A hot topic in the fashion world today within our classrooms, our major houses and companies, and us as the consumers is sustainability. Many people have come forward with concerns and hopes for the future after the shocking revelations of how much waste is currently in our global fashion industry. We use and throw away billions of pounds of fabric each year and the production of these garments total to billions of tons of water being wasted and our natural ponds and lakes ruined with dyes and plastics. The harsh truth of our damage to the planet has caused many people to pay attention, and now we’re trying to make a change.
Sustainable fashion is fashion that would lessen our load, use techniques in the design and sewing process that would result in less fabric waste, encourages the consumer to shop responsibly, using materials that are less harmful to the environment, and so much more. The ongoing rise of thrifting is a key player in this new era of sustainability, encouraging us to repurpose and reuse donated goods and keeping them out of our landfills. Also, fashion schools are adapting to new techniques such as using software to plan out your pattern pieces and demos first before making a physical one to avoid multiple rough drafts and more fabric and paper wasted. Fashion design students are hit with challenges of sustainable designs, reusing fabric scraps, no sew items, and so much more to keep getting better and more creative in this industry while limiting the waste. Some companies, big and small, have become more transparent about their fabrics, where they get them, and how they’re made. They’re using more natural fabrics instead of plastics and have created programs and missions to further their sustainable journeys.
We had a slow start, but at least there are plans and an action in progress. No matter where you fall, we all play a role and need to play our part in this push for sustainability. Do your research as a consumer, designer, business owner, and understand what fabrics and dye processes are most harmful and what to avoid in general. If we all work together, we will be in a better, and more sustainable world, hopefully soon!