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As beautiful summer days return to the Northern Hemisphere, you may want to refresh your wardrobe. The appeal of a total “new you” is omnipresent and bureaucracy is the basis of many successful marketing campaigns.
This is because as the weather changes and more time is spent outdoors, you may want lighter summer clothing. However, before you start in H
To sustainably enrich your wardrobe, you need to consult your wishes and take the time to buy each piece to understand how and where it was made: the antithesis of fast fashion that has come to dominate global food shopping trends.
With these 4 tips you can build a more sustainable wardrobe.
Fast fashion refers to the immediate production and distribution of clothing to reflect the latest trends. Since the early 1990s, technological advances, falling production costs, and streamlining chains have particularly shortened fashion cycles. Today, garments can be manufactured and sold to consumers at low prices. It costs just a few weeks after its design.
Just a few decades ago, two seasons (fall/winter and spring/summer) were not unusual in the Western fashion industry. Nowadays, some stores offer dozens of small seasons depending on the year. This constant mix of trends is pushing consumers to upgrade. their wardrobes encouraging disposability.
Although in the pocket, the consequences of the fast fashion industry are innumerable. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the global textile and apparel sector, governed by fast fashion, is responsible for 2 to 8% of all global carbon emissions and 9%. of annual pollutants of microfibers from the oceans.
In addition, fast fashion consumes around 215 trillion liters of water per year, the equivalent of 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. In addition, workers are exploited in inhumane situations for a pittance while shareholders pocket skyrocketing profits.
In reaction to those criticisms, a growing number of fast-fashion brands, such as H
However, the pervasiveness of greenwashing in the fashion industry makes it difficult to say that those claims carry any weight.
In the face of such serious concerns, how can we expect to make sustainable purchases?
The first step, and in many cases the most important, is to dedicate yourself to slowing down the process of creating one’s own fashion by adopting sustainable fashion and buying ethically to curb overproduction and overconsumption.
1. Buy less, buy more: While it’s preferable from a sustainability standpoint to forgo grocery shopping or opting for second-hand items instead of buying new products, those answers aren’t possible. So, check to buy less and higher quality. pieces from brands concerned about sustainability. Paying attention to where and what you buy can help limit the negative environmental and social effects of your clothing purchases.
However, most fashion stores do not cover the entire supply chain and therefore cannot guarantee the sustainability of their clothing. This means that consumers want to be diligent when buying food and make informed decisions for themselves.
Recycling and renting clothes are valid options, however, it should be noted that textile recycling can be expensive and not without environmental effects in terms of materials and carbon footprint.
If you opt for a clothing rental service, avoid online facilities that rely on delivery. Similarly, if you’ll have to buy your garments online, avoid fast fashion sites like Temu and buy directly from brands you trust.
2. Repair, reuse, and recycle: Extending the life of garments by wearing them for several years and mending them as needed, rather than throwing them away, can also be a wonderful way to reduce the environmental footprint of your wardrobe. Even paying to have a professionally repaired pair of jeans will likely be much less expensive than buying a new one, saving you money in the long run.
Patagonia, a California-based equipment retailer, encourages consumers to “repair, reuse, and recycle” items. They practice what they preach, using, among other things, fabrics made from recycled bottles since 1993.
The French government recently introduced a national program to subsidize the repair of garments and shoes in an effort to reduce the amount of discarded clothing. Check to see if your region has systems, and if not, request that they be created.
3. Choose herbal fibers: Opt for herbal fibers such as organic cotton, linen, silk, hemp, and bamboo. Ideally, the clothing should be sustainable, made locally and with fair trade and sustainably sourced herbal materials.
While plant fibers are ideal for everyday use, high-performance artificial fabrics are a must in sportswear or outerwear that is water-resistant and able to withstand the elements. Recycled fabrics and other “circular” production processes should be sought out for those desires whenever possible.
4. Choose undeniable and evergreen garments: Clothing, such as jeans, deserves to be worn for as long as imaginable and made from safe, recycled or renewable materials. The design of the garment should also be minimalist. For example, old jeans require the use of various poisonous chemicals to give them a worn look.
Get rid of ever-changing trends, such as the ephemeral Regencycore or Barbiecore, and slowly add them to your wardrobe. Make sure the item you buy fits well with your current lifestyle.
In today’s world of fast-selling fashion, it can be easy to feel defeated or discouraged by the relative lack of sustainable options. However, it is imaginable to expand your wardrobe in a sustainable way by wondering about your desires and taking the time to buy each piece to perceive how and where it was made.
Over time, you even value a small, well-organized wardrobe with timeless garments that you can wear for years, not just a few weeks.
Maryse Côté-Hamel is an Assistant Professor of Consumer Sciences at Laval University.
This article was first published on The Conversation.