Sustainable fashion: the many contradictions

In many ways, the words sustainable and trendy don’t really fit together well. I have heard that sustainable fashion is described as an oxymoron and a contradiction, and perhaps this is true. Is it really possible for the fashion industry to become sustainable?

Part of the problem with the term sustainable fashion is that ‘fashion’ is often used to describe ever-changing trends and is even associated with ‘fast fashion’, the term used to describe low-cost or affordable clothing that is made quickly for responding to the latest trend is often used only once or twice before being discarded. The ethical and environmental implications of this type of clothing are well recognized, as valuable resources are wasted and supply chain workers are mistreated to ensure low-cost clothing is produced quickly. Despite the many negative connotations that the word fashion can have, if you take it as a more general word used to describe clothing, then it is almost possible to have sustainable fashion, although perhaps not entirely because the manufacture of any clothing will have some impact on the environment albeit relatively small.

With confusion even over the product name, it’s not really surprising that most shoppers don’t bother with sustainable fashion and prefer to simply stick with the fashion brands they know despite knowing that they often operate unsustainably and poorly. ethics. But the contradiction about the name ‘sustainable fashion’ is only the beginning. There are many other contradictions and much confusion associated with this.

Take, for example, vegan fashion. Going vegan is generally considered an ethical and sustainable way of life, which not only reduces the suffering caused to animals in the agricultural system, but also reduces the carbon footprint and pollution caused by agriculture. So it may come as a surprise to some that vegan fashion is not necessarily the most ethical and sustainable option. Vegan shoes can be made without the use of animal products, but that doesn’t mean they were made in ethical factories or with sustainable materials; in fact, synthetic materials used in place of leather are often harmful to the environment in their own way. If you want to be absolutely sure that your vegan shoes or bags are completely ethical and sustainable, you will need to look for a brand that pays attention to all of these issues.

Next on the list of contradictions and confusion around sustainable fashion is the concept of ethical fashion. Many ethical fashion brands support various good causes around the world and empower people to create a sustainable livelihood. However, to support these great causes, it does involve buying clothes, maybe clothes we don’t really need or possibly not made from sustainable fabrics. The more we buy, the more we help these great causes, but also the more we consume. Collections labeled sustainable may be made from eco-friendly fabrics, but this does not guarantee that they have been ethically manufactured. In this situation we are left with the difficult task of deciding what is most important in terms of economic and social or environmental sustainability. Ethical fashion is often made in distant countries; This is another contrast to local fashion, which is often considered more sustainable due to the environmental impact of its transportation. Second-hand clothes and vintage clothes pose a dilemma again, while they are probably the most sustainable option, they do little to alleviate poverty around the world, although in this case shopping in charity stores could be the answer to reduce both environmental impact to support a cause.

The issue of sustainable fashion is complex and the confusion that surrounds it is sometimes used by brands to wash consumers green using the terms ‘eco’ and ‘sustainable’ to describe clothing or collections that can help in a way but not from another. To combat skepticism and mistrust towards sustainable fashion, there needs to be a clear and easy-to-understand way to label and describe products. The word sustainable fashion is general enough to mean almost anything when used by marketers, causing confusion among consumers. The term sustainable also does not excite those looking to buy fashion.

However, there are many innovative fashion brands that are pioneering new ways of working in terms of ethics and sustainability; There just has to be one way to communicate this to customers in a simple and easy to understand way.