How to make fashion sustainable? by Laura Garnier

During the past few years I tried to change my way of consumption wether it is food or fashion. I believe in sustainability working together with fashion and textile. In fact they are the second most polluant industry after petrol. In our society, fast fashion, but also fast/overconsumption became normal and we only see the tip of the iceberg. Once we realize the amount of energy, work, products, etc... it takes to make one piece of fabric or even a t-shirt for example, it is obvious that it has to change. I develop some techniques myself to try and be more sustainable without having to cut out the pleasure of buying clothes and following trends.

Make Fashion Sustainable

In 5 TIPS

Reportedly the world's second most polluting industry after oil, the very nature of fashion's quick trend turnover renders it so damaging that it has become one of the most environmentally crippling industries on the planet. And, according to a recent report, it's only getting worse, with the textile industry emitting more greenhouse gas emissions than international shipping and aviation combined.

Last but not least, you can always recycle your own clothes yourself. Customize them, find them new purpose, give them a second life. You can start by dyeing them naturally with what is in your fridge. you can also embroider, cut, sew, print... alot of tuttos are available on the internet for it.

You can also keep them for a costume party or even use the grand-mother technique: make a cloth with it to wipe your house clean !

I would recommand this option if any other isn't satisfying for you...

Don't miss out on this !

https://hypebeast.com/2021/2/red-wing-out-of-fashion-campaign-want-show-laundry-erin-brown-bioni-samp

Do you like to go shopping everyweek? Never wear the same outfit 2 weeks in a raw?

I used to buy a lot of clothes in fast fashion store and wear them only once a year... and obviously the year after it was already not in fashion anymore to be sold to anyone.

I developped a new technique which is to keep the tag. You know this cute tag tied up with a rope on it? The one you can remove easily and put it back nicely? That way you can wear your outfit for the day, for the picture or for a party and bring it bag nice and clean within a month.

Some shops such as Zara also authorize people to bring their clothes back without the tag within 2 months. That way they can still sell it to someone else after and you don't leave it in the dark of your closet, the production of clothes can be reduced and you waiste less money !

TIP n°1

Chop and change

TIP n°2

Old is the new Young

TIP n°5

Easter egg

Did you know that Fashion is all about cycle? Have you noticed that the sneakers you are buying today and think are the last trend... your parents had the same 20 years ago? And the "vintage" shirt that you bought the other time at the store well your grandmother wears similar ones since her 30s.

The "Vintage" trend is on and thrifts stores are competing one another. It is probably one of my favorite place to buy clothes. Of course you don't know what you are going to find there but isn't it better? You can find some unique pieces that were, are and will be in trend for years; the quality is unbeatable and most of all you are sustainable as you are not participating in mass production !

And let's not forget that it works both ways, you can donate or sell your old clothes, your parents' old clothes or even your grandparents' ones.

Have you heard about Vinted? I myself like to buy "vintage" clothes on it but also fast fashion new trends. My personal trick: I try them on in the store and find them back on it the same week, cheaper and second hand.

TIP n°4

Clean Slate

As some brand try to produce their clothes ethically, some others are based entirely into the recycling of used materials such as old clothes, fabric and thread but also plastic.

They offer you the possibility to send them your own materials to make new clothes or even furnitures.

This creating process may seem very restrictive but it allows the creators to actually goes outside of their confort zone and do something that will be unique. Cause isn't it what we are looking for in fashion : being unique, ourself, reflecting our personnality and creativity?

The other advantage is the need of buying raw materials and fabric is inexistant.

In fact, it is actually really hard to "recycle" clothes today due to the mix of synthetic threads, dying colors...

In a smaller scale, some fast fashion brands offer the possibility to recycle your clothes in exchange of a coupon in their shop. But the way they recycle it is still very blurry.

TIP n°3

Haste makes waste

Instead of running to the closest shopping center when you are craving for a top or a skirt I challenge you to look into Ethical brands and take the timle to chose your item.

Ethical fashion concerns the way clothing is made - encompassing everything from how the cotton was grown to whether and how animals are used, and how the garment workers are treated. Many people confuse 'sustainable fashion' with 'ethical fashion', and while the two are unquestionably linked, the concept of sustainability in the industry refers to the effects of the production of clothing on the environment.

Of course it might be a bit more expensive but the quality will be incomparable to anyother, it will last longer in time and as I said previously, fashion is a cicle so you can still keep it in your wardrobe for yourself, your children or your grandchildren one day.

You can easily find more Ethical Brands todaywhich are bvery open and clear about their way of producing their fashion items. However it is better to find a brand that is implanted in your own country to avoid as much as possible transportation which is part of the polluting process.

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