Myths about Eco-friendly Fashion (Part 2)
Sustainability can be a complicated topic, especially when it has to do with fashion. The fashion industry has long revolved around keeping up with the trends, and excessive consumerism, and it’s high time we need to change that.
While the topic of sustainability seems to be on everyone’s lips these days, it’s hard to sift through what’s factual and what isn't. So here are some of the most common myths being circulated about sustainable fashion, and we’ve debunked them to help you perceive it in a new light.
If you haven’t read Part 1 of the series, check it out here!
Myth 5: Vegan Leather is Eco-friendly
The conversations revolving around vegan or alternative leather is very complicated, despite it being cruelty-free. While there are some amazing innovations on vegan leather such as cactus, pineapple, or even mushroom-based leather; the common practice in the fashion industry is using artificial materials like PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride). Such synthetic materials could take hundreds of years to decompose, and if that wasn’t bad enough, they emit significant amounts of pollutants like chlorines and dioxins. Chlorines contribute to the destruction of the Earth’s ozone layer. Greenpeace described dioxins as “one of the most toxic chemicals ever produced”.
The dangers of synthetic leathers aside, vegan leather is also at the center of controversy amongst environmentalists due to its conflicting nature. Animal lovers might rejoice at the thought of their handbags not made from the skin of their beloved animals, but we might have to think twice. We have to look closer into the composition of vegan leather to determine its sustainability.
Although vegan leathers can be broken down to a certain degree at the end of its lifecycle, the synthetics present within won’t fully biodegrade. Aside from the plant or bacteria-based component that makes up vegan leather, the base material is typically made with bio-plastic, which may not be 100% biodegradable always. Bioplastics generally only biodegrade under controlled lab conditions with industrial level facilities, which may or may not be replicated in real life. Most vegan leathers are also supplemented with additional chemicals for water-proofing, elasticity, durability, gloss, color etc.
Although vegan leather offers a promising alternative to animal or synthetic, petroleum-based leather, there is still much research to be done. It’s hard to claim that vegan leather is earth-friendly when the whole lifecycle is considered, from sourcing, production, finishing, to disposal, etc. Thus it is rather complicated to attribute sustainability to vegan leather per se, though we have high hopes that greener leather alternatives and innovations will emerge sometime in the near future.
Myth 6: Luxury Brands are More Sustainable
There seems to be a consensus that, the more expensive the garment, the more ecological it is, right? The money that consumers spend on premium brands must be going into sustainable material sourcing and production, and workers are paid fairly, right?
Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, as many luxury goods are produced in the same factories as fast-fashion brands. That means high-end labels are not any more sustainable nor ethical than discount or fast fashion brands. The problems that are present in those factories apply to luxury brands too: the same shoddy working conditions, exploitative workers’ rights, mismanaged wastewater system, and the list goes on.
Besides, some high fashion brands oftentimes use animal-based textile such as fur, genuine leather, reptile skin, cashmere and so on. Animal-based textile is coveted for their exoticism, prestige, and exclusivity. Handbags, coats, and other accessories made with exotic skin are generally considered as highly prized collectibles amongst elite fashionistas. Sadly, the perceived exoticism and beauty comes with a price that animals must pay. Thankfully, due to the outcry of animal rights activists and organizations, many high-end brands such as Chanel, Victoria Beckham, and many more have denounced the use of animal skins.
On the flip side, there are countless environmentally and ethically sound premium brands out there, or at least brands that are progressively innovating their supply chain and sourcing for sustainable raw materials. Brands such as Stella McCartney, Eileen Fisher, Mara Hoffman etc are dedicated towards incorporating sustainability at every step of their process, utilizing more low-impact means wherever possible. Underneath the facade of eco-friendliness and ethics, as consumers, we should do a little investigative homework on brands prior to purchasing them, as price doesn’t always dictate sustainability.
Myth 7: Sustainable Fashion is Boring and Ugly
There’s a common perception that sustainable fashion is basic, boring, and not trendy. That’s not true at all! While sustainable fashion places a large emphasis on well made basic essentials that can be worn over and over again, there are some sustainable brands out there that caters towards fashion forward clienteles.
Brands such as Reformation, Doen, Thought, People Tree etc offer a myriad of styles, trends, and prints, for any season and occasion. Sophisticated and minimal, or bold and flamboyant; these brands certainly have something to offer to any taste or personality.
Or you can opt for pre-loved clothes shopping instead of purchasing something new. You could be spoilt for choice as there’s a plethora of styles in the pre-loved market, from high-end consignments to second-hand fast fashion. According to ThredUp, giving a dress a second life could reduce its CO2e impact by 79%! Now imagine if everyone did the same, circulating the same garment till the end of its lifecycle, wouldn’t that be nice?
Thrift and vintage shops are another treasure trove of unique, one-of-a-kind pieces, minus the environmental impact. You can be pretty sure that no one will be wearing the same outfit as you when it’s vintage or thrifted, and you’re doing the planet a favor!
Myth 8: Consumers are powerless to change things
This perception that consumers don’t have the power to steer an industry’s direction is false. As a consumer, you have more power than you think, as where your money goes dictate which brands are successful and which ones aren’t.
Rather than purchasing on the basis of say, bargain prices, sales, trendiness etc, we should question every piece and every brand regarding their ethics.
Do you know where the manufacturer sources their fabrics?
Who made your clothes?
Are they paid a fair living wage?
If we demand honesty and transparency from brands, brands will comply and try to make positive changes within the industry. Besides, overconsumption is also something we can change. Maybe if everyone purchases less, or opt for second-hand apparels, brands will get the message and slow down the whopping 52 season a year cycle of production.
The takeaway is, every penny we spent on brands matters, so why don’t we put our money where our ethics are, or just consume a little less and take good care of what we already own?
Hopefully this article helped in clarifying some misconceptions, and has cleared your doubts of sustainable fashion.
The most important thing to note, is that sustainability is a journey rather than an end goal. A journey of constantly needing to adapt to changing situations, to shift our mindsets, to realign ourselves and our community to be more functional with nature.
If you’re ready to hop on the sustainability train, look no further! Let us know your needs and specifications here, and we’ll schedule a consultation to work it out!
