Clothes are something everyone owns, no matter their shopping habits. While some prefer to shop frequently to remain on top of fashion trends, others disregard this and shop only when absolutely necessary.
Since the advent of the internet, trends have been growing. The internet has also allowed for a boom in fast fashion, which has resulted in an increase in production to ensure the latest styles reach consumers as quickly and as cheaply as possible. While this is great news for fashion-lovers, the environmental impact of mass producing clothing cannot be overstated.
On average, the global fashion industry produces a whopping 100 billion garments annually, and this equates to approximately 14 garments per individual.
According to the Measuring Fashion: Insights from the Environmental Impact of the Global Apparel and Footwear Industries study, the fashion industry is predicted to increase its CO2 emissions by another 49% by 2030. This is equal to the US’ total contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
While there are some materials that are punted as being more durable and sustainable in the long-run, such as cotton, they are not always the most environmentally friendly. It takes over 400 gallons of water or 1514,16 litres of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt. A pair of jeans uses 1 800 gallons of water or 6813.741 litres in the production process.
As the public becomes more aware of how environmentally damaging producing clothing is, more people have adopted the attitude of shopping consciously.
Here are some simple tips on how you can shop sustainably and minimise your carbon footprint while doing so:
How many times will you wear a particular garment?
The function of clothing can range from being purchased for frequent or everyday wear, while some items are purchased for a once-off special occasion.
When shopping, ask yourself, “Will I wear this item at least 30 times?”
Livia Firth, the founder of Eco Age – an international company that verifies whether brands are truly sustainable and certifies them as such – recommends that one should only purchase a garment if you will get a minimum of 30 wears out of it.
Instead of purchasing a statement item that you are likely to wear only once, be creative and purchase something that can easily integrate into your wardrobe and can be styled in a number of ways.
Shed the shame, and purchase vintage or second-hand clothing
For many years, second-hand or vintage shopping was stigmatised, as many believed that it is something only low-income individuals do. While there should be no shame in shopping where you are able to do so, it was something onto which more affluent individuals looked down.
With the rise of awareness in fashion’s hand in environmental damage, this stigma is slowly being eradicated. Now thrifting is actually being recommended.
The average textile can take up to 200 years to decompose and thrifting for clothing can help in stopping garments from making their way to a landfill. Approximately 84% of garments make their way to landfills, according to Treehugger.
While thrifting can be a time-consuming process, online shopping can be the way to go. Many social media platforms now have an integrated online shopping component, and this makes it easier to buy from small businesses.
Shop for trans-seasonal items
Different seasons require different clothes. The bomber jacket you purchased in the heart of winter will not work during the summer months, but if you purchase wisely, you can make clothes work for you across seasons.
According to Harper’s Bazaar, it is smarter to invest in classic silhouettes and items of clothing that can be worn no matter the season.
Consider thrifting jeans, t-shirts, light jackets and classic dresses such as sheath, smock and slip dresses to carry your wardrobe through the year. Also consider which items can be layered to offer warmth and protection during the colder months.
Donate old clothes instead of tossing them
Above, we mentioned that the average textile takes at least 200 years to decompose. If you have clothes you no longer wish to wear, but are still in decent condition or need light repair, donate them to organisations that distribute them to the less fortunate. This saves those slightly outdated skinny jeans from ending up on a landfill, and they may just find a loving new owner.
Up-cycle and repair the clothing you want to keep
If you’ve been paying attention to the sustainable fashion conversation, you may have come across the term “up-cycling”. What exactly does this mean, you ask?
According to the Oxford Languages definition, it means to “reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original”.
Up-cycling clothing may take a bit of practice, but this is where YouTube becomes your friend. There are countless tutorials on how to reinvigorate your old clothing and give them new life by transforming them into a new garment altogether.
One of the more popular options is turning an oversized blazer into a cropped blazer and skirt combination. See the below example:
Up-cycling materials are not just limited to clothing
Up-cycling also allows one to become creative with the source of the textile you are using. Have an old duvet cover you don’t want on your bed anymore, but like the print? It can easily be transformed into a jacket or dress.
If you are handy with a sewing machine or willing to learn how to sew, this may be the perfect way to contribute to sustainable fashion while producing unique items of clothing.
Another popular way of up-cycling entails purchasing what is known as dead stock. This refers to stock that is not expected to sell. This can range from material to completed items such as handbags and hats.
If you have the financial means to purchase dead stock material, it provides the creative freedom to make clothes in your own unique designs in a print or textile that is no longer popular. This also prevents more textiles from finding their way into the trash.
Take good care of clothes, and repair them
Often, an item of clothing is tossed when it begins looking worse for wear. Taking care of clothing according to the care instructions found on the label will greatly increase the lifespan of that item. Try to get into the habit of repairing broken clothing, as this ensures that you do not have to toss that jacket if it is missing a button.
There are also creative ways of repairing clothing, such as embroidering interesting motifs onto a garment to close a hole and to breathe new life into it.
ALSO READ: Regenerative agri: Gucci driving a Mzansi fashion revolution
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain.
