By Wes Covey
Good news in the fashion industry: green is in, not only as a color but as a way of thinking as well. That’s right, fashion is making a shift toward sustainability.
The fashion industry is one of the five biggest contributors to global pollution. The average garment goes through 101 steps before being wearable—ranging from the harvesting of materials through weaving, dyeing, cutting, sewing, and so on. That means there are 101 opportunities to make each garment more sustainable.
The fashion industry causes pollution in many ways, but the recent craze for “fast fashion” is one of the most harmful. Fast fashion refers to clothing that is created quickly and at a low cost, based on trends of the moment as opposed to more timeless styles. Think “fast food:” it is quick and cheap and does the job of filling you up, but generally at a high hidden cost, both to your arteries and on factory farms. Fast fashion also certainly has its benefits: clothing is inexpensive, stylish and widely available, and you feel good about being up on the newest looks.
The problem, however, is reflected in these benefits: the clothing is cheap, in cost and in quality. It is likely to be made in a sweatshop, where people (often very young) work in unsafe conditions to put out new styles as quickly as possible. The fashions also go out as quickly as they come in. Between the low-quality of the garment and the immediacy of the next fashion craze, some “fast fashion” consumers will discard their clothing to swap out the latest in as little as a month. And those who tend to wear clothing longer and buy fast fashion for its bargain pricing find these items wear out not too long after that.
So what’s a fashion-forward shopper with a conscience to do? Luckily, the options are many and expanding as the issue of fast fashion comes more to light—and they don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.
Buy American-made: though “made in America” does not necessarily mean made chemical-free and of lasting quality, it at least has been produced with higher labor standards and has traveled shorter distances to reach your wardrobe. If paying for durability and quality is simply not in your budget, buying American can be a more accessible option. (And many more mainstream and affordable American-made companies, like American Apparel and Pact Organic, offer organic cotton).
Shop consignment/thrift: it’s a great way to create your own look, save some money, and re-use what is often perfectly good and very well-made clothing.
Another great thing you can do to slow down your fashion needs is to have your clothing repaired instead of replacing it. Find a trusty tailor in your area, or learn to do-it-yourself! Many mainstream fabric stores offer lessons, as do some local businesses and fiber studios.
Buy “slow,” buy local: local food sometimes costs more, but is better for you and the environment. The same is true for clothing. Classic locally-owned companies like Rancourt & Co. shoemakers, David Wood Clothiers and South Street Linen focus on quality and lasting style; places like Rambler’s Way, a Maine clothing maker that uses local and organic fibers, and angelrox®, an organic bamboo fiber clothing line produced in Biddeford, emphasize the importance of consciously-sourced materials; and places like American Roots focus on workplace equality and employing New Americans. This is just the beginning—search around in your area, ask questions about how the clothing was made and where the materials come from, and you are sure to find some gems.
Despite the higher initial costs, better quality clothing will save you money in the long run. When you put more into your clothes, you get more back as well. Not only will you look good, but you’ll be helping sustain natural resources for the next generation (who will be inspired by your effortless style!).
