Did you know that the fashion industry produces more CO2 than air travel and shipping put together? Or that 20% of the world’s wastewater comes directly from textile dying? Or that 92 million tonnes of clothes end up in landfills every year?
Shockingly, a lot of clothes are only worn once or twice before they hit the dump.
The apparel industry clearly has a few massive problems.
Fortunately, there are ways you can be a fashionista and still promote sustainability. As the world wakes up to the damaging effects of fast fashion, a range of sustainable fashion trends have come into being.
You don’t have to kiss the best fashion styles goodbye to dress ethically.
Instead, read on to find out about some of the types of fashion trends you can try to dress more sustainably.
A Move to Natural Fibers and Bio-Based Materials
One of the biggest and most exciting sustainable fashion trends is the movement toward natural fibers and bio-based materials.
Natural fibers are more breathable, feel nicer on one’s skin, and are usually more long-lasting and luxurious looking. They also don’t produce microplastics. Synthetic garments deposit roughly half a million tonnes of microplastics into the ocean each year.
The average washing load of acrylic garments contains more than 700,000 microfibers.
Along with choosing natural fibers, you can also try out some of the bio-based materials that are hitting the market. Such as rose petal silk, and cactus, mushroom, pineapple, and mango leather.
These offer bio-degradable alternatives that do not produce microplastics as they break down.
Clothing Resale and Thrifting
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed the big move towards clothing resale and thrifting. Platforms like The RealReal and Depop are becoming incredibly popular.
Celebs and influencers like Bella Hadid are also helping to make second-hand shopping the newest cool trend.
Thrifting and re-buying clothing doesn’t just save resources and help reduce pollution. It can also allow you to snag some sweet deals on one-of-a-kind items.
Quality Staples Over Fast Fashion
One of the most wide-sweeping sustainable fashion trends that have been gaining momentum is prioritizing quality wardrobe staples and basics over fast fashion items.
Most style icons and experts are advising that instead of blowing your budget on lots of cheap garments, instead invest in premium quality staples. This will give you a more versatile wardrobe, as good-quality classic pieces tend to be easier to mix and match.
You’ll also have to spend less time replacing poor-quality wardrobe staples because they keep wearing out and looking shabby.
For instance, if you stock up on a stash of good quality undergarments from a brand like Ronda Sheer, you won’t have to waste time and money rebuying in a couple of months. If this is a new brand to you you can discover more on Rhonda Sheer here.
Leverage These Sustainable Fashion Trends to Reduce the Footprint of Your Wardrobe
The apparel industry has a lot of negative environmental and social spinoffs. Try out these sustainable fashion trends to make your fashion footprint smaller and bring about positive change.
Looking for info on sustainable living and other lifestyle trends? Explore our blog for more great reads.
