Fashion and Sustainability: Is Our Planet At Threat?

Over the past decade, the fashion industry has grown immensely. This development has been witnessed in many parts of the world and no doubt for those who run this industry, it has resulted in the revenue generation of hundreds and thousands of dollars. But is that it?

The answer is No.

The fast fashion industry is slowly leading towards the environmental destruction of our planet, contributing to climate change, global warming, and ozone layer depletion. At the same time, it is involved in a violation of basic human rights, especially among individuals who belong to marginalized communities living below the poverty line.

But how does this all happen and why?

To understand this, let's talk about the two key elements that have made fast fashion so unsustainable today.

i. Speed of production

ii. Intensity of demand

The fast fashion industry works on a volume-based production style, so manufacturers produce in bulk which helps them keep up with the insane demand and control their costs. But in this absolute craze of manufacturing, there is a great deal of wastage that takes place as the processes employed become inefficient.

Tons and tons of water is wasted in Dyeing and washing clothes. The waste produced as a consequence of the process inside industries is also dumped off near rivers and in open areas which then contributes to air pollution. The final product is then packaged in plastic which is then again mercilessly discarded away by consumers.

But the dilemma does not end here because the fashion industry is not just responsible for environmental destruction but also for putting at stake the integrity and well-being of the underprivileged.

How so?

It's simple. As mentioned earlier and as it is apparent anyway, the demand for the fashion industry is intense. This means that every single day thousands and thousands of clothes are to be made. From sewing to drying, and folding to dyeing , a lot of human resources are needed, even though most processes are machine based. As a consequence, workers employed in this industry can be overworked and kept in unhealthy conditions. Marginalized communities that constitute the jobless especially are exploited and paid minimum value in return for the services they render because paying them insufficient wages helps manufacturers keep up with competition by allowing them to cut down production costs.

Keeping all of this in mind, it is integral that the fashion industry changes. As a global community, we must step forward and demand for an end to conventional fashion practices and advocate for environmental peace.

If not, we will be left with a planet that would have become unfit for human survival. What are the sustainable alternatives?

Fashion does not always have to be this problematic. If done the right way, it will not put the survival of our planet at stake.

Here are some practices adopted by eco-fashion that work on the principles of sustainability and present the hope for a much greener fashion industry:

● Normalizing usage of recycled materials

● Controlling water wastage

● Reducing plastic usage

● Paying fair wages

● Eliminating usage of toxic dyes

We hope that this article has helped you understand how ethical and sustainable fashion practices are important for the well-being of our planet and how eco-fashion is the hope for a better tomorrow!

Together, let's pledge to be more sustainable for the sake of our planet!