PLANET

The fashion business is a growing industry. A growing industry, however, results in an increased demand for garments made through non-renewable sources. Meaning, that as it grows so do global concerns for environmental pollution and calls to green activism and sustainability. Planet, one of the four pillars of the fashion business, requires us to study and understand the impact of the industry on the environment and how further harm can be mediated by ensuring garments are safely returned to the ecosystem. With the current state of the industry, there is no such thing as sustainable fashion although many brands claim to be “green”.  This is an act of greenwashing, making false claims or misleading information about a business’s impact on the environment. To commit to sustainability, new structures and systems must be put in place.

Circularity or Circular economy is the regenerative process that entails the reuse and maintenance of garments until they reach their lifecycle, which includes the initial design and manufacturing processes to distribution, consumer use, and eventual disposal. This creates a closed-loop system that ensures a reduction in energy consumption and waste minimisation. “By embracing circular practices, […] the fashion industry can break free from the linear model of production and consumption.” Gwilt (2020)

Amid the climate change crisis, sustainability concerning fashion has forefronted discussions in the industry due to its irreparable damage to the planet. The $ 2.5 trillion fashion industry produces 20 per cent of global water waste and 10 per cent of global carbon emissions. According to Allwood et al, water is depleted for crop cultivation, textile processing and laundering, and some of these processes pollute our waterways with chemicals (Allwood et al. 2006).

One SDG that has relevance to the industry is ‘Good health and well-being’ as each part of the industry is dependent on people. Environmental benefits aside, mitigating the negative impacts of a wasteful industry also headlines the social welfare of people as the state of the planet directly affects its inhabitants. For example, cheap fast fashion and overconsumption come at the expense of third-world workers with little to no rights: and in some cases, the exploitation of children. “In many factories, long hours, low wages, and dangerous working conditions are the norm,” (Finn, Angela L. (2007)). This sheds light on the harsh realities faced by workers in the fashion industry, highlighting the need for ethical practices and improved working conditions.

References

Finn, A. L. (2007). Ethical fashion: The human stories driving a fashion movement. In Fashion in Fiction: A Transdisciplinary Conference.

Gwilt. (2020). A practical guide to sustainable fashion (Second edition.). Bloomsbury Visual Arts.