As we continue to move forward throughout the 21st century, more and more companies seem to finally realize that our planet’s resources aren’t nearly as limitless as once thought. This year has already started with the promise of more sustainable fashion coming our way. But how are clothing companies working to achieve this?
For a start, Prada has pledged to only use recycled nylon by 2021. That’s some good news, seeing that the fashion industry is the most destructive to our planet after the oil industry. Tommy Hilfiger is yet another luxurious brand that has pledged to be eco-friendlier. How are other brands holding up? Surprisingly good as well.
A lot of brands are jumping on the eco bandwagon and have already revealed plans to recycle, upcycle, and generally use fewer materials that negatively affect our planet. But reshaping the fashion industry isn’t enough. It’s up to us to also partake in changing the way we purchase, use, and clean our clothes. Let’s see a few examples below.
Small steps towards sustainable fashion: how to ditch your dryer
There was a time when people would rely on good old air to dry their clothes. As technology evolved, our lives became more convenient, but the costs of this convenience are starting to leave their mark. Clothes dryers use up a lot of energy. And for what? Just drying your clothes a little earlier than they would dry on their own?
Think about it for a second. How many clothes fit in your washing machine and how many of them are you going to wear after they’ve been washed? Not nearly as many, that’s for sure. It makes more sense just letting them dry on their own, ironing them when they’re dry, and then proceed to wear them. You’ll see absolutely no difference.
Recycling and sustainable fashion
As we mentioned earlier, our planet’s resources are limited. Using clothes made from recycled materials, and even shopping for second-hand clothes has become a significant trend for both millennials and Gen Z alike. Seeing the younger generations embrace eco-friendly products gives us hope that the future will look a little brighter than it does today.
It is our duty to recycle as much as we can, and the same goes for fashion products. Take care of your clothes the same way you would take care of your body. Wear them for longer instead of wearing them for that one party you plan on attending. To give you an example, the princess of Denmark wore the same burgundy velvet dress at four different New Year’s parties.
This year, the tote bag is queen
Tote bags are phenomenal for their reusability and for being a growing trend in sustainable fashion. You can use them for grocery shopping instead of those throw-away plastic bags. You can use them to carry stuff around, and they can also be used as accessories to make you look more chic and trendy.
As you can see, they are both practical and fashionable in equal measure. They are versatile in the sense that you can repurpose them for numerous tasks. And they are also better at carrying heavy stuff than the classic plastic bags. You can easily fit 10 pounds of products in a canvas tote bag without worrying that it will tear apart like plastic bags tend to do.
Upcycle again and again
If you’re not familiar with this relatively new term, it basically means to repurpose, reuse, and amend old products. Think about it like refurbishing a phone or a laptop. The same principles apply. You take a torn pair of jeans, for example, and sew them in a manner that makes them look almost brand new. Or if they can’t be sown back, you can make trendy patches from them.
The same principles can be used to make a tote bag. As you can see, sustainable fashion isn’t a hard concept. It’s actually pretty easy to understand how it works and how to do it yourself. And if you don’t have the necessary time to upcycle your own stuff, you can easily find companies that do, or you can shop for great upcycled items.
Sustainable fashion is good for business
More and more people are beginning to understand the importance of recycling and upcycling. As such, businesses that use eco-friendly practices will start growing in the near future. We’ve already shown you examples of big brands that have made a pledge to use less wasteful materials in their production.
You can even use these practices in your advertising. Instead of making a huge billboard, you can just print your own custom tote bag, and you’ll basically transform your clients into walking, breathing ads. It’s far cheaper too than wasting money on giant banners that people are so accustomed to these days.
Rental is the new chic
In 2019, the trend of renting clothes was established. In 2020, experts say that it will grow even more. It makes sense, after all. Why spend hundreds of dollars on a pretty dress that you only plan on using once? Why spend a fortune on a tuxedo for one important event or on a flashy suit for a single job interview?
Instead, you can just rent one of these items and then return it when you’re done. You’ll be saving a lot of money in the long term, and you will always be able to impress with shiny clothes at any event you plan attending.
Final thoughts
Sustainable fashion is here to stay. It’s not just a trend that will disappear in a year. Instead, more and more companies will begin to adopt this practice as consumers will continuously flock to the businesses that have the greenest offerings on the market. It’s good for business and the planet at the same time.
The only bad thing we can say about sustainable fashion is that it didn’t kick off earlier. Otherwise, we would’ve probably seen less plastic in our oceans and less cotton shamelessly dumped in landfills.