Sustainable Fashion – Not A Trend But A Business Imperative For The Industry

The concept of sustainable fashion and ethical clothing has gone beyond a trend as customers actively participate in reducing the environmental impact of fashion.

According to a 2022 survey by Statista, 35% of customers in the US would be willing to pay significantly more if the clothing line is eco-friendly or sustainably produced.

The concept has become a business imperative for the industry, making it essential for professionals seeking to penetrate the sector to upgrade their knowledge of sustainability.

How Important Is Sustainable Fashion?

Sustainable fashion is an all-inclusive term for efforts to achieve a carbon-neutral fashion sector based on ecological integrity, equality, social justice and animal welfare.

Sustainability in fashion addresses the entire product lifecycle process, including the way an item is manufactured, consumed and eventually disposed of in landfills.

Reducing Global Refuse Generation

The concept of sustainability is crucial for reduced waste generation as the global production of municipal solid waste is expected to reach 3.4 billion metric tonnes by 2050.

The spike in waste generation could be blamed on a number of different factors, such as urbanisation, population growth and consumer shopping patterns.

Sustainable brands try to reduce the amount of refuse generated in the long run by manufacturing premium apparel from long-lasting materials.

Addressing Exploitation Of Workers

One of the key factors separating fast fashion companies from the sustainable ones is workplace safety and remuneration for workers.

The majority of fast fashion companies that manufacture cheap clothes and launch multiple collections in a year source their clothing from developing countries.

There workers toil for long hours, often in unsafe working conditions, while being barely paid a living wage. There is a constant pressure to manufacture – leading to exploitation.

Keeping Working Conditions Safe For All

Additionally, a good number of fast fashion companies have been accused of child labour. Sustainable clothing companies, on the other hand, maintain safe working conditions.

Such brands strive to prevent child labour and protect fair wages and equal gender rights. Overall, they engage in activities meant for the welfare of people working in the garment industry.

Sustainable brands use biodegradable components from natural or recycled fibres. These materials grow with no pesticide use, consume less water and employ no chemical treatment.