“What is sustainable fashion?” a friend asked me the other day.
A good question with many possible answers.
The traditional fashion industry has become a behemoth that consumes workers and resources in an effort to provide clothing quickly and cheaply. When I write of sustainable fashion, I’m writing about brands whose practices seek to support environments and communities rather than exploit them.
Sustainable fashion respects people. When fashion is fair, the people making the garments are free to work in safe, healthy conditions. We’ve seen companies criticized when slave labor or child workers are found in their manufacturing processes, but these conditions are widespread among many brands. Even corporations who seek to enforce high labor standards often face difficulties due to the sheer number of factories and contractors that are part of their supply chains. Companies focused on ethical production regularly audit factories for working conditions or work directly with small artisan workshops in developing communities.
Sustainable fashion respects natural resources. Conventional (non-organic) cotton production uses a large percentage of the world’s pesticides. The fashion industry as a whole produces a large amount of waste, whether in terms of water pollution from factories or the extra clothes destroyed at the end of each season. Eco-friendly companies are committed to using natural materials free of harmful chemicals and processes, as well as reducing waste during clothing production.
How do I know how something is made? Some companies choose to certify their products as “fair trade” or “organic.” These certifications usually are given by a third party auditor. Other companies choose instead to provide transparency in their manufacturing process; these companies often provide the locations of their factories or workshops, along with details about working conditions and wages. It’s up to the consumer to decide what level of assurance and certification they want in a sustainable clothing brand.
What do the terms mean?
Fair trade — Refers to a system that seeks a cooperative relationship between businesses and producers, providing healthy working conditions and fair wages, often in marginalized communities. Companies may be certified by Fairtrade Labeling Organizations or may participate in fair trade arrangements without certification.
Sweatshop-free — Often used to describe clothing made in factories with safe working conditions and high wages. Not a regulated term.
Organic — Denotes agricultural products grown in the absence of many synthetic materials, such as pesticides and antibiotics. In the US, this labeling is regulated by the USDA. No guarantee of working conditions.
(For more information on labels and their meaning, I highly recommend One Fair Day’s series on fair trade certifications.)
Sustainable fashion is a complex issue, with too many nuances and factors to contain in one short blog post. Armed with the knowledge of how our clothes are made and the realization that we have a choice in our consumption, I think we can affect the future of the fashion industry, one purchase at a time.
Ready to dive in? Here’s what to read next:
Creating a Fair Wardrobe from For the Love of Justice
Shopping with Ethics from The Tiny Twig
Sustainable Shopping, my work-in-progress list of ethical shopping sites
Remember to share your sustainable fashion pics and tag them #fairfashionfri!
Thanks so much for linking my series 🙂 Glad you found it helpful! I was just thinking the other day I might need to update it – as I’ve noticed even more certifications!
Awesome! Yes, I reference your guide a lot when I’m telling people about ethical brands….”It’s not fair trade certified, but it’s made with transparency…” It’s so helpful!