Planet
Aiding the environment to flourish once again has been the talk of most but actioned the least. The fashion industry is one of the biggest factors that affect the environment, with 120 billion garments produced every year and only 15% stay in our wardrobes. The severe amount of C02 emissions produced, which is around 1.2 billion tonnes, evidently shows how harmful fast fashion, over consumption and overproduction is for the planet.
The life cycle of a garment in all its stages pollutes the earth. The toxic cycle starts with the fabrics sourced and used. With such high demand, the fabrics used such as cotton are grown with chemicals to help quicken the process, allowing them to produce enough in the short time frame. Additionally, polyester is the most widely used synthetic textile used to create items. This type of production is not viable for long and overtime will negatively affect not only the earth, but us also. (Gwilt, Alison. A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fashion, Bloomsbury Publishing USA)
That’s why our present and future goal should be focused to widen sustainability within our fashion industry and more. One of many goals set by the united nations is climate change. To limit global warming, we need to cut almost half by 2030 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/climate-change/)
Instinct action needs to be taken to improve sustainability which will have a positive effect on our planet.
The production process itself is harmful, however the end-of-life is almost the same level of toxic. ’It is important that my work does not perpetuate waste’(quote by Yeohlee found in Gwilt, Alison. A Practical Guide to Sustainable Fashion, Bloomsbury Publishing USA). Landfills are full of clothes that didn’t even reach the store, where clothes go to sit and exude even more C02 emissions, a part of our new idea is for sustainability to be taken into every process of our clothes: aiming to create clothes with minimal waste and recycle the trimmings and fabric not used. To create a more sustainable planet.
There is a rise of businesses within fashion taking this new step, evidence from H&M having a ‘recycled’ line where the clothes sold were created from wasted or unused fabric. Unfortunately, the average person is unaware of this due to lack of advertising on this line, and rather more advertisement on new collections that are not as beneficial.
As an industry, there is action being taken, however this needs to be amplified and be the new standard. Change to help the planet.