By: Sarah Zitin
What is eco-fashion? “Eco–fashion is any brand or line that minimizes the negative impact on the environment, and considers the health of the consumers and the working conditions of the people who are making the clothes. There is also no such thing as a 100% eco-friendly piece of clothing, because all clothing takes water and energy.” We make allowances for companies that have the commitment, intention and take action towards sustainability. Since there is no 100%, we know that our eco-friendly vendors and those yet to be vendors are doing their best at maintaining a sustainable ethos.
Why Eco-Fashion?
It’s no wonder that companies, even big corporations, are becoming more eco-friendly in their daily practices. Eco-fashion is in high demand, particularly from Millennials who are concerned about their futures and that of the planet. Younger people, Gen Z, are the ones that are out in the streets marching for equality and sustainability. Greta Thunberg is a perfect example. She has rallied and encouraged young people to make it a household word and practice what they preach. They’re well aware of the issues of climate change, environmental degradation, lost habitats, rising sea levels and more, and want a better future for themselves and their children.
Is Eco-Fashion More Expensive?
In some instances, eco-fashion is more expensive than other clothing and accessories, but for the most part, there are so many ways in which to be creative about wearing eco-friendly clothing and living a more sustainable life. Recycled clothing, hand-me-downs from family or friends, DIY, mix and match, and shopping online for the best deals in eco-fashion are prevalent all over the internet. As sustainability has become more mainstream, more stores have implemented sustainable production – from sourcing of materials to the end result.
Fashion Forward
Fashion forward is a natural progression out of the “me” generation towards thinking about the “we.” If these past four years have taught us anything at all, it’s that the only way to achieve a healthy planet is to work together towards common goals. Now is the time for people to come together and live their values and evaluate what’s important to them and not take anything for granted.
Eco-fashion should be on the top of our list in making the world a better place. Eco-fashion means sourcing fabric, materials, work space, fair trade labor, transparency, circular economy and more. Circular Economy is an alternative to a traditional linear economy. It keeps resources in use for as long as possible, extracts the maximum value from them, then recovers and regenerates products and materials at the end of each service life. Want less, waste less!
Bottom Line
The planet is running low on resources, natural habitats, water, energy, and land. In a world that’s already overpopulated, this combination needs a major do-over! Sustainability is the new forward economy and movements are happening globally to push this agenda towards a viable future. That’s why eco-fashion has caught on like a wildfire and big-name brands are joining in on the ride – pushing their own agendas towards sustainability, which young people demand! They have the right idea, don’t they…
