Overproduction and waste has become an increasingly concern for both consumers and governments which both have increasingly begun to pressure fashion brands to tackle this issue.
The past 10 years, the spending on clothing in the UK has increased with 19.75 Billion British pounds. And as Chetna Prajapati, professor at Loughborough University London emphasize, it certainly doesn’t help that the current fashion system uses high volumes of non-renewable resources, including petroleum, extracted to produce clothes that are often used only for a short period of time, after which the materials are largely lost to landfill or incineration as they cannot be recycled. This type of system puts enormous pressure on valuable resources such as water, degrades the ecosystem and pollutes the environment in addition to creating societal impacts on a global scale.
These are the hard facts about overproduction and what it does to our planet. As consumer it can seem overwhelming and one can easily get the feeling that there is nothing that “I” can do to make a change. However, that is not true. The choices you make can really make change. And we have put together a list of things to think of and implement in your daily life to reduce the environmental impact of your wardrobe, in addition to pressure fashion brands to continue their path towards more eco-friendly fashion production.
1. Demand information: Ask questions about the product and do a bit of research. Social media is a great tool to get in contact with fashion brands, and when you make a special purchase you want to know that the fashion brand align with your values.
2. Change your shopping habits: Every new item of clothing made has a substantial carbon footprint attached to its manufacturing, but the amount of new energy needed to produce vintage or upcycled clothing is zero.
3. Donate unwanted clothes: Just because you are sick of your statement pink faux fur, does not mean that it cannot continue to live its fabulous life with someone else.
4. Learn how to repair clothes or find a tailor: A broken seam can easily be fixed with a needle and a tread (and youtube). And a damaged zipper on your favorite pair of jeans can quickly be replaced by a tailor for a good price.
5. Wash your clothes less: Laundering accounts for 60–80% of a garment’s total environmental impact, so you can significantly reduce your impact even by washing your clothes after every few wears. Further, washing your clothes at 30 degrees rather than the standard 40 degree wash is reported to reduce energy usage by 38%, in addition, washing your clothes on a lower temperature and letting them dry naturally will reduce the risk of shirking and colors fading.
6. Support local boutiques and homegrown brands: These garments are short-traveled and locally produced, and you as a consumers can easily get to know about the garments whole journey from sketch board to garment. Another perk of buying from local fashion designers is that its more personalized and you get the opportunity to stand out with a garment that only a handful of other people in the whole wide world owns.
Shop consciously with Ipseity and our ethical and sustainable designers!
Over Production: a Fashion Epidemic
Overproduction and waste has become an increasingly concern for both consumers and governments which both have increasingly begun to pressure fashion brands to tackle this issue.
The past 10 years, the spending on clothing in the UK has increased with 19.75 Billion British pounds. And as Chetna Prajapati, professor at Loughborough University London emphasize, it certainly doesn’t help that the current fashion system uses high volumes of non-renewable resources, including petroleum, extracted to produce clothes that are often used only for a short period of time, after which the materials are largely lost to landfill or incineration as they cannot be recycled. This type of system puts enormous pressure on valuable resources such as water, degrades the ecosystem and pollutes the environment in addition to creating societal impacts on a global scale.
These are the hard facts about overproduction and what it does to our planet. As consumer it can seem overwhelming and one can easily get the feeling that there is nothing that “I” can do to make a change. However, that is not true. The choices you make can really make change. And we have put together a list of things to think of and implement in your daily life to reduce the environmental impact of your wardrobe, in addition to pressure fashion brands to continue their path towards more eco-friendly fashion production.
1. Demand information: Ask questions about the product and do a bit of research. Social media is a great tool to get in contact with fashion brands, and when you make a special purchase you want to know that the fashion brand align with your values.
2. Change your shopping habits: Every new item of clothing made has a substantial carbon footprint attached to its manufacturing, but the amount of new energy needed to produce vintage or upcycled clothing is zero.
3. Donate unwanted clothes: Just because you are sick of your statement pink faux fur, does not mean that it cannot continue to live its fabulous life with someone else.
4. Learn how to repair clothes or find a tailor: A broken seam can easily be fixed with a needle and a tread (and youtube). And a damaged zipper on your favorite pair of jeans can quickly be replaced by a tailor for a good price.
5. Wash your clothes less: Laundering accounts for 60–80% of a garment’s total environmental impact, so you can significantly reduce your impact even by washing your clothes after every few wears. Further, washing your clothes at 30 degrees rather than the standard 40 degree wash is reported to reduce energy usage by 38%, in addition, washing your clothes on a lower temperature and letting them dry naturally will reduce the risk of shirking and colors fading.
6. Support local boutiques and homegrown brands: These garments are short-traveled and locally produced, and you as a consumers can easily get to know about the garments whole journey from sketch board to garment. Another perk of buying from local fashion designers is that its more personalized and you get the opportunity to stand out with a garment that only a handful of other people in the whole wide world owns.
Shop consciously with Ipseity and our ethical and sustainable designers!
Credits:
Writer: Marina Heier
Photography: Zuzanna Blur for Vogue Portugal