Why would a label or a brand want to become more sustainable?
Making a fashion brand more sustainable is more important than ever these days. First of all, it’s good for this big beautiful ball we live on as well as it is good for the bottom line…$$$$. According to the GlobalWebIndex (2018) 61% of Minnellials (ages 22-35) are more likely to purchase items that are more sustainable and eco-friendly. There are many things a brand can do to be more sustainable and eco-friendly, however here 5 things you can implement NOW.
1. Know your SUPPLY CHAIN and be transparent
To make your label and brand more sustainable you must know your supply chain. Evaluate your supply chain from the virgin fabrics you buy all the way to the customer. Where are your fabrics, buttons and zippers coming from? What are they made out of and who made your product? The impact of the choices we make is not only about the environment but is also about the surrounding communities that are located close to the factories. Communicate this with your customers!
2. Choose SUSTAINABLE FABRICS
Try and buy sustainable fabrics. Educate yourself on the different global impact textiles have. The differences in fabrics are mind-blowing. When you cannot find accredited fabrics you can choose fibers that have a more minimal cost to the environment and the community.
For instance using organic cotton vs non organic cotton or Tensel vs. Viscose.
3. Source and manufacture LOCALLY
If you can manufacture in your own country, then do it. This not helps with the local economy, but it also minimizes the environmental stress that comes with shipping. A production supply chain might look like this: fiber is shipped from Malaysia to Japan to be made into fabric. Then the fabric ships from Japan to China for sewing, and the garments are then shipped to the USA. This is a long shipping process, with a huge carbon footprint!!
4. END USE / CIRCULARITY of product
Our landfills are filling up with last seasons clothes. We can choose to make better products with responsible materials that when they are discarded, they leave less environmental impact. How will the materials you select effect the environment when the buyer is done with them? Can they be recycled or re-purposed (like photo below)? If they end of in the landfill, how long will they last.
Have you heard of the concept of the
circular economy or circular fashion? This is when, during the design stage, the end life of the garment is considered. Designers must think about such questions such as can it be recycled into new fabric, or re-purposed, can it be rented out or up-cycled into another beautiful garment? At the design stage designers will consider the fabric type – whether it is low impact or not and how much pollution it will create during it’s manufacture.
So as a brand, choose fibers for your garments that create less pollution. This will help to make your brand and label more sustainable and eco-friendly. When creating the garment, try using zero waste patterns.These are patterns that create minimal waste! Can you utilize any of the waste to make other things, such as scarves or scrunchies? Think about how easy it will be to recycle or re-purpose your garment at the end of it’s life and figure out ways to make it easier for people to deal with the end of life of the garment. These are all considerations of making fashion circular. If you would like
circular fashion consultation assistance, we are here to help.
5. COMMUNICATE what sustainable measures you are taking
Have a Sustainability tab on your website for people to learn more! Tell them what you are doing. If you are using re-cycled packaging, let people know. If you use recycled tags or bags, let them know!!
If you are recycling at your workplace, or using zero waste patterns, or re-using waste fabric pieces, then tell the world. If you are trying to reduce your energy or you have meatless Mondays, tell the world.
Conducting a
sustainability assessment of your whole operation is a great option as well. A
sustainability assessment will help you find out where you are doing well and where…. well where you need some improvements. But – trust me you need to start. One step at a time is all you need.
Remember making a fashion brand more sustainable is more important than ever these days.
Moda Circolare @modacircolare /
www.modacircolare.com conducts sustainability assessments. If interested in a free initial assessment contact us.
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About the author:
Elizabeth cross is the founder and CEO of Moda Circolare, a sustainable fashion consulting agency. Moda Circolare, helps fashion and apparel brands embed sustainability into their current business strategies. Moda Circolare’s mandate is to help the fashion industry live in harmony with nature and they do this by working with clients conducting sustainability assessments, completing eco-certifications and improving their sustainability mandates.
