Planet
Have you ever wondered how much the fashion industry impacts our environment? The industry is often criticized for its excessive waste, unethical labor practices, and relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of our planet. In this blog post, we will be addressing these concerns and delving into the realm of the backstage of this far from glamorous world.
In a world driven by trends and ever-changing styles, the fashion industry has long been associated with glamour, creativity, and innovation. Each step in the fashion supply chain contributes to environmental degradation, however, there is a growing awareness among both consumers and industry insiders about the urgent need for change. A few fashion companies such as Inditex, Lacoste, Primark, PVH Corp, and Tommy Hilfiger have participated in the Make Fashion Circular initiative, collaborating with NGOs to promote a circular economy. This is a term that refers to markets that give incentives to reusing products, rather than scrapping them and then extracting new resources, ensuring recyclability (both technical and nutrient).
Circular Economy
The circular economy should not be seen as a substitute for sustainability, but rather as a complement to other ongoing efforts. Sustainability in fashion is more than just a buzzword. It encompasses various aspects, such as eco-friendly materials, ethical labor practices, and conscious consumer choices. For example, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation was developed in conjunction with industry partners such as H&M, Lenzing, and Nike, which prioritizes clothes and textiles being kept at their highest value during use and re-entering the economy after use, never ending up as waste (Gwilt, 2014). This highlights the efforts of brands, designers, and activists who are starting to drive positive change and setting the stage for a greener, more equitable future in fashion.
SDG’s
Most importantly, the Sustainable Development Goals, known as SDGs, are 17 objectives set for a better vision of the future and are crucial because they underpin our global response to some of the biggest global problems, from poverty and hunger to environmental conservation and gender equality. Namely, SDG 5 “Gender Equality”, consists of destroying stereotypes, promoting fair wages and providing equal opportunities for all genders. For instance, the Miu Miu FW22 fashion show brought to the runways a genderless collection that features clothing items that can be worn by people of any gender identity such as men using crop tops and mini skirts. This Miu Miu expansion into genderless appealed to an increasingly broad Gen Z target audience (Salamone, 2022).
Bibliography
Gwilt, Alison. (2014) A Practical Guide To Sustainable Fashion. Available at: https://pt.scribd.com/document/672813816/A-practical-guide-to-sustainable-fashion-by-Alison-Gwilt [Accessed in 5 Oct. 2023]
Salamone, Lorenzo. (2022) The new genderless of Miu Miu. Available at: https://www.nssmag.com/en/fashion/29205/menswear-miu-miu [Accessed in 7 Oct. 2023]