What is sustainable fashion?
In a nutshell, sustainable means producing fashion in an ecological and environmentally-friendly manner. For example, think of the waste that fashion houses produce. The fashion industry was struggling long before COVID-19 hit; with sales down across the board, many tough calls have been made. Dozens of brands like J. Crew and Neiman Marcus have even declared bankruptcy, while others have been left to deal with excessive unsold inventory.
Some brands have resorted to over-discounting their pieces to clear the excessive stock, while others have turned to the unsavoury practices of polluting landfills with unsold inventory or even incinerating it. Not only does this damage the environment, but it also wastes the large amounts of energy resources and water put into producing the clothing in the first place.
Sustainable fashion addresses the industry’s toll on the environment in a number of ways. Some brands use technology that minimises their carbon footprint or use sustainable materials such as recyclable or organic materials that don’t require chemical fertilisers. Other brands have adopted a circular model, aimed at eliminating waste by reusing and recycling resources. Some luxury brands have even begun partnering with fashion rental services to combat their excess inventory by using it in the sharing economy.