5 Ways to Make Your Fashion Brand More Sustainable
Consumption of new, inexpensive clothes has driven the fashion industry for years, but recently, in light of the pandemic, the fashion industry has faced a few challenges. Sustainability and environmental consciousness are cultivating a new generation of consumers that demand greener solutions. Brands, designers, and fashion powerhouses are rethinking fast fashion in terms of preserving the environment by modifying their practices.
As fashion manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, and brands, there are many things you can do to go green. Here are some of the best things to start with.
Create sustainable, lasting designs. Focus on producing high-quality, timeless pieces that won’t fade out next season. With the right choice of materials, construction, and cut, your garments can last for years.
Use sustainable materials. Oil-based polyester may be tempting in terms of price and durability, but it has an unacceptably high carbon footprint and can take hundreds of years to decompose. Ditch synthetic materials in favour of sustainably grown or recycled cotton, linen, or Tencel, and choose deadstock or surplus fabrics to benefit from a reduced price while saving them from ending up in landfills.
Go ‘cruelty-free’ for animals. Get inspiration from sustainable fashion pioneers. Stella McCartney, for example, never uses fur, feathers, or leather in her collections. Instead, she’s been successfully experimenting with cruelty-free alternatives, such as Mylo – a vegan leather grown from mycelium, the underground root structure of a mushroom. Cactus leather is another biodegradable and cruelty-free option to consider.
Ensure ethical labor practices. Try to manufacture locally to reduce your carbon footprint and make sure that ethical labor practices are in place. If you chose manufacturing facilities abroad, sign a code of conduct to prevent child labor that guarantees workers are in the legal working age, receive a living wage, and work in healthy, sanitary conditions.
Adopt compostable packaging. Once your environmentally friendly garments are ready for delivery, pack the items in fully compostable resealable or zipper bags that will protect the garments just like conventional plastic would. Compostable packages biodegrade in compost conditions just like organic waste. Use and reuse recycled boxes, and make sure they are shipped only when full.
Offer post-purchase product care. Educate your consumers on how to take the best care of their new garments. If possible, provide a repair service, and offer the option to return used garments in their original compostable packaging. Then, make sure that they get properly upcycled and/or composted.
If you want to give compostable packaging a try but can’t commit to high quantities of custom-made packaging, you can explore TIPA’s stock program for fashion packaging. Whatever your volumes are, you can now go compostable without compromising on quality and sustainability.
