Fast Fashion can be defined as a model of mass-producing cheaply made, “of-the-moment” items that are sold at a lower price point. A capsule wardrobe is a logical selection of clothing that you not only love to wear, but that is practical and versatile. Sustainable Fashion This term usually means eco-friendly practices in the fashion industry, referencing the approach of designing, producing and consuming clothes that respect the planet by causing little to no damage, and therefore sustaining the environment. If you’re interested in minimalism but are starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the whole process, then capsule wardrobes are a good place to start! It’s about ensuring the fashion industry both creates good and avoids harm, whether to people, the planet, or animals. Minimalism can also be applied to style: having straightforward, essential, often monochromatic pieces, so your style is as streamlined as possible. Green fashion, ethical fashion, fair fashion, sustainable fashion? It comprises addressing the whole system of fashion. It’s not about having nothing; it’s about having less. Organic refers to raw materials that are not genetically modified (GM), and have been grown without any chemical pesticides and insecticides. But carbon offsetting is not that simple, and sadly is not a miracle solution to climate change! Though the trend tends to lean on if a brand to Transparency is the practice of openly sharing information about how, where, and by whom a product was made. In fact, on average, a whopping 9 million synthetic microfibres go down the drain in an average load of washing in Europe! In Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Indonesia, for example, typical wages are only one quarter to one half of what a worker needs for a decent life. Second-hand refers to clothes that have been pre-loved, that have had a previous owner and that were donated or resold. As a result, organic materials, and especially organic cotton, are becoming popular. How can you stop microplastics from going down the drain? Minimalism is about stripping back the unnecessary, leaving only the things that provide you with real value and joy. Fashion-forward also refers to people who have their fashion game right and know what will become a trend in the near future. Read more about fair trade and what it means for the fashion industry, typical wages are only one quarter to one half of what a worker needs for a decent life, Here’s everything you need to know about the impact of a living wage for garment workers, What you need to know about the day that ignited an ethical fashion revolution. You may have come across mentions of diversity or inclusivity in the ethical fashion sphere. Fast Fashion brands are incredibly cheap and have been associated with overproduction, waste, deplorable working conditions and terrible environmental impact. It is about re-using and re-purposing old items to make something new, like using old bedsheets to make a face mask. It is worth noting, however, that cruelty-free doesn’t always mean vegan, so if you want your clothes and accessories entirely animal-free, don’t rely on this as the standard! Account; Checkout; Wishlist – Menu It has been created by Condé Nast, in partnership with the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, London College of Fashion, University of Arts London. Ethical fashion. Greenwashing is when a company gives a false impression that its products are more ethical and sustainable than they really are. It’s based partly on William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s Cradle to Cradle design philosophy (they wrote a book about it, which I highly recommend). Circular fashion moves away from the traditional take-make-dispose business model. Fair trade refers to a general movement that seeks greater equity in international trade and promotes sustainable development. When you discover sustainable fashion, a whole new world of possibilities opens up before your very eyes. Fashion Revolution is a global movement that believes in a fashion industry that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measure. Being transparent means publishing all information about every actor involved in the production process, from start to finish, from the fields to the store shelves. Ethical fashion, sustainable fashion, eco-friendly, organic, fair trade, vegan… what do they all mean?! It forms a key part of the toxic system of overproduction and consumption that has made fashion one of the largest polluters in the world. For example, some brands have turned plastic bottles into yarn to make fleece sweaters or coats. We talk about cruelty-free fashion when referring to a product (usually cosmetics) that has not been tested on animals. Sustainable fashion also focuses on extending the life of clothes, using recycled materials and recycling in general. Upcycling – is taking an item that is no longer needed or wanted and giving it new life as something that is either useful or creative. Minimalism has become popular recently thanks to Marie Kondo (and her recent Netflix series, that I have yet to watch) and The Minimalists’ Netflix Documentary. In short, they’re not exactly ethical and sustainable. Sustainable fashion concerns more than just addressing fashion textiles or products. Brands & Consumers. Fear not, we’re here to help! Or preferably, all three! It can be a bit confusing. How can you tell when a fashion brand is greenwashing? William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s Cradle to Cradle, Climate urgency: it’s now, and it might be you. As you might already know, we humans produce and consume an enormous amount of plastic. Feature image via Unsplash. In 1987, the UN defined sustainability as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. This step is crucial to transparency: how can a company disclose information on a product if it doesn’t know all the steps involved in making it? People are increasingly looking for products that are better for them and for the environment. Like many other industries, fashion is shaped by economic and political forces. Sustainable fashion means finding a balance when designing, manufacturing, and consuming clothes. At Good On You, one of the three areas we are most passionate about and look closely at when rating brands is animal welfare, so this is a definition close to our hearts! "Many sustainable labels are genuine pioneers in seeking to transform the industry from inside out," Bel Jacobs, of Extinction Rebellion's "Boycott Fashion" campaign, said. At Good On You, we believe fashion brands have a responsibility and should be transparent about their impact. Simply put, the answer to ‘what is sustainable fashion’ differs according to who you ask. Several organisations, such as the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) are helping consumers find certified organic clothes. For fashion, it means not using components like leather, wool, silk, cashmere, angora and more, as all these fibres come from animals. If you’ve heard of Marie Kondo, then you might already have an idea of what minimalism is. Look out for PETA-certified vegan products to ensure there are no hidden animal ingredients in your clothes and accessories. It means going beyond simply following local labour laws. Upcycling is excellent because it removes waste from the system; it requires less energy than recycling, and so has a better environmental impact. Let me know in the comments below! Of course, being transparent is only the first step towards being more sustainable and ethical. Greenwashing is the use of marketing to portray an organisation’s products, activities, or policies as environmentally friendly when they are not. In light o f this definition, sustainable fashion refers to a more environmentally-friendly approach to designing, manufacturing and consuming clothes, making sure … Fairtrade is also a term we see quite a lot in our supermarkets. Second-hand is one of the most sustainable fashion options out there, as you’re reducing your impact by not buying “new”, and by giving a second life to items that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. Find out what each of these buzzword means in our Fair Fashion Glossary. Circular fashion refers to clothes that are designed, produced and sold to design out waste and pollution, keep the product and the materials that constitute it in use (while maintaining their quality), and to dispose of it in a way that regenerates the natural systems. It is like a living organism — always evolving and changing. You might come across brands with biodegradable packaging, which is one of the most eco-friendly packaging options! This guide from The Guardian breaks down the sometimes confusing terminology around sustainable fashion. All materials break down eventually, but some of them can take thousands of years and release harmful chemicals and substances in the process. It’s about focusing on what matters by decluttering and removing what’s burdening us, getting rid of the excess. Being transparent means publishing all information about every actor involved in the production process, from start to finish, from the fields to the store shelves. What are the differences? During this week, consumers ask brands #whomademyclothes to promote transparency in the fashion supply chain. companies with more diverse leadership have better environmental compliance reporting, in addition to stronger financial returns. When it comes to sustainable development in the fashion sector, education equals empowerment. For example, we’ve asked consumers what does sustainable fashion mean to them. Ethical fashion can also include the fair treatment of animals, vegan and cruelty-free fashion. All these terms are used almost interchangeably, however, they all mean something different according to their definitions. It means avoiding the depletion of natural resources, but also the exploitation of individuals and communities. Ethical fashion is a tiny bit different from sustainable fashion, in the sense that it focuses more on the social impact of the fashion industry: ethical literally means “morally right”. The Good On You team does the work to read between the seams for you, and pulls all the information together by using expert analysis to give each brand an easy-to-understand score. It’s different from the legal minimum wage which is usually way below the living wage. William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s Cradle to Cradle, Learn more about the ins and outs of recycled plastic clothing, Discover the best ethical and sustainable fashion brands from all over the world, Here are some ‘Good’ and ‘Great’ organic brands, Discover our favourite vegan fashion brands, Read our guide to cruelty-free hair and skincare (on a budget), Here are our tips for selling old clothes online. Being transparent means publishing all information about every actor involved in the production process, from start to finish, from the fields to the store shelves. Here at Good On You, we have diversity guidelines for our content that requires the regular inclusion and representation of minority groups, and we are currently reviewing our rating system to ensure we adequately address issues of racial justice while also working to have more BIPOC-owned brands rated and recommended soon! (Green Strategy, June 2014) It seems that we have reached the peak of Fast Fashion and that big changes are being made. In this post, we cover some of the basics so that you can feel more comfortable in learning your sustainable fashion. Circular Fashion moves away from the traditional linear take-make-dispose business model. There are many fashion brands throwing “green terminology” around. Circular fashion is about designing waste and pollution out of our clothes, and ensuring they help regenerate natural systems at the end of their (long) lives. Traceability for a company means knowing its supply chains from start to finish, and being able to trace back each component of a product, from the raw material to the clothes tag and everything in between. It allows customers to know exactly what they’re buying, with details from every step of the production process. Whether you’re new to the world of sustainable fashion or an ethical fashion veteran, ethical and sustainable fashion terminology can be… confusing, to say the least. Recycling is the action of converting waste into something reusable. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has been advocating for a global circular economy, so if you’re interested, I recommend having a look at their website. Sustainable fashion is a movement and process of fostering change to fashion products and the fashion system towards greater ecological integrity and social justice. Is contentious and highly debated in the near future equals empowerment treatment of animals, vegan and fashion. 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