Eco-Fashion
Author: Nikki Seegers, Editor-in-Chief - liveeco
( Article Type: Overview )
Some might say the term eco fashion is an oxymoron. Is it really possible to deliver a meaningful positive social impact within an industry that is so inherently unsustainable? To answer this question lets first look at the definition of "sustainable or eco fashion".
According to Wikipedia, eco fashion, also called sustainable fashion, is a part of the growing design philosophy and trend of sustainability, the goal of which is to create a system that can be supported indefinitely in terms of environmentalism and social responsibility. Sustainable fashion is part of the larger trend of sustainable design where a product is created and produced with consideration of the environmental and the social impact it may have throughout its life span, including its "carbon footprint". Eco fashion can also be described as a term that is applied to clothing, footwear and accessories that are either made from recycled products, are made with little or no animal products, or are made from cloth that comes from sustainable plant fibres.
Eco fashion may also apply to any of these items made with organic materials. It is a response on the part of the clothing and accessories industries to the green movement, and the new focus on conservation and protection of the planet. Vintage clothing , because it involves re-use of materials is also considered to be a part of the sustainable fashion movement.
Eco fashion does not mean granola. Green fashion has in the past been associated with hessian sacks and ugly footwear but this is certainly no longer the case. Eco is now chic. Eco fashion differs from conventional fashion in the way that the clothing is made and in what fabrics are used. Organic materials are manufactured from crops that are not sprayed with harmful pesticides. Fair-trade fibres come from farmers who are paid a fair wage for their produce, while fair-trade garments are produced in factories where workers are paid a fair wage and experience decent working conditions.
Organic farming is often more labour intensive than regular farming hence eco-friendly and ethical fashion tends to be more expensive than traditional fashion. On the plus side, sustainable clothing is generally of better quality and will therefore last longer than conventional items of clothing. The fashion industry, as it has evolved, has been environmentally rapacious. It relies on consistent turnover, having four collections a year, every single year. As an industry its capacity to cultivate "wants" and transform them into consumer "needs" is unparalleled, with the result that consumers constantly feel compelled to replace their clothes, even if they haven't been worn. Sustainable fashion is trying to change this wasteful and harmful pattern by making consumers aware of the fact that you are able to create something "new" and equally as chic and trendy from something that you may already own and currently do not utilize in your wardrobe. The term for this is "upcycling". With the growing success of eco fashion across the globe, it begs the question, is fashion really that superficial? While silk gowns and fur-embellished garments might still dominate the catwalks, the industry is making big strides when it comes to meeting fair-trade standards and promoting the ethical production of clothing. Now it's up to each one of us to support the efforts of innovative, ethical designers and think before we shop. Whether we choose to stock our wardrobes with clothes solely from green designers or simply take the time to read the label on that pair of jeans we want to buy, we can make a difference and help transform the fashion industry one garment at a time!
