmful chemicals are utilised. And this is counterproductive to the pursuit of sustainable fashion.
- Established Just Labor Practices
There are still many fashion brands and merchants who make their items in conditions similar to those found in sweatshops. They use manufacturing techniques that are cruel to laborers in order to make apparel of poor quality that is sold at low prices in high-street stores. Factory employees, who are predominantly young women but can even be minors, are paid less than the statutory minimum wage, and they are obligated to work long shifts (up to 100 hours per week) in hazardous conditions. They do not have access to medical care or paid vacation or sick leave.
Every corporation should take measures to prevent, resolve and make amends for violations of human rights that occur in their supply networks. Both the use of child labour and forced labour have no place in a society that has progressed and become more civilised. And in contrast to all these, sustainable Australian clothing brands make paying fair salaries and maintaining a safe working environment for all of their employees a priority given that this scheme does not necessitate high volume production.
- High-Quality Fashion Option
The phrase top quality and superior material are sometimes used interchangeably when referring to sustainable fashion. Fabrics that are kind to the environment are not only more comfortable to wear but also more durable. In point of fact, wearing sustainable clothing brands ensures that you won't need to continue purchasing new garments on a regular basis. There is no assurance that the clothes you buy will be of high quality if you purchase them from the most well-known brands of clothing that are manufactured elsewhere. Despite the fact that cargoes and merchandise can be checked for quality assurance, there is no real guarantee that the products will be of high quality or that they will serve you well over the course of many years.
Looking to grace sustainable fashion into your daily wardrobe?
According to Gary Bigeni, environmentally conscious business procedures start with the concept and continue all the way through the delivery of the finished garment. And this is one of the reasons why we partner with small-scale ethical producers of environmentally friendly and safe cotton. In connection, we gift-wrap each item using the scraps of the fabric used to create our products. Gary Bigeni cores from a slow fashion movement, curating unique and efficient pieces to its most intricate details.