Great news for fashion loving environmentalists! It’s possible to uphold eco-friendly values and still look fashionable. Most people believe that the best way to get runway styles in their closet is to buy fast fashion, but fast fashion generates a cycle of waste and consumption that strains the environment. Fast fashion is also harmful for those producing it, fast fashion workers are often underpaid and working in poor and dangerous conditions in countries that lack labour laws to support them.
There are many ways to tackle this problem in filling our closets. You can buy vintage or second-hand, or even take a break from shopping entirely. Most of us can stand to clean several items from our closets without feeling the loss, and often have items we never wear sitting around. Another option is to shop more consciously and figure out what sustainability means for your shopping habits.
Shopping less and investing in timeless pieces is a great way to slow down the fast fashion craze. Buying handmade and supporting local artisans supports a process that is struggling against fast fashion, and you’ll get a longer lasting and better quality product. Investing in a tailor will also help you maintain pieces that you love but are looking a little worse for wear.
If you’re a designer looking to improve the sustainability of their collection, here are a few questions you should be asking your textile and fabric sellers:
- What fibers make up this fabric? i.e synthetic or natural, plant or animal.
- What makes these fabrics ethical? i.e. organic, low water usage, highly renewable, etc.
- Where do these fabrics come from? Determining geographic location helps you access the way workers are treated as well as the environmental impact of shipping the goods.
- Are sustainable practices used in the cultivation of crops? i.e. wastewater recycling, crop rotation.
- Is the fabric recycled?
- Can the fabric be recycled?
Bank & Vogue takes pride in embodying the values of sustainable practices, Fair Trade, and environmental responsibility. To learn more about what we do and how you can work with us, click here.
