Waste in fashion is an issue that’s constantly in the media. It’s an unfortunate by-product of the industry we all love, however we believe the current ‘throwaway culture’ definitely needs to change, as does fast, cheap fashion.

We all know we need to make changes to the industry – and fast. The current modus operandi is simply unsustainable, stripping the planet of resources to make millions of cheap garments every year – which are often carelessly thrown away just months later.

Until recently, the fashion industry emitted more carbon than international flights and maritime shipping combined. According to reports, up to 85% of textiles go directly into landfills each year – apparently, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second.

Many global brands are now putting out several collections a year, rather than the traditional two seasons – and consumers are buying more fashion too. Clothing production has doubled since 2000 – with people, on average, buying 60% more garments in 2014, than they did in 2000.
Even washing garments has an effect on the environment - washing clothes is said to release around 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year - the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.

It’s a gigantic waste, not only of our planet’s precious resources, but of all the hard work and clever thought that goes into designing and creating every garment.

Changes are happening

The great news is that the industry is already making a conscious and united decision to change. In December 2018, the global fashion sector launched the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, a move that has significantly increased momentum to address climate change.

Leading fashion brands, retailers, suppliers, shipping companies and others involved in the industry, have agreed to collectively address the climate impact of the fashion sector across its entire value chain. This is a huge step: one that every fashion business needs to be following.

Other apparel companies are joining initiatives to cut back on textile pollution and grow cotton more sustainably. In March, the UN launched the Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, which will coordinate efforts across agencies to make the industry less harmful.

The first step – using sustainable materials

We can all take steps towards ensuring a less harmful industry and the first step is selecting sustainably produced and/or recycled materials – which is why we’ve chosen to specialise in sourcing and producing those materials.

The denim, knitted and woven organic clothing we source at Ethical Edit is all fully Fair-trade audited and GOTS certified (Global Organic Textile Standard is the world’s leading processing standard for textiles made from organic fibres such as cotton).

Manufacturing processes are beginning to change – we make a point of working with factories that have water-recycling units at their dye processors. The factories we work with in India all have full traceability and transparency – for every garment.

The next step: changing our throwaway culture

Sourcing sustainable materials and garments is the first, crucial step. The next is educating consumers to re-use, sell or give away their used clothing. And to be more discerning in the first place, buying better quality, sustainably made garments that will last, rather than cheap, fickle, throwaway fashion.

There’s a long way to go, but we’re moving in the right direction. The fashion industry is always two steps ahead when it comes to defining culture and style, so let’s stay ahead by leading sustainable change.

It’s the most powerful change we can make for the sake of our industry – and our planet.