How Sustainable Materials are Revolutionizing the Fashion Industry
Fashion is one of the most polluting industries on the planet, largely due to the rise of fast fashion over the past few decades. While stylish and affordable clothing may seem like a win-win for consumers, the “fast” element means these trendy garments are made as quickly and cheaply as possible using unsustainable materials. Unfortunately, that comes at a massive environmental cost that can no longer be ignored, making the shift to sustainable materials in fashion absolutely crucial.
The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion
When you buy an inexpensive top from a fast fashion retailer, it’s hard to comprehend the incredible amount of resources required to make that $12 garment. The harsh reality is that fast fashion causes immense damage through every stage of the production process.
Growing fabric crops for fast fashion items requires enormous amounts of energy, water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Many of the chemicals used are toxic and pollute the local water and soil. Next, that fabric must be milled, dyed, printed, and shipped globally before being cut and sewn together by workers often earning extremely low wages in hazardous conditions.
Once the garments hit store shelves, the shockingly low prices encourage customers to buy far more items than they need, treating clothing as a disposable commodity. After just a few wears, many fast fashion items get tossed into landfills when trends change. It’s estimated that over 92 million tonnes of solid waste is dumped by the global fashion industry annually.
The material composition of fast fashion items makes them difficult to recycle. Most incorporate synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are forms of plastic made from fossil fuels. As they decompose in landfills, these materials generate greenhouse gases and leak toxic substances into the groundwater and oceans.
The only way to make fashion more sustainable is to tackle the scourge of fast fashion and shift consumer demand toward higher quality, eco-friendly materials and manufacturing practices.
The Role of Sustainable Materials in Fashion
So, which sustainable materials are most promising for creating ethical and environmentally-friendly clothing options? Here are some innovative alternatives to conventional textiles:
Organic Cotton and Linen: While not new materials, organic cotton and linen produced without toxic pesticides are making a comeback as sustainable fabric choices. Both are biodegradable and far less environmentally harmful than conventional cotton which uses an estimated 25% of global insecticide use.
TENCEL™: This trademarked lyocell and modal material is made from renewable wood sources harvested from certified and controlled sources. TENCEL™ is fully biodegradable and has a much lower environmental impact than cotton.
Piñatex: Derived from pineapple leaf fiber that is typically discarded or burned, Piñatex is a vegan leather alternative that requires no extra land, water, or fertilizers beyond what’s needed for pineapple cultivation. It’s also much more durable than animal-based leather.
ECONYL® regenerated nylon: Created by recycling nylon waste like fishing nets and fabric scraps that would otherwise pollute oceans and landfills, ECONYL® has similar properties as conventional nylon but with far less environmental harm.
In addition to exploring innovative new textiles, sustainable fashion brands also embrace low-impact dyes, ethical production practices, and circular clothing design aimed at reducing excess manufacturing waste and keeping garments in circulation longer through recycling and resale programs.
The Future of Sustainable Fashion Is Here
Consumers are rapidly becoming aware of fast fashion’s massive environmental footprint, driving increased demand for sustainable alternatives. Brands that embrace ethical production methods and incorporate more sustainable materials in their clothing lines have an opportunity to get ahead of this cultural shift while helping to create a much-needed disruption of the fast fashion industry.
While sustainable fashion is a complex and evolving issue, one simple way every individual can start making more eco-friendly choices today is by investing in high-quality, responsibly-made clothing from ethical brands. These sustainable fashion pioneers are working to transform the industry through innovative materials and business models that put environmental responsibility, worker rights, and customer education at the forefront.
