HOW CAN WE BE SUSTAINABLE IN FASHION?
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Written with support from BLACK PEARL thank you Samata!
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Fashion is an integral part of our daily lives, influencing our choices every morning when we decide what to wear. It's a powerful form of self-expression, with meanings as diverse as the people who wear it. Fashion is cultural, making statements or serving as uniforms; it's practical and creative, about fitting in or standing out. It can be whatever we want it to be or whatever we're told it is. For me, comfort comes first, then style - and style is beautifully unique to each of us.
But fashion is also a behemoth industry with a staggering environmental footprint. It's a multi-billion dollar global business creating over 100 billion garments a year, while consumers generate a mountain of textile waste so vast it's visible from space. The fashion industry is responsible for a whopping 10% of humanity's carbon emissions - more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
It's an overwhelming thought, isn't it? Something you might read and quickly scroll past because it's too wild to comprehend, thinking it's too big a problem for you to help solve.
But don't despair! There are so many ways to still love fashion and be sustainable. I'm on this journey too, constantly learning and seeking out others in styling, TV & film who can share their knowledge. Working in film presents unique sustainability challenges, but I strive to make responsible choices whenever possible.
Here are some of the sustainable fashion practices I've learned through my styling work:
1. Rediscover Your Wardrobe: Before shopping, have a fun wardrobe exploration session with a friend. You'll likely find forgotten treasures and realize you already own items you were planning to buy. Create new looks, photograph them, and start a personal style album. This process can revolutionize your shopping habits and reduce unnecessary purchases.
2. Extend the Life of Your Clothes: Respect what you already own. Read care labels, repair damaged items, and get alterations when needed. These simple steps can add years to your clothes' lifespan and significantly reduce waste. Remember, 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year - let's change that!
3. Choose Natural Fabrics: I'm fascinated by the history and variety of fabrics. Natural fibers like wool, cotton, and linen are great for regulating body temperature. Be cautious with synthetics, which are derived from fossil fuels and shed microplastics. Did you know that washing clothes releases 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year?
4. Shop Mindfully: Create a shopping list, review it critically, and remove non-essential items. When you do shop, prioritize local and independent stores and brands. And before hitting the high street, give vintage shopping a try - it's an adventure in sustainable style!
5. Repurpose and Recycle: For items you no longer want or wear, find new homes or purposes. Donate, sell, repurpose, or give to friends - anything but throw them away. The equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothes is burned or dumped in a landfill every second.
Let's break this cycle!
By adopting these practices, we can all contribute to a more sustainable approach to fashion while still expressing our personal style. It's not about perfection, but about making conscious choices and small changes that add up to big impacts. Remember, fashion can be both fabulous and kind to our planet. Let's make it happen together!
PEACE&LOVE
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