The Biggest Lie in Life Style With Fashion

The fashion industry is often a world of smoke and mirrors. They use a mix of unsavory methods and glamour to promote their merchandise. For example, Shell might invite the press to see their model in person. The model may be wearing recycled polyester (PET), or they could use cheap cotton to reduce costs.

Increasing volumes of recycled polyester (PET) used in "conscious" fashion collections

Recycled polyester, or rPET, is an eco-friendly textile made from recycled plastic bottles. These plastic bottles are collected and exported to China where they are melted down into pellets. From these pellets, new polyester fibers are extruded and used to make clothing. Many fashion brands now contract these materials in their manufacturing process. These recycled fabrics are a sustainable alternative to virgin polyester and can reduce waste and the environmental impact of the apparel production process.

Recycling polyester-based textiles reduces emissions by 50 to 25 percent compared to virgin polyester. However, the amount of polyester that can be effectively recycled is limited. Most of these garments end up in landfills, where they shed microfibers.

Recycled polyester is a better alternative than virgin polyester, and many fashion brands are turning to this fabric to create more eco-friendly collections. While it is not completely eco-friendly, it does have many benefits over virgin polyester. For one, it's more durable. The fabric won't shrink after washing, and it doesn't absorb moisture. And it's a good insulator, too.

The textile industry has started a campaign called "The Recycled Polyester Challenge" to encourage fashion brands to incorporate more recycled polyester into their collections. While many fashion companies have signed up, not many have linked this initiative with their own goals for reducing synthetic fibres.

Increasing volumes of cheap cotton used in "conscious" fashion collections

With two thirds of companies reporting their environmental impact through the Higg Index, it is not surprising to see more synthetic fibres being used in "conscious" fashion collections. But the process is not as simple as it sounds. The fibres must first be separated from the seeds, spun, dyed, printed, and then sewn. This can take a lot of water. Even organic cotton summer dresses are usually not inexpensive, costing about EUR60 or more.

Even more alarming is the fact that textile production involves hazardous chemicals, especially during the wet processing stage, when threads are formed, dyed, and woven. This step accounts for up to 20% of global wastewater. Fortunately, Greenpeace has taken action on this issue, and in 2011, they successfully secured commitments from 80 global fashion brands to phase out the use of hazardous chemicals by the year 2020.

The Swedish retailer H&M recently donated $1.1 million to five teams working on textile recycling technologies. The funds will help develop new processes for transforming old cotton clothing into new fibers. Another team is developing a microbe that will digest polyester and break it down into basic components that can be reused.

This industry has an enormous impact on the environment, generating nearly 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases a year, almost eight percent of the total global emissions. However, a number of brands are trying to innovate and reduce their carbon footprint, improving the recycling process, and encouraging upcycling. This requires collaboration from consumers and industry.

Market-based win-win approach to fashion sustainability not working

The global fashion industry remains highly fragmented and opaque, with poor working conditions in some countries and widespread environmental and social exploitation. However, a common framework and joint action by brands and clients can make this industry more sustainable. The following are examples of the problems that make this approach unsustainable.

The fashion industry must change its production and distribution practices. It must phase out the use of toxins and oil-based microfibers, as well as improve the design and collection of clothing. It must also improve resource efficiency and use biodegradable materials. In addition, it must be accountable to consumers by providing accurate and credible information about the processes used to produce clothes.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of sustainability issues. It is vital that brands engage with them, invest in convenient solutions and provide transparency to help them make the right choices. Younger generations expect more from their fashion brands and are willing to pay more for sustainable goods. In addition, they want to wear their values on their sleeve.

High-quality, durable items can be resold and reused. This can lead to higher profit margins per item and broaden the company's audience. Re-selling is also an opportunity to diversify the fashion market and increase its sustainability.