As consumers, we have so much power to change the world by just being careful in what we buy. Let’s turn to sustainable fabrics!
What is fast fashion & how can we help combat it with Eco-fabrics, sustainable fabrics, recycled fabrics and up-cycling? Let’s dive in.
Every time you buy something, you vote for the kind of world you want to live in. According to the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, fashion was responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions in 2019— more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Check out more of their wonderful initiatives for combating the fast fashion industry over on their website. Overproduction and over-consumption are two of the worst side effects of the fast fashion industry.
Fast fashion- let’s say “No”
Fast fashion is a design, manufacturing, and marketing method focused on rapidly producing high volumes of clothing. Fast fashion garment production leverages trend replication and low-quality materials in order to bring inexpensive styles to the consumer.These cheaply made, trendy pieces have resulted in an industry-wide movement towards over-consumption. This results in harmful impacts on the environment, garment workers, animals, and ultimately our planet.
How can we say “No”
Enter the world of Eco- Fabrics, sustainable fabrics, recycled clothing & up-cycling. Fashion your eco- conscious soul with sustainable & eco fabrics. When you go to buy something, ask yourself some questions. Will I wear it a lot? Do I know the people who made it were cared for? Do I know the impact on the planet this has made?
The good news? We’re finding more and more ways to create sustainable fabrics with a much smaller ecological footprint.
Eco fabrics are sustainable fabrics, manufactured with a minimal impact on the environment, with as little as possible use of water and chemicals. Sustainable fabrics consist of fabrics made from natural and earth-friendly materials that actively reduce harm to the planet, or have a relatively small negative environmental impact. Let’s find out the a little more of the sustainable benefits of using organic cotton & recycled polyester.
“Fast fashion isn’t free. Someone, somewhere is paying.” – Lucy Siegle
Eco Fabrics
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is about growing cotton crops without using fertilizers, pesticides, and other toxic chemicals. With this kind of farming method, cotton trees are not sprayed or treated with any chemicals. They only rely on approved organic farming methods. As a result, organic cotton farming results into a sustainable environment as it helps maintains soil fertility and harvests chemical free cotton.
Organic cotton uses lower carbon due to lesser fuel and energy consumption, like other organic fabrics. The cotton goes through a chemical-free production process, it also prevents water contamination.
Interestingly, if you have bought fabrics in the past which have irritated your skin, organic cotton should be a better choice for you. Certain skin allergies relate directly to the chemicals used in non-organic cotton farming, so switching to more organic fabrics can help you, your planet & your skin!
Recycled Polyester
For the production of polyester, plastic is needed. However, recycled plastic uses PET instead, one of the most common materials used for fibers in clothing. Recycled PET fabric is thus used as raw material to create new products. In doing so, polyester that would otherwise end up in a landfill is given a second life. Initiating the circular economy model.
Recycled polyester can be recycled again, which is why this material is highly valued in the circular economy.All our rash guards are made with 85% Recycled Polyester, sustainably and ethically produced.
If we prevent plastic from ending up in a landfill or in our oceans, that will always be more sustainable than the alternative! If you would like to find out a little more regarding the ways you can reduce your plastic your plastic intake, check out our latest Plastic-Free July Blog
Buy Sustainable Materials
Keep an eye out for the most sustainable fabrics you can use! Sustainable fabrics help everybody to do the little that they can from their part in order to conserve the Earth and its resources! Check out some of our favourite ones below.
Recycled polyester: Made from recycled plastic bottles, this is a great way to reuse plastic that would otherwise end up in landfills, as mentioned above.
Recycled nylon: The main component of recycled nylon is old fishing nets. And dumped fishing nets are a major source of plastic pollution in our seas and oceans. Recycling nylon will help preserve our oceans!
Recycled cotton: Made from textile off cuts and old garments, recycled cotton is a sustainable choice. It’s manufactured using far fewer resources than new cotton.
Turn your waste into fashion- How to start a Slow Fashion movement
Let’s not buy into the world of fast fashion. The demand for new products is rising, especially clothing, but the resources are limited. A way to counteract this poignant fact, is to use recycled materials or buy from Vintage/Secondhand stores. Buying vintage is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint and recycle. You will be contributing to a slow fashion movement as you will be continuing the life-cycle of a clothing garments rather than buying new each time!
Recycled clothing uses old, worn out and damaged materials and converts them into new clothes. This includes recycling old and used materials & possibly up-cycling them to give them new life!
By buying garments from sustainable clothing brands, speaking up for social & environmental accountability, thrifting and up-cycling we can ensure responsibility and that we’re advocating for the environment, our planet & our future, together.
