Sustainability is becoming more and more relevant. People are becoming aware of the consequences of climate change and are taking action. Roofs are starting to get covered with solar panels and cars are turning electric. In the last couple of years, sustainable fashion has become a central aspect in the world of fashion. Who benefits from sustainable clothing? What is sustainability? And which fabric is sustainable? Curious? Do read on!
Who benefit from sustainable clothing?
The planet: Climate change slows down when environmentally friendly materials and production techniques are being used.
Workers: Every worker has the right to work in healthy and save conditions.
You: It feels great to wear clothing that fits well and contributes to a sustainable future.
What is sustainability?
Sustainability means that the environment is not burdened by a process. This means that clothes must be produced in an environmentally friendly way. Want to know which brands are recognised as sustainable brands? Click here to fill in a brand and see whether or not it is sustainable.
Working conditions are a big part of sustainable production. Many clothes are produced in Asian countries like China, Bangladesh and India. These countries have become popular due to their low working wages. Many companies have moved their production to Asia in order to save money on employee costs. The result of these low wages is that the working conditions are often well below par. Workers often work long days for little money and the working environment is often poor. These days, regulations have been adjusted somewhat and more control is enforced in working places. Even though the problem is being tackled, poor working conditions are still reality for many workers in developing countries.
Sustainable fabric
A big difference between regular and sustainable clothing is the fabric. Many garments are made from cotton. The cotton plant, however, needs a lot of water and soil nutrition to grow. The soil is therefore often replaced with fertilizer. Because of this, cotton has a big impact on the environment. Clothes made of sustainable fabric are less damaging to the environment. An example of such a fabric is hemp. Hemp does not need fertilizer to grow. Another sustainable fabric is elastane, which is a sustainable synthetic fibre. A lot of clothing is made with a cotton/elastane blend, for the elastane provides a natural stretch.
Regular clothing vs. sustainable clothing
One big difference between regular clothing and sustainable clothing is the friendliness of it. Friendliness and respect for the environment and the worker. This is often a grey area where regular clothing production companies are concerned. When a company puts a sustainability label on their clothes, they assure consumers that they are making a positive contribution to the environment. The big financial difference is that sustainable clothing is more expensive than regular clothing. This is because a sustainable production process requires a larger investment, which also can be viewed as an investment for the future. An example of a sustainable brand is Eton.
Has this article tickled your interest for shirts and other pieces of clothing that have been produced in a sustainable way? Then have a look at the website overhemden.com. Most brands that are sold at this website have been produced in a sustainable way.
