The shift of perspective
The past 2 years have changed everybody’s life drastically, and have taught us a lot of things, in terms of lifestyle and well-being. It has changed the perspective of every single human being regarding the way of living life, where everyone is concerned about what they are eating, what they are wearing and what they are consuming in general. Sustainability is one of the branches where mostly the younger generation is raising questions.
A sustainable lifestyle protects both the natural resources of the planet and its energy supply. We are all aware of how negatively the effects of global warming and climate change are hurting our ecology. Most people are leaning towards a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle. Using more environmentally friendly and sustainable products in your daily routine such as practising composting and prioritizing the use of renewable resources is a trend that people are getting more aware of (, a trend which just not stay for now but for coming years as well.
There are more options than ever for finding fashionable and reasonably priced apparel, which may be both overwhelming at times and made possible by the abundance of clothing that eager buyers have at their fingertips. Online shops carrying the latest microtrends can be convenient, but at what cost will fashionability triumph over sustainability?
One-wear goods may be more practical in a short amount of time for college students who are frequently seeking to satisfy their immediate wants.
I found a person online and she was sharing her experience with a fast fashion brand called ‘Shein’ which gained a massive number of customers a few years back. She said, “I purchased it from Shein because it was so fairly priced, however, I did note that the items I received only lasted two to three months before they were no longer functional”. Not chasing a trend might feel like FOMO (fear of missing out) to some people but in a long term it is harming our environment
Although second-hand shops like Shien offer a wide range of apparel categories, online fast-fashion companies have an enticing amount of inventory. Resale shops have something for practically everyone, from cosy knit sweaters for the fall and winter to name-brand athleisure clothing that will inspire you to put on a pair of tennis shoes and get active.
Substitute Materials
Altering a company’s economic model is one option; another is to come up with sustainable and biodegradable materials for clothing. Many instances include:
For centuries, organic hemp has been used to make clothing.
The natural fibre obtained from the flax plant is organic linen.
Tencel is a cellulose fabric made from pulped wood. It has the moisture-wicking qualities needed to make sportswear.
Pineapple leaf fibres are used to create the vegan leather substitute known as Pinatex.
Econyl is a fibre made from recycled plastic, waste textiles, and ocean-sourced fishing nets.
Cheaper clothing comes at a tremendous cost to the environment
Our desire for brand-new clothing keeps growing. Regrettably, the fashion industry has become one of the worst pollutants in the world as a result of the tremendous demand for the newest and greatest. The World Wildlife Fund claims:
Every year, the textile industry pumps 1.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
To produce 1 kg of cotton, 20,000 liters of water are required. the same as one T-shirt or two pairs of jeans.
Almost 40% of clothing is made of cotton. Synthetic fibers like polyester or nylon, which are utilized in over 72% of all fashion items, are the second most popular material for clothing after cotton. Also condemned for their detrimental effects on the environment are the latter materials.
Pesticides and a lot of water are used in the creation of clothing, from cotton growing to dying and washing. However, recycling these mixed-material garments is frequently challenging and won’t deliver the desirable quality that fashion firms and consumer’s demand.
How great it would be if everyone visited a consignment shop to get inexpensive but stylish clothing that needs a new home rather than purchasing that inexpensive shirt that will only last for a few years.
I adore that the item of clothing is given a second opportunity. ‘It feels so much better than just throwing it away because someone once loved it and will love it again’.