Sustainable Fashion and its Benefits in Today's World

Organic Cotton is one of the raw materials mostly used by sustainable fashion designers.

Fashion is all around us. What began as a means of survival and “covering up” has evolved into a form of art and a representation of beauty and self-expression. Runway shows, magazines, and clothing brands have made sure to continuously evolve the trajectory of fashion—so much so that it’s sometimes hard to guess what is coming next. ​

Right now, it’s sustainable fashion. Sustainability is a big deal in today’s world, so it’s no surprise that many fashion companies are trying to evolve their missions in order to incorporate an eco-friendly approach. Not to mention, there are plenty of new companies that are solely focused on sustainable fashion. It’s a niche field, and it’s worth every ounce of effort in order to keep this Earth safely spinning around. 

What is sustainable fashion? 

It’s just what it sounds like. Green strategy defines it as “clothing, shoes and accessories that are manufactured, marketed and used in the most sustainable manner possible, taking into account both environmental and socio-economic aspects.” This means the clothing is eco-friendly throughout its entire life cycle—from selecting resources to the physical labor involved in creating the clothing pieces. 

We can break down sustainable fashion into two categories: brands and consumers. Both of these parties play critical roles in the market, and they interact with each other in order to keep the economy running. With sustainable fashion, as a growing and evolving field, it’s important that both the brands and the consumers know the roles they play so that they can make an impact. 

Brands make an impact by spreading awareness, taking an eco-friendly approach, and creating clothing lines that will not negatively impact the environment. Consumers make the conscious decision to purchase sustainable clothing items that will benefit the Earth in the long run. 

Benefits

There are countless benefits to sustainable fashion, so here are a few noteworthy ones:

• Reduced amount of pesticides. Most clothing is made from cotton or contains traces of cotton, which requires a lot of pesticides. Eco-friendly clothing reduces the use of pesticides significantly. 
• Animal rights. Eco-friendly clothing never uses the fur or parts of animals, whereas non-environmental clothing often results in the death of animals in order to use their fur. 
• High quality, unique clothes. It’s less likely that you’ll be caught wearing the same outfit as someone else with sustainable clothing, as it’s known for being different and unique than most mainstream brands. 

The image of sustainable fashion

How are consumers influenced? Marketing, advertising, social media, and photography are among many of the factors that impact consumer buying decisions. Photography especially has become a strong, useful tool to inspire consumers to choose ethical fashion brands. A simple image shows buyers that clothing can be practical, trendy, and appealing even when it’s made with the environment in mind. What people once thought was impossible is completely possible, and an image can encapsulate just how much one can impact the Earth with thoughtful purchases. 

With sustainable clothing, every day is Earth day. It’s something to be celebrated, and it’s something to take pride in. Not everyone is on the bandwagon yet, but the environment will reap the benefits because of those who are pushing for this movement. You have to get dressed every morning anyway, so why not benefit your environment while you’re at it?