Ethical fashion aims at reducing the negative impacts of using materials that harm the environment to make clothes. Materials such as cotton have different impacts on people and the environment. That’s why selecting materials with lesser environmental impact is typical of the ethical fashion industry.
The manufacturing of clothes involves design, labor, and materials. Ethical fashion companies are kind to the planet by tracing fashion processes. Tracing the supply chain guarantees that what’s in the supply chain has no negative impact.
Small and large clothing companies have been turning to sustainable and eco-friendly products. This is because they have to stay competitive in the marketplace where consumers are aware of the social and environmental issues.
The interest in clothing made according to ethical principles leads to new opportunities. The implication here is that you’ll be left behind if you fail to capitalize on such emerging trends.
Ethical Fashion and Lifestyle Trends to Take Note of
One of the main challenges in the fashion world is the large amounts of clothes produced yearly. Instead of the two traditional seasons, some brands produce pieces for a staggering 52 micro seasons. This can be blamed on the accelerating pace of trends due to the immediacy of social media.
Unfortunately, a significant amount of these clothes end up in landfills. The volume of unsold stock that some brands burn down is appalling. But thanks to ethical fashion, the world has an alternative.
That’s considering that they focus on timeless pieces instead of trends. They ensure that clothes and accessories never go out of style. Instead, they stay in your closet for as long as they are wearable.
Here is what you need to know about ethical fashion and lifestyle trends.
Ethical Jewelry
Jewelry forms an intricate part of fashion and the concept of ethical jewelry is now gaining traction. Ethical jewelry boils down to traceability. If materials used to make jewelry are traceable, you can make an informed decision about their provenance.
Note that not all countries have stringent regulations in place concerning precious metals. So knowing the country of origin of a metal is the first step toward making a buying decision. That’s when things actually boil down to the jewelry’s ethical credentials.
Sustainability is also a crucial consideration. That’s because many people would want a piece of jewelry they own to be of benefit hoping that it made no damage to the environment.
Many factors must be considered when designing ethical diamond jewelry. That includes sourcing materials from suppliers who are members of a reputable jewelry council. The other consideration is to ensure that suppliers commit to the Kimberly process.
Committing to such a process ensures that you end up with the best quality of diamond tennis necklace in the market. Note that tennis necklaces are a recent trend, which can be attributed to the timelessness and endurance nature of diamonds. And there’s nothing better than having a polished and simple rope of stones around the neck.
The Boom of Second-Hand Clothes
The purchase of second-hand clothes is becoming trendy again. There’s a lot of good that comes with purchasing used clothes. It’s something that consumers are taking advantage of.
Thrifting helps you to save on money and protect the environment. It’s also a great way of dealing with textile waste. These clothes allow you to look amazing in unique pieces that nobody else is wearing.
According to a report on used fashion, the second-hand apparel market was valued at $32 billion in 2020. This is expected to rise to $51 billion by 2023. That’s because consumers continue to learn of the disastrous impact of fast fashion. second-hand clothes are most definitely seen as a solution to this impact.
The Rise of Clothing Rental
This is also considered a solution to the expensive sustainable fashion. A good number of people are resorting to renting new clothes for special occasions. Others resort to this as a way of renewing their wardrobe.
Clothing rental is a better option for wedding dresses, kids, and maternity clothes. Rental companies have a subscription for those who want to refresh their clothes.
A lot of rental companies are opening up in North America and Europe. Some fashion designers are even partnering with rental companies. This is aimed at allowing clients to wear their clothes at a fraction of a price. Clothing rental is a practical and sustainable solution to trends.
Clothing rental is also environmentally friendly. It’s a better alternative to buying into fast-moving fashion trends. It also increases the number of times clothes are worn before they wear off.
Choosing Recycled Cotton Over Organic Cotton
Recycled cotton is an eco-friendly fabric. It’s also more ethical and sustainable compared to regular or organic cotton.
Organic cotton, for instance, is costly. It also requires certification which takes time, effort, and money. The worst part of it is that it offers a lower yield overall. This leads to the consumption of more resources for the production of the same amount of cotton.
Cotton fiber is made up of cellulose extracted from the cotton plant. This cotton is used in clothing industries to make apparel, accessories, and footwear.
Recycled cotton and conventional cotton have the same qualities as conventional cotton. Except that it can convert post-industrial and post-consumer waste into new materials.
Large amounts of water are used in the production of one kilogram of cotton. This is according to a report by the World Wildlife Fund. One kilogram of cotton is equal to one T-shirt and a pair of jeans. This means that recycling one ton of cotton can help to save a lot of water. This helps to reduce the negative impact of cotton production.
Bio-Based Materials
There is no shortage of bio-based materials in the market in recent years. This is the likes of rose petal silk to cactus leather. The challenge now is scaling these technologies up so that they get swapped instead of environmentally demanding fabrics.
There’s already investment in this area. With cult loungewear brand Pangaia partnering with materials-science company Kintra. This partnership is meant at helping with the development of bio-based alternatives.
Conclusion
Humanity is facing a lot of problems including climatic change and plastic pollution. As a result, the fashion industry is not at the top of people’s minds either as a problem or a solution.
But the fact remains that this industry is a significant contributor to environmental and human damage. The good news is that ethical fashion is addressing many of these issues. With the rise in ethical fashion trends both in clothing and jewelry, there is the assurance that we are doing our bit in protecting the environment and the planet.
