In the past year or so I have put a lot of thought into what I consume — I’ve always cared about what I ate, but I started to put time and care into using on my skin, in my home, and the people and messages I was consuming…there’s so much more to the messages and material we input into our lives. I think this last year especially I began to think more critically around fashion, and how I was spending my dollars. In my world, of Instagram and blogging there are more “Amazon fashion guides” than one can count. In the pursuit of expendable ”fast” fashion what was the expense?

So why did I start down this path….

Our food, our beauty products, our clothing; all of it has such an immense impact on our planet and on us. The number of toxic chemicals that are allowed in the foods we eat and the products that we use is shocking.

I have really begun to focus on not only this, but on consuming less in general- buying less, but buying quality. In doing so I was paying a  lot more attention to the things I buy. From researching sourcing to sustainability, to the ethos and people behind the brands I was choosing to purchase from.

When I started researching the fashion industry, the fabrics they use, and the impact they have on the environment you begin to see the harm that is pervasive. While the information is far and vast I wanted to focus on some salient points on what I have learned and how you can apply it to your life.  It is important to educate ourselves about the choices we make and how those decisions have a greater impact on society and the environment.  There is truly so much to learn on this topic.  

A lesson on fabrics

One of the most popular material used in fashion, polyester, is incredibly damaging for the environment. From a production standpoint, it’s a fiber made from petroleum—the same substance used to make plastic water bottles. It can take up to 200 years to decompose. When polyester clothes are washed, they shed microfibers that are so small they easily pass through sewage and wastewater treatment plants into our waterways. Nylon, like polyester, is a type of plastic derived from crude oil. Producing nylon is a very chemically intensive process that creates nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Rayon, is interestingly made from plants, but it’s not eco-friendly because of its toxic production and the deforestation associated with it. Viscose is manufactured in the same way as rayon but their materials differ. As a result of fast fashion, the majority of viscose is created with a chemically-intensive process that’s harmful to people and the environment.

On sustainability

A vision to be sustainable impacts people, the planet- it looks as the system as whole. This is a complex topic with many moving parts.   But it is based on supply chain where:

• Each raw materials is measured for its sustainable footprint
• To save energy, most fabrics are produced near the garment factories in which they’re made into clothing (the closer the better.)
• In some instances it can also involve eco certified green practices, ie. the use solar power, conserving electricity, reduce water usage, and holding to high standards of waste and water treatment.

Circularity

Many brands are designing with the mission is to keep materials and clothing in use instead of ending up as landfill. The fashion system has to become circular and eliminate waste for the future. This is achieved by focusing on using compostable, natural materials which are biodegradable.  In addition, seek out garments that are trans-seasonal, made to last, and look for hand-crafted textiles that are of heirloom quality.  I love this quote from St. Roche: “We believe that less is more, promoting lasting design and excellent quality as the true meaning of luxury”.

So where do you go from here.

I suggest first looking at the fabrics in your clothing. And make note of those that you do not want to purchase moving forward.

1. A good step is to make note not to but clothing that contain the following fabrics (unless sustainably made using recycled materials): polyester, acrylic, nylon, viscose or rayon.
2. When purchasing anything new focus on buying from sustainable and ethical and items made of fabrics including: linen, organic cotton, recycled polyester (for active and outerwear), upcycled textiles, tencel and organic/sustainable silk.
3. Buy secondhand – A great way to keep clothes out of landfills is to buy used clothing. Beyond hrift shopping, there are lots of online options for secondhand now as well including ThredUp, Etsy, eBay, Poshmark , The Real Real, and Vestiaire Collective.
4. Wash only when really necessary. I love this advice from St. Roche.

There are lots of sustainable brands – and the list is growing.

Featured here is St. Roche. I love what Sue, the founder and designer, has to say about their ethos and sustainability practices.

Where to manufacture is determined by the raw materials used and the artisanal skills involved. We aim to use fabrics and yarn sourced as close as possible to where our clothes are produced. 85% of the collection is made in India where two thirds of the world’s organic cotton is grown. All of our knits are made in Peru from locally sourced Alpaca yarn. We choose our manufacturing partners very carefully only working with small factories, either family or women run businesses, that are ethical and compliant. Our supply chain is short and transparent. Sue travels to India twice a year to see first-hand how and where our clothes are being made. Sharing a vision with who we work with is a high priority.

St Roche– Responsibly designed and made, fusing traditional handcrafted details, original textile design and a relaxed femininity.

Everybody Everyone – Innovative, sustainable fashion with a focus on maximizing the life of clothes. Perfect quarantine wear. Love their matching sets.

Girlfriend Collective – Activewear made from recycled polyester

Mate the Label – Organic cotton tees and linen basics.

Patagonia – Consistently an industry leader in ethical and sustainable active and outerwear.

Sézane – Sezane, the eponymous French fashion brand, are employing a huge range of sustainable materials; you can also see production information about each item on their individual pages.

Threads 4 Thought – Sustainable activewear brand using recycled polyester and organic cotton fabrics.

Dos Gardenias Swimwear – Sustainable swim brand using recycled and organic textiles.

Discounts to some incredible sustainable brands can be found here