History of sustainable fashion
While it sounds trendy now, fashion has, historically, been sustainable. Think back to hundreds of years ago, when people only had a few articles of clothing that they made from materials they had on-hand. Outside of nobility, people might have a set of clothes for church, a set of working clothes, and a set of house clothes. When they couldn’t wear their clothes anymore, they repurposed materials. Nothing was wasted. History is always destined to repeat itself in an echo it seems.
Fast forward a few hundred years, and we have clothes for every occasion imaginable. The instant a fashion trend emerges on the runway, it’s available in stores for a very low cost, so low it’s almost like whoever made it probably didn’t get paid and definitely has a poor work environment. And once the trend is over, we simply throw it away.
What happened?
The history of fashion as we know it today dates back to the 19th century, during the rise of the Industrial Revolution. This was when department stores were making their debut and fashion was moving from customized articles of clothing to mass-produced lines, thanks to the advances of the sewing machine and unfortunately lax labour laws.
Consumerism hit its peak after World War II. The 1950s and 1960s saw a proliferation of strip malls and department stores. At this point, clothes were still manufactured in native countries. That remained the norm until the late 20th century when countries agreed to a quota system that limited how many textiles could be imported from other countries. The result was a rise in costs for domestic textile products. The quota system was replaced by a World Trade Organization agreement in 2005. This agreement made it significantly cheaper and easier to outsource the manufacturing of clothing overseas. As any good business you always want to find the cheapest route but nobody thought of at what cost this would amount to.
Today, most clothes are made in other countries—generally, third-world countries that have far less stringent regulations when it comes to things like child labour laws, safe working environments or whether or not you actually get paid or get to go home. Nothing truly important.
Why is sustainable fashion important?
The increased production and consumption of fashion are ruining our planet. Put simply.
Less simply, with more people than ever living on the planet, we need to find ways to use resources more responsibly. One way to do that is through sustainable fashion. Taking responsibility for where our clothing is sourced, how the people who make our clothing are being treated, and where our clothes end up when we no longer need or want them can be a big step toward tackling climate change. Fashion is the perfect starting point if you’re looking for ways to live more sustainably. Unless Thanos comes into existence fairly soon, to double our resources of course.
Consider this. On average, western societies spend £240 billion a day shopping for clothes. That’s an enormous amount of money. If we give our cash to companies that are rooted in sustainable practices and who give back through charitable contributions and volunteer work, then our money would be directly going toward improving conditions around the world. You can improve working conditions for the people who make your clothes by being choosy about what company you buy your clothes from.
Even better, you don’t need to seek out these clothing companies for yourself. I recommend a business like www.cantevenlift.co.uk a small local business whose aim is to create a sustainable gym brand for the masses.
Here are some things to look for when you want to buy environmentally-friendly clothes:
- Green and clean production
If you want newly produced clothes, look for businesses focused on green and clean fashion production. Business models focused on producing clothes in a green and clean way are conscious of where their fibres and dyes are sourced to protect the people who make, buy, and wear them.
These products are generally made from organically grown fibres and natural materials that are biodegradable. These clothing companies use natural dyes and are consciously less wasteful when making patterns.
- Fair and ethical fashion production
Many companies consider human rights and animal rights when creating their products. These brands prioritize transparency in their supply chain. They also tend to seek to preserve cultural heritage.
Companies focused on fair and ethical production use ethical labour practices and may be vegan. They are often fair trade certified, which ensures the farmers who source the materials are fairly compensated for their labour. They are environmentally, socially, and ethically conscious.
- Second-hand vintage clothes
Fashion is cyclical, which is good news for anyone who loves a good thrift store. By shopping second-hand vintage stores, you don’t just save the environment by buying clothes that have already been worn. You can also walk away with some hard-to-find styles in great condition.
- Custom made clothes
Custom made just for you are more expensive upfront. However, they are made with higher quality materials and are designed to fit you perfectly. You’ll be able to wear them for years instead of needing to replace them quickly.
When clothes are custom made, they slow down the manufacturing cycle by only using the number of raw materials that are needed. This reduces waste.
Fortunately, the trend of sustainable fashion is catching on. With more people accepting it and working towards a culture of sustainability, this is one trend that won’t be casually thrown away. I hear CantEvenLift is doing their bit too, conscious of the planet but keeping the drip on point. Who says you can’t look good while taking care of the planet?
For more of your entertainment needs please check out https://linktr.ee/cantevenlift and if you love this type of content check out my podcast and the pod Instagram below.
S7 Bonus: "Chaos Special" – I Digress
S7 Bonus: "Chaos Special" – I Digress
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