Sustainable fashion is the way out

Fashion is said to account for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The pandemic outbreak has only increased the need for sustainable clothing. Imagine that you bought expensive shoes just a few months before, but they are now worn out. You have no choice but to purchase a new pair.

Fashion is said to account for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The pandemic outbreak has only increased the need for sustainable clothing.

Imagine that you bought expensive shoes just a few months before, but they are now worn out. You have no choice but to purchase a new pair. Do you feel like replacing things because they wear out quickly? It’s not just you. It’s just the way things are made. They are designed to be thrown away. Consumerism is a major influence on the “throw-away society.” The term “throw away” is used to describe a criticism of excessive consumption and production of disposable goods over durable products that can be repaired. [1]

A linear model is the most common way to manufacture almost anything in the world. This model involves sourcing raw materials from one place, transporting them to a production unit, processing them, and then shipping the finished product to the seller. It is bought, used, and then thrown away by the customer. Approximately 99 percent (or more) of what we believe will end up in landfills.

We humans generate 2,12 billion tonnes of waste every year. The textile and apparel industries are a good example of the problems with this system.

The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions due to its extensive use of resources. The fashion industry is the second most polluting in the world. A single tee shirt or pair of jeans can require up to 20,000 liters of water. According to reports, the industry emits more carbon dioxide than both international flights and shipping by sea combined. The industry is said to emit more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined.

It is, therefore, necessary to adopt a circular production model in which products are designed so that the maximum amount of discarded goods can be recovered through recycling, refurbishing, or repairing. It is based on principles such as zero-waste, extended product life, resource recovery, and repair services.

Recently, the topic of sustainability has become more popular, and people are making conscious efforts to protect the environment. The concept of thrifting, or buying used clothes, is also growing in popularity. We can bring about greater change if we stop mass-producing clothes and abandon the “fast fashion mentality.”

Sustainable fabric is a new trend. They can be either well-designed, high-quality materials that last a long time, or they can demonstrate the advantages of using environmentally friendly materials like hemp, bamboo, organic cotton, and khadi.

Fashion designers are already exploring the possibilities of biodegradable fabrics made from materials such as algae, mycelium, fungi, bacteria, etc., which, when thrown out, decompose into nontoxic substances. This is because they can be grown in molds, and the designer only produces the fabric needed.

Many of these materials are available locally; they can even be grown in your own home.

Scoby is a symbiotic culture that combines bacteria and yeast. The production is extremely simple. Sweet tea and kombucha, a fermented beverage, are fermented together. A layer forms on top due to the presence of bacteria and yeast. This is removed, and when dried, the material looks like leather. This material is biodegradable, customizable, and cost-effective. It is dyed with organic dyes, which are free from toxic chemicals.

Suzanne Lee of New York, director of the BioCouture project, is actively working to make sustainable fabric out of kombucha. She produces clothing using microbial cellulosic (made up of millions of bacteria that are grown in baths of sweet green tea). The idea is that a dress can be produced in a liquid.

We have lost thousands of jobs due to the coronavirus epidemic. Local vendors, artisans and craftsmen, weavers and tailors, small businesses, and other local business owners make up a large part of this group. In these difficult times, it is vital to “speak up for local.” It has many benefits for all involved. It pays workers and provides for their basic needs.

Second, handwoven fabrics are produced by hand on a handloom. They do not use electricity and produce no pollution. Weavers can reduce waste and adopt sustainable practices by using these methods.

Consumers drive fashion. We must be conscious consumers and reconsider its impact on Earth and its diminishing resources. It may be impossible for us to resist the desire to buy new clothes. We can at least make sure that we purchase clothes that are durable, ethically sourced, and sustainable.