Written by Weavabel, published 10/05/19 19:16
It’s thought that year on year, over 80 billion pieces of clothing are made. That’s a lot of materials being created which are undoubtedly harmful to the planet due to the mass amount of natural resources used, and pollution and waste being produced as a result.
Sustainable fashion materials would be the ideal solution to remedy this and luckily, yes, they do exist. Modern shoppers are being drawn to businesses who are willing to aid the environment rather than harm it - so there’s definitely a market to appeal to.
This post will cover everything you need to know about sustainable fashion materials, whether they exist and how they can make the industry a lot more eco-friendly.
We’ll cover:
- What are Sustainable Fashion Materials?
- Is the Current Fashion Industry Eco-Friendly?
Is the Fashion Industry Being as Eco-Friendly as it Can Be?
As an industry, fashion is worth billions. Clothing brands and manufacturers source materials from across the world and usually look for the best deals in terms of price and quality. But whilst businesses are keeping up with the latest trends and sourcing their materials, they can actually be harming the environment.
So, no, the industry isn’t being as eco-friendly as it could be.
The main root of the issue is the size and demand of the fashion industry. The industry itself is massive and extremely fast-paced, therefore demand will be high and the damage made to the environment can be widespread.
When consumers are buying fashionable clothes, they often don’t think about the impact that it may have on the environment. They just want to look good.
But brands and manufacturers should care because they’re the ones who are able to take the lead in looking out for the environment. They’re the ones who can ensure our products are being produced in the most sustainable, environmentally friendly way possible and make them available for consumers to buy. And thus, spreading the eco-friendly spirit.
What Can Be Done?
With climate change happening at a quicker rate than ever and more people being aware of the effects of it, manufacturers can take precautions and make small changes in order to help the industry become more eco-friendly.
Fashion is considered to be one of the most harmful industries, but that’s changing - and quickly. Many buyers realise the damage that unsustainable materials have on the environment. There is a change of thinking now when sourcing fabrics and garments.
Just as people are becoming more conscious of what they eat and becoming vegetarian or vegan, more are becoming conscious of the clothing they buy – is it sustainably made? Are eco-friendly fabrics used?
So, What Sustainable Fashion Materials are There?
Fashion isn’t a completely unsustainable industry; there are sustainable materials that can make the whole production process more eco-friendly. As a manufacturer, if you want to start targeting consumers that are conscious of the environment, then some of the materials you should be incorporating into your latest releases include:
Linen
Linen is a plant-based fabric that is popular, particularly with summer outfits. Conventional linen is often processed by soaking the flax crop in waterways or rivers, which means that a lot of pollutants are making their way into the water. This obviously isn’t good.
However, linen can also be farmed in a more environmentally friendly way.
Dew-retting and enzyme-retting are the more eco-friendly ways to farm linen. These two ways can be carried out on rough terrain that’s unsuitable for food production. Therefore, there’s no risk of harming the food we eat with different chemicals that could be potentially dangerous.
Plus, the chemicals used could be permanently harmful if used on the wrong terrain.
Cotton
Cotton can be found in all different garments. From sweatshirts to underwear, cotton is a super versatile material that’s in high demand across the globe.
When the time comes for people to dispose of their clothes, they can do so in a way that won’t harm the environment.
Organic cotton farming is carried out globally. Farm land is treated to remove any toxins and sufficient time is given to cleanse the land. Fertilizers and pesticides are not used and the cotton plants are not genetically modified.
The process is reduces pollution and water contamination due to removing the chemicals and pesticides from the growing process. Grown globally also helps reduce the carbon footprint.
We can produce your branded woven labels using organic cotton. It is a skin friendly material and is certified.
Polyester
Another main play in the clothing industry is polyester. It can be found in 60 percent of clothing, but why? Well, it’s popular due to its stretchiness, comfort and overall durability.
Polyester is a plastic that’s manufactured from crude oil, which means that in every wash microfibres are being released into waterways, which isn’t good.
However, polyester can be created from recycled plastic which is much more sustainable for the environment. Many manufacturers are currently using recycled plastic from bottles to add to their polyester.
100% Recycled Polyester Yarn can be used to produce your woven labels. Full tractability is available upon request. We can provide you with details of where the yarn is produced and details of what it is made from.
Can Tags, Badges and Tickets Take Your Clothing to the Next Level?
Now you’ve seen that by utilising sustainable fabrics in your clothing, you’re targeting a new group of people that are conscious about the environment, which is great! But is that going to be enough to take your clothing to the next level and boost sales?
Well, there are plenty of different sustainable garment branding solutions that will promote your company. We’ve created an all-in-one guide that covers everything you need to know about adding a powerful finish to your garments.
Download it free below.
