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Reinventing Sustainable Fashion In 2021
We can all agree that a lot transpired in 2020. The pandemic completely changed what we considered ordinary, and compelled us to adopt newer ways of living. It also prompted a major shift in consumer buying behaviour. Ethical, socially conscious, and responsible apparel became a significant fashion trend; major clothing brands fast turned to sustainable and eco-friendly practices to stay competitive in the market. But, despite this trend and demand, a 2020 report by McKinsey (the Global Fashion Agenda and management consultants), found that the apparel industry’s greenhouse gas emissions makes up as much as 10 per cent of total global emissions, and are only expected to increase by about a third, to a shocking 2.7 billion tonnes a year, by 2030. Although major fashion brands now have sustainability and ethics as their frontrunners when it comes to how they position themselves in today’s competitive markets, it is unfortunate that a majority of customers cannot consume sustainable fashion due to the high value these garments are priced at.
However, there is a way around this predicament, too. If you’re looking to take a more sustainable route with your fashion choices, here are five of best practices that you can adopt without, burning a hole in your wallet. The ultimate goal here is to make sustainable fashion as a concept more accessible, while redefining the term ‘less is more’.
Reduce
Image source: @shutterstock
The trick here is to declutter. With over thousand tonnes of clothing winding up in landfills every day (according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency), this is one of the most effective ways to counter the rising carbon footprints. It is challenging and demands a change in one’s spending and hoarding habits. To determine what should you buy and what should go, useful questions to ask yourself are: ’Do I really need this?’ and ‘When did I last wear this?’ This will ensure you utilise everything you already own, and donate unused garments. This way, along with helping the planet, you will also notice a rise in your savings.
Image source: @shutterstock
You can donate your clothes to the below charities:
Repeat
The Duchess of Cambridge wearing L.K.Bennett in 2014 and again in 2016. Image source: Getty Images
The pandemic has marginally normalised repeating outfits. This has become one of the most endorsed fashion trends among celebrities like Michelle Obama, Kate Middleton, Deepika Padukone, Oprah, Meghan Markle and many more. Clothing and apparel manufacturing is one of the most exhaustive in terms of resource use such as water, energy, land, toxic materials, and much more, making reusing an essential aspect of minimising your fashion footprint. Instead of buying new clothes, dig deep into your closet and try new pairings and combinations to reinvent your outfits.
Repair And Upcycle
Image source: @shutterstock
Repairing, reinventing, and re-wearing is something that we know all too well from our grandmothers. So put on your designer hats and channel your inner creativity. Sewing up a hole in your garment, or getting the cobbler to sew new soles into your shoes could add a year to the lifespan of an item. This substantially decreases one’s carbon footprint. With a few patches and alterations, your local tailor can easily upcycle an old dress into a trendy top. Many local brands also offer these services.
Brands that upcycle your clothes:
Responsible Shopping
Image source: @shutterstock
If you do need to shop for new clothes, ditch fast fashion and follow a slow fashion approach, buy better quality garments that use eco-friendly and organic materials. These are known to last longer, and can be worn on various occasions.
Build your sustainable wardrobe here:
Anokhi (only available in stores)
Recycle
Now that we have decluttered our closet, it’s time to let go of those garments that cannot be salvaged or donated to a charity. Rather than trashing it in a landfill, look for textile recycling programmes. Donate it to clothing brands and organisations that recycle.
Donate to recycle here: