There are many ways to protect the environment, from recycling and reusing materials to using organic material. One way is to buy second-hand clothing and up-cycle textiles. Now, we will discuss the best way to buy affordable organic clothing and accessories in a sustainable way. Don't forget to also check out other effortless ways you can be eco friendly! Whether you're trying to save money or help the environment, you can still be comfortable and stylish-check out these other ways!
Redesigning clothes for the true green-thumbed person
When shopping for eco friendly fashion, you want to consider the factors of how it was made. If a piece still has life left in it you can rewear it. Unfortunately, some pieces cannot be recycled and only have one option - going into a landfill or incinerator. To help protect the environment and your wallet, recycling is important!
As simple as washing your old clothes, or as drastic as donating them to charities, you can find garments made from recycled polyester, recycled cotton or recycled wool. The percentage of recycled fibers can be increased by demand as well. In the future, the most important goal is to lower our consumption and reduce waste in landfills.
Upcycle into something beautiful
Upcycling (using old materials in order to create new ones) is becoming more common among eco-conscious consumers. When you upcycle clothes, the new piece can be reused again after it has been worn out and offer a positive impact on the environment. It is also less wasteful as old pieces can be used over and over again. By using this method, consumers can feel good about what they buy since it helps raise awareness for sustainable fashion.
To be more aware of the environmental impact and benefits, designers must understand the chemical composition of the materials used and the health risks associated with the dyes and plastics that are often present in the products. They should also be aware that not all up-cycled products provide living wages to the makers. To help consumers purchase eco-friendly products, these things need to be understood.
What You Can Do To Embrace Eco Fashion
Buying second-hand clothes has always been popular and is an easy way to support eco-friendly fashion without sacrificing your wallet. Second-hand clothing has never been more accessible than ever with a number of new platforms, apps and websites popping up turning the market. As the industry becomes more conscious of the environment, reselling second-hand clothes is set to overtake traditional retail in size.
Many consumers are encouraged to buy second-hand in order to save money, help the environment and get more use out of items. An individual's carbon footprint will be reduced by buying second-hand compared to purchasing new. Buying used also reduces the amount of landfill fees accrued by individuals. This is the best way to go green.
Smart fashion brands
The fashion industry accounts for more than 8% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions and producing goods for the companies is continuously increasing. Greater efforts must be put into fashion to ensure the environment remains sustainable because it is beneficial for the consumer as well as for the earth. Upcycled clothing is a great way to make better use of your wardrobe without generating waste. After all, it's awesome to buy clothing that has been used before, and you'll feel good while doing so!
This type of trend started when a mother wanted to clothe her children with clothes she no longer wore. Paulette Ross, who is now 55, realized that there was a creative potential in the pre-loved garments she found. She grew up in a neighborhood near a dump, and subsequently became a fashion designer. Now, she creates unique upcycled clothing that's sustainable and beautiful. Her shop, Paulette Ross, has over 150 items at any given time. Her clothing is characterized by bold colors, exposed stitches, and raw hems.
Learn what sustainable dyes can do
The use of natural and synthetic dyes is essential to eco-friendly fashion. Using both products can be beneficial to your production as they can produce different shades of color. However, natural dyes require more updates in order to stay durable, while synthetic ones have a higher potential to pollute the environment with limited research being done into their origins.
Many innovative companies have recently developed sustainable dye. H&M has recently launched a dye line dyed with plant-based pigments that was made with the help of recycled polyester from We Are SpinDye and ColoriFix, two other companies. In addition to these two companies, H&M is experimenting with digital printing, unusual technological advances, and more. To create a dye-free range for environmentally conscious shoppers and also to reduce their carbon footprint, H&M partnered with two separate companies; We Are SpinDye and ColoriFix, who offer an eco-friendly way of colouring recycled polyester. The brand also provides dyes directly to retailers, brands and mills so they don't overuse dangerous chemicals.
Ekow unveils his critical take on eco-friendly fashion
The problem of providing fair wages is an intricate one, and it is difficult to enforce this in mixed circumstances. Consumers and companies need to bear more responsibility for living conditions in the factories, but government action can also be useful in the fight for a fair wage. There are a lot of reasons why this issue could be tough to regulate, such as local governments being unstable, industry players having too much influence, and short-term arguments for profits. Bangladesh might be the perfect example of this tension--landlords are already raising their rent rates to prepare for the recent increase in garment workers' wages.
To enforce living wages, eco friendly clothing brandsshould involve their customers and consumers in the supply chain. Oxfam is asking the public to support brands who follow human rights and pay a living wage. It's a good start if brands are willing to publish how much they pay their workers, and provide them with a living wage. Likewise, brands should also conduct business practices that are transparent to the public.
