Nathalie Suarez
Module 2
Contemporary Issues in the Fashion Industry
Professor: Dr. Nazanin Munroe
Spring 2022 Course/Section: BUF 4700-OL70

In the fashion industry the over usage of fabrics that ultimately kills the earth and the over abundance of consumerism drives people to buy new things often rather than buy things vintage. The textile manufacturing business is one of the largest businesses out there, it is a business that prioritizes the needs of consumers. When talking about fashion, people do not realize that there is a major waste problem. There are textile processes that do cause harm to the environment and it is up to us, the consumers and business to say something about it so we can make a change. We need sustainable alternatives because greenhouse gases, which are the gases that stick in our ozone that trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet. It is not sustainable for the earth and the more fabrics we need to make clothes which create more sweatshops. I think we will end up running uot of raw materials at some point because the earth is dying and there is only a matter of time.
The processes that are most harmful to the environment are mainly dyeing, which ends up also affects the water usage and the chemical that goes into the water, which causes water pollution, and for humans once water is contaminated this causes a bunch of other issues like a domino effect. The synthetic dyes that are now being used can be composed of things like azo, anthraquinone, methine, nitro, and carbonyl along with plenty of other harmful chemicals. There has been research that has been conducted that has stated that there are sometimes over thousands of different types of dyes being used and these dyes are being produced all over the world. Back then, people who would make clothing would naturally dye their clothes with natural extracts from fruits, vegetables, spices like turmeric, sometimes even flowers or insects. As many know, depending on the season, having color in clothing is the main thing people care about in any piece. Using these natural types of dyes worked back then, but it was known that the color would fade easily and it was never as vibrant. With these synthetic dyes, you get more range of color, brighter clothing and overall a bigger variety. One article that talks about the importance of knowing what happens within this industry is Textile Dyes: History, Toxicity & Pollution states that “the dyes are soaked into the fabric and change it chemically, resulting in color that stays permanently through repeated use. Today, more than 10,000 substances are classified as textile dyes, and different kinds of dyes work better on specific kinds of fabric. Most of our clothing and home furnishings are colored with synthetic, or man-made, dyes.” This is significant because these dyes are used in almost everything we own and the dyeing process involves a lot of water and sometimes since that is the case there are not good ways of cleaning this water which is horrible for our environment and creates wastewater. These wastewaters that are already toxic because they were used will be dumped into the rivers from these factories without being 100% treated. Farmers that are growing their own crops like cotton are using water and spraying their plants with harmful chemicals and when textile dyeing, printing, or finishing processes are being done these chemicals that have been sprayed are in them which can be harmful to everyone’s health.
One sustainable fashion company that I personally wear is SKIMS. When this brand was originally announced, the company first was named Kimono, which offended some of the potential customers due to the name sounding too much like a japanese type of clothing that is worn by japanese women. The global implications of SKIMS products are very significant and help promote sticking to being sustainable and not wasting products. This is because when the brand had already imprinted the name on the garment and it was suggested that it could be an issue the brand had decided that instead of wasting all of the products; they had to find a way to re-print the name on the items. Being a brand that is not wasteful shows the clients how this brand thinks about the environment and wants to implement more sustainable ideas in today’s society when selling clothing. This brand uses reusable bags that zip that are biodegradable, where you can receive your item and will have an option where you choose green when it comes to shipping the items. Skim’s main goal is to create a better community of fashion while going green. This brand specifically focuses on being the most popular solution wear brand to help enhance a woman’s body, as well as to be known as not only a solution brand and also a fashion wear brand where they can also sell lounge wear and shoes. It has all colors of the shapewear that will match every skin tone, and multiple sizes where a woman of any size can use shapewear. It also makes a woman feel confident and solves certain issues that women would see when wearing fitted clothing.
Another fashion brand that has stuck out to me that I typically wear often would be Levi’s. This apparel company has been practicing sustainably produced garments and textiles. The brand has made a brand new collection that involves using 96% of less water. Called ‘Water<Less,’ they have been working to make this brand 100% sustainable and rely on people to recycle old jeans. In the article, Thegoodtrade discussing all the the sustainable fashion brands it mentions that Levi’s the brand most known for their denim works on their “…sustainable practices & materials, gives back, has inclusive sizing, and secondhand shops. The brand touts eco-friendly and sustainable practices like recyclable denim, ethically sourced cotton, and innovations to reduce water use, in addition to giving back to its workers and community organizations alike.” This shows that levi’s is doing their best to be as eco-friendly as possible by using recycled materials.
One sustainable dye material that can help the fashion instury tremendously if used would be using nature from something that already has color, like a insect. Using sytnthic biology you use less chemicals and energy. Synthetic Biology is a biology that can produce, deposit and fix dyes to the fabric. In a video, The future of fashion: Colorifix it talks about using crops/insects and replicate nature by recreating the pigment that us humans love from nature to create a bright color. It is a technology that works better when using this dyeing process which can change the industry and change the planet we are working on to make it better and more environmentally safe.
An experiemental artistic process would be looking for vegan alternatives to use for materials. In the article Is Faux Leather Even Better Than the Real Thing? These 3 Designers Say Yes it states “We think all [accessories] brands should consider dedicating a part of their collection to sustainable and vegan options,” they wrote to Vogue. “We’re trying to choose as many sustainable suppliers as possible, and we just started working with a new factory that doesn’t use plastic.” showing that there are way to have the same artistic vision but with better materials. Another great example would be to design garments that have photosynthetic or pollution-filtering properties. This will allow the fashion industry to have an output for carbon negativity (climate positivity) rather than reducing or offsetting the footprint. we embarked on the research of developing the Post Carbon Fashion coating. The dyeing and finishing industry has only created a huge pollution problem. Imagine all the once clean water just being used for textiles processing and dyeing, how damaging and horrible it is for the earth and humans themselves. Dealing with these types of synthetic dyes can also harm the people using it, workers that are in these factories are exposed to these dyes. In an article Asian rivers are turning black. And our colorful closets are to blame on CNN it mentions what textile dyes do they mention that because more color dye is acting killing the enviorment because of the use of more bigger wash houses and bigger factories that lead to more greenhouse gases.
Some sustainable alternatives would be choosing organic fabrics. Using organic cotton is known to use 71% less water so the water is not affected as much. Organic linen, organic silk and hemp all are helpful alternatives that help humans wear more comfortable clothing, help the body breathe and help body temperature way more. Wearing organic silk pajamas or clothing in general is healthier for the body, it is known to regulate your body temperature especially when sleeping. Another alternative would be choosing clothes that have either been done naturally, or that is missing the chemical azo. Using organic hemp can be very helpful as well, it is a breathable fabric and known to carry a lot of benefits. These natural dyes after a while are not as useful, when washed or in the sun for too long the color would easily fade, and the only solution was these synthetic dyes to solve the problem. Which leads to us having to still find more way to dye clothing without using harsh chemicals that end up hurting our environment.
When talking about the manufacturer, they should focus less on fast fashion because that is only temporary and making a bunch of something that is only temporary is a waste in itself. They should start using recycled cotton, organic linen, organic silk for all their clothing and overall just organic natural fibers. Lastly for individuals to contribute to a more eco-friendly fashion industry they need to start buying less clothing and making sure it is a sustainable type of quality and buy from sustainable brands. People should start donating clothes and recycling them to thrift stores, or sending them to people less fortunate with no clothes instead of just throwing them out. People should even start remaking clothes using the same fabric by redesigning. In order to create a more sustainable textile process, it overall just needs to be more eco-friendly by reusing and recycling. These chemical issues in production are too toxic for people’s health and our earth. We should all practice being environmentally friendly and all work together for a better world. As a consumer I can help create a more sustainable fashion industry, for one to buy less clothes and work with what I have. I also think thrifting has been a good idea for forever, and it is so smart to get clothes that are still in style for less and for you it is still considered new because you’ve never had it before.
To conclude the topic about sustainable alternatives I think consumers can help create a more sustainable fashion industry by trying to shop more at thrift stores than these fast fashion stores online. These new sites are considered fast fashion mainly because if a celebrity is caught wearing something expensive like a specific dress, these brands for example like Fashion Nova will automatically steal the style of the dress and design, put it up on their website and put a cheaper price on it. These types of clothing are the type of clothes that is popular only for the time being, after a couple months the style of the type of shirt or dress won’t be used anymore. Another way consumers can help create a more sustainable fashion industry is also reusing the clothing piece we originally buy and using it to create something else that can be worn. I will definitely participate in this, for a couple years now I have been thrifting more and more, and it has been something that I love to do rather than going to any other store, or shop online because I find the best type of clothing, for the best prices. It is a bit time consuming because most likely the thrift stores are very large, but it is something that I do as a hobby and enjoy. I have recently been participating in using my clothes I already have and remaking it. Right now I have noticed a trend on tie dye clothing. These types of sweatpants and shirts are being sold for $75-200 for a set of sweatpants and hoodies. After I saw that this trend was getting more and more popular I decided I wanted to join it but instead I have been using the skills of tie dying, to avoid me having to pay those types of prices. During this time especially it is very soothing and can be a hobby you do indoors easily. Once people realize that you don’t have to spend a ton of money on clothes, and continue to go to places like thrift stores where you can find pieces you can incorporate to your style, the fashion industry will for sure be more sustainable. Once the fashion industry notices that the consumers are taking steps to make a change, I think the industry will pick up on that and change as well for the better. I am more conscious of things that I buy making sure that my hoodies are made with organic cotton, now I am buying all my jeans from Levi's which makes me happy because I wear Levi's anyways. I am now more focused on the material of my clothing, and telling people around me to instead of throwing out clothes, to recycle it, donate it, give it to thrift stores even if there is no money exchange for it. This changes my perspective on apparel as a consumer and future industry professional because as a consumer I never paid attention to these things or had a second thought when I would throw out my old clothing that I did not want anymore. I was so addicted to fast fashion brands that anytime a new trend would come up I would hop on the trend and throw out my older clothes. As a consumer now, I am glad that I am more conscious and as an industry professional, when I do have my future clothing line and even skincare line I will take all these lessons with me and focus on all my brands being eco-friendly and healthy for us, to live in a better environment and own better quality products.

Figure 1: People in the sweatshop making jeans.
Figure 2: The textile industry is a very large business, manufacturing is done with these huge machines.
Figure 3: Levi’s helping to protect our planet knowing that Denim will always be apart of fashion.

Works Cited:
Reagan, Helen. Asian Rivers are turning black and our colorful closets are to blame. CNN. Date published September 29th, 2020. https://www.cnn.com/style/article/dyeing-pollution-fashion-intl-hnk-dst-sept/index.html

F, Claudia. Textile Dyes: History. https://study.com/academy/lesson/textile-dyes-history-toxicity-pollution.html

No Author. 35 Ethical And Sustainable Clothing Brands Betting Against Fast Fashion. The good trade. Date Pubished March 25, 2022. https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing

The future of fashion: Colorifix. Date Pubishled April 18th, 2018. Video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF36Kt08iro.

Farra, Emily. Is Faux Leather Even Better Than the Real Thing? These 3 Designers Say Yes
Date published November 8th, 2021. https://www.vogue.com/article/faux-leather-bags-shoes-accessories-designers-vegan

No Author. What is Sustainable Fashion? (An Introduction and 3 Steps for Getting Started). GREEN DREAMER. Date published May 30th, 2019.
https://greendreamer.com/journal/what-is-sustainable-fashion
Suarez, Nathalie_Mod2_paper

The fashion industry is one of the highest pollutants, even before it comes to the hands of the consumer, steps taken to create the garment alone is an issue. Which is how sustainability comes into play in making sure suitable measures are taken to ensure it isn’t creating environmental damage. Sustainability is a term that has been used loosely by some brands but is something that takes up a lot of steps to obtain in a brand. In terms  of business:

“Sustainability is determined by physical and natural resources, environmental degradation, and social resources” (Mollenkamp, D. T. 2021)

Patagonia is the brand that has been able to create products with sustainability in mind. Founded by Yvon Chouinard with headquarters in Venture, California. “ We’re in business to save our home planet”- Patagonia. The company started off as just makers of tools for climbers but has become known for its gear and apparel. They are the first to use recycled materials and organic cotton. 

In regards to its products Patagonia has a partnership with Fair Trade USA since 2014, paying a premium with the Fair Trade Certified™ label. Resulting to Patagonia’s having 87% of its line being Fair Trade Certified™ sewn and up to 64,000+ workers are supported by patagonia’s participation in the Fair Trade program. 

Global production is a responsibility that the American apparel industry has to take charge of in terms of ensuring that its company is providing adequate support in all areas—within factories, productions, and distribution. Patagonia is putting in the working making it known for its sustainability and the use of eco-friendly materials and recycled materials. Has made it possible for them to expand its production adding new products and the Worn Wear program in which a customer is able to return worn items for credit. Decreasing the number of garment waste. Products vary in pricing highest being $900 (jacket) lowest $18 (socks).

When making your money work in a quality purchase, it is highly important. Patagonia not only has a large price range but the Worn Wear site is great to get items at a lower cost—saving yourself some coin. Sure you can buy cheaper fleece sweaters elsewhere but is the brand you are buying from align with your beliefs? For example, Women’s Micro D ¼ zip fleece costs $59 made with 100% recycled polyester or buy Cozy Sherpa Quarter-Zip that’s on sale for $24 but from a massed production store.

https://www.patagonia.com/product/womens-micro-d-quarter-zip-fleece/26278.html?dwvar_26278_color=CUBL&cgid=womens-fleece

Sustainability in the fashion industry has become a great deal to many people and brands. We as a society, have begun to see the effects of global warming as well as how fast fashion negatively effects the planet. Keeping in mind these problems, we are seeing more positive results as due to “minimize some of fashion’s problems, such as waste and overproduction and the overuse of hazardous chemicals” (Sustainability: Where fashion is heading in 2022,
Rachel Cernansky, January 5, 2022).

Whimsy + Row is a company that has successfully integrated sustainability procedures within their company to maintain these ethics. Whimsy + Row is a California based fashion company that focusses on women’s apparel. Some of these procedures that they pride themselves in are creating their clothing within the US, using deadstock (fabric that  wasn’t able to be sold for multiple reasons) and sustainable fabrics, fair labor laws, eco-friendly packaging, etc.  Whimsy + Row is a  relatively affordable brand as their clothes range from $30 to over $100. On their website they actually show how much their business has impacted the environment. Currently it states that 247,543 miles of driving emissions avoided, 29,695,266 hours of bulb energy saved, 5,950, 971 days of drinking water saved, and 6,926 pounds of waste diverted from landfill. You can tell that they really care about their environment and really are a sustainable brands based on their website and how they advertise themselves.

Whimsy + Row is a perfect example of a business that strives to make a change in the fashion industry with the moves they are making within their company as well as how they source and create their clothing. They also actively show their customers the impacts that these choices are making on their website as well as offering a range of beautiful pieces that many different prices ranges can afford.

As we all know the problem between human and nature has increase over the decades. so we need sustainability in the industry that can help us find the balance between human and nature.

My company name is Patagonia. the company is based in California, USA the CEO of the company is Yvon Chouinard.  Our mission statement is ” we’re in business to save our home planet”.

our apparel are made in the US. ” Patagonia continues to expand its commitment to labor ethics and works with US factories as often as it can”. it is made mostly by machine but sometimes man.

what I see as the responsibility of the American apparel industry in global production is we are trying to creative more job and trying to protect the environment as much as we can.

All our products are eco-friendly . We are one of the first to use recycled materials and switch to organic cotton, we also have second hand collection and etc.

Our company is very sustainable from business/financial perspective. We would definitely upscale. we have a lot of cool designer and good material for the clothing. Our clothing price range are from 50-100 . our new uprisal crewneck sweatshirt are from 47.99 to 69 which is great price point and our fleece pullover are from 103.99 to 149. I would say this is a great price.

we have wide product rage the people that buy from us are adult, children, swimwear, active wear and outdoor apparel. It is because we have great products with great price. The people that buying it are also a part of making a contribution to protecting the environment because we always donate 1% of our profit to protect our environment. I would definitely purchase the products from Patagonia. The design of the clothing is something that I like and fits in to my everyday outfit. Our competitor are company like Noah which we offer better price.

I think the company is great by doing something that helps the environment. The mission is great the product and the price is great I like this brand a lot it is something that I would actually buy.

 

Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good:  Whimsy + Row Creating Sustainable and Eco-friendly Wardrobe Staples with Flair — Classic editor

The fashion industry is plagued with many problems, however fast fashion is at the core of modern day issues.   Fast fashion (essentially “throw away” fashion) leads to questionable practices throughout the supply chain, mainly unethical labor practices (i.e. gender inequity, inhumane working conditions, forced and child labor) and is exceedingly detrimental to the environment; contributing to deforestation, water waste and has infiltrated landfills worldwide flooding them with worthless textiles.  According to the Environmental Protective Agency (EPA, 2018 generated 17 million tons of textile waste, which only represents 5.8 percent of total municipal solid waste generated that year (“Textiles: Material,” 2018).

Being that America is one of the leaders of the apparel industry, I believe it’s our country’s responsibility to make strides to positively influence global production.  We need to lead by example and that means change needs to start at the home-front and ripple outwards.  How are other countries supposed to take us seriously, in regards to apparel production, if our fashion heavy cities are littered with sweatshops?  And why would anyone make changes themselves if the American companies aren’t held accountable and turn a blind eye, or claim ignorance, to malfeasance within the supply chain?  

Change and accountability don’t always have to be in response to a visually massive tragedy, like the one at Rana Plaza in Bangladesh in 2013 that killed over 1,100 garment workers.  Companies like Whimsy and Row, making it their purpose to make positive strides since inception; “from ethical and local manufacturing to using natural fibers” and “consciously reducing (their) eco-footprint with every step in the process.”  Founded by Rachel Temko in West Los Angeles, “Whimsy + Row is an eco-conscious lifestyle brand born out of a love for quality goods and sustainable practices.  Since, 2014, (their) mission has been to provide ease and elegance for the modern, sustainable woman.” (“Our Values”).

Whimsy and Row tackles fair trade issues on all fronts.  All apparel is made within a few miles of their West Los Angeles office by workers on sewing machines, decreasing the links in their supply chain.  Also allowing for close observation of the factories and working conditions.  The products themselves are eco-friendly made from upcycled/deadstock fabric, certified organic cotton, Cupro, silk linen, etc.  Each fabric that is used has a detailed summary of its origin, color, processes, how it’s sustainable and biodegradability.  Everything uses recycled water with zero-waste and breakdown what’s done with every scrap of leftover fabric.  The company also “pays it forward” by working with many organizations focusing on equal rights, fair wages, climate change and feeding the hungry and eliminating homelessness.  (“Our Values”).

The market demographics are creative and/or career-oriented women 24-35 years of age that are environmentally conscious, have a decent amount of disposable income and are slenderly built.  While I like the concept of the company and a lot of their pieces, I would not buy from them.  Even if their sizing wasn’t completely antiquated (an XL, their largest size, being equivalent to a size 8-10; the entire size range being sizes 0-10), I would not spend the amount of money for anything I’ve seen thus far.  The prices range generally range from $50-$250 with a couple $312 outerwear jackets.  Perhaps if the price points were a bit lower and their sizing was more inclusive, I would.  While I did not have and issue with vaguely similar sizing when I worked for Venus USA, 1998-2005, (their XL being an 11-12 and largest size being 13-14), like J. Crew, H&M and Bonobos, Venus not only expanded on their sizing, they reconfigured the entire manner in which they approach sizing (Petro).  I am more understanding of the price point side of things.   The idea that it’s unlikely you’d run into anyone wearing your exact outfit as they pride themselves on the fact that they cut limited quantities making their pieces unique so “you won’t see everyone and their mama wearing it” (Temko).

Keeping that in mind, it doesn’t make sense with their waitlist feature on the website, specifically aimed at knowing exactly how much to make so there is no over or under cutting, that they can’t (at the very least) expand the sizes offered and test out those sizes strictly with that feature.  Catering to just one body type is ‘so 90s state-of-mind.’  That is one reason that I believe Whimsy and Row can only upscale to a certain point.  Unless they become more inclusive and perhaps adding another category such as a small amount of men’s staple pieces.  The most surprising collection I saw was their wedding collection.  The tops, pants, dresses, blouses and jackets are predictable product selections.

The fact that Whimsy and Row leadership visits their factories frequently to ensure that the workers are being treated and compensated fairly, along with their transparency, is refreshing.  Every step in the process is laid out in detail on their website, from the fabrics details to each piece and impact from buying each specific piece, including:  drinking water saved, driving emissions avoided and bulb energy saved.  The totals for the entire company are included on the website’s homepage and seeing the figures gradual increase over the course of my research was a surprisingly nice feature.  They also are honest about which aspects they are not exactly where they want to be, such as they are close to being entirely vegan, but not quite there just yet.  The litany of procedures and extensive measures taken, Whimsy and Row creates the appearance of atmospheric positivity and assurance against a negative impact on the environment.  

The focus being on adding those staple pieces to wardrobes is about eliminating the access and being okay with “enoughness,” however the brand doesn’t settle on just the standard staple pieces.  While they definitely have a cohesive color palette throughout most of their collections, not all of the colors are “typical” yet they have an air of creative timelessness.  Though “the antidote to too-muchness may be enoughness” that doesn’t mean it has to be boring (<em>Trebay</em>).  

References:

Textiles:  Material – Specific Data; Facts and Figures about Materials Waste and Recycling.  (2018).  Retrieved March 4, 2022 , from https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data

The Good Trade.  (2018).  Temko, Rachel.  Week of Outfits Series:  A Week Of Made-In-USA Outfits With Rachel Temko, Founder of Whimsy + Row.  Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/week-of-outfits-rachel-temko-founder-whimsy-and-row

Forbes.  (2019, September 27).  Petro, Greg.  How Inclusive Brands like H&M, J. Crew, Bonobos are Reshaping Modern Fashion.  Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregpetro/2019/09/27/how-inclusive-brands-like-hm-jcrew-bonobos-are-reshaping-modern-fashion/?sh=3d7246583368

Our Values and Sustainability:  We take pride in consciously reducing our eco-footprint with every step in the process.  Whimsy + Row.  Retrieved March 4, 2022, from https://whimsyandrow.com/pages/our-values-sustainability

Trebay, Guy.  (2020, August 19).  <em>Want to Make It Big in Fashion?  Think Small, Like Evan Kinori.</em>  The New York Times.  Retrieved March 5, 2002 from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/fashion/evan-kinori-menswear.html

 

Ever heard the saying “It takes a village to raise a child”? This is the perfect analogy to mirror the efforts needed by consumers and businesses to effectively practice sustainability in the fashion industry. The need for sustainable fashion has never been more urgent as the world as we know it is deteriorating at an alarming rate, in addition to promoting immense amounts of pollution on land and in the air. Taking a step back, supply and demand can be said to be the focal issue impeding efforts towards fashion sustainability. The demand for clothing is often seen as a great way to increase profits for businesses as they have projected earnings to meet/exceed each quarter. These corporations will do anything it takes to meet those goals, some of which neglect ethical practices hence the recurring push to neutralize sweatshops and familiarize ourselves with sustainability. 

Levi’s for instance is a clothing company that has contributed to the push to influence others to practice sustainability. From sourcing to production, the California-based company founded by German native Levi Strauss adapts to the times and seeks innovative yet ethical ways to produce their product with little to no kickback. “And the team has always been at the forefront of change and progress: The brand touts eco-friendly and sustainable practices like recyclable denim (The Good Trade, 2022)”. Although Levi’s has been able to produce in such a way, the business has not been Fair Trade certified. Now, this does not devalue the brand or exclude them from the businesses that are pro-sustainable wear but some of their practices still are questionable. One of them being their outsourcing and production. The business iconic 501 style jeans are manufactured by hand outside the United States and are rather stitched by factories in Thailand (Winn, 2012). The American apparel industry has been a great influence on other countries and how they create and distribute clothing.

In regards to global production, America must uphold its responsibility of implementing safe and ethical practices in the fashion industry regardless of the product being outsourced. America can not thrive without the global contribution and this has been showcased a handful of times even in the likes of war (ok now to lighten up the mood a little). Levi’s jeans are eco-friendly and actually contain recycled denim from all over. Earlier it was mentioned that Levi’s is an innovative company. Well, they found a unique way to finish a garment with minimal chemical usage using laser technology. Their testing lab located in the business’s origins is responsible for running trials on their denim to document how they should go about putting the final touches on their denim. With all the research and efforts into these trials, you would think these jeans cost an arm and a leg. Yet these slightly upscale jeans cost roughly $110 in the United States. As an inner-city kid who works a 9-5, the price does not budge me. Go ahead and give sustainability a try.

 

References

https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing

Nusca, Andrew. “Tablets, Lasers, and Time to Market: How Levi Strauss Reinvented the Way It Makes Jeans.” Fortune, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2018, https://fortune.com/2018/02/27/levi-strauss-tablets-lasers-market-jeans-model/.

Trebay, Guy. “Want to Make It Big in Fashion? Think Small, like Evan Kinori.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 19 Aug. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/fashion/evan-kinori-menswear.html.

It is clear that the fashion industry as an affect on the environment. In the recent years fashion had a dramatic shift with production of fast fashion. Companies are attending to consumers need for affordable and fashionable clothing, but it has a negative impact on the environment. Fast fashion is the cause of increase in textile waste. According to the article “Fast fashion is destroying the planet; here’s how” 53 million tones of fiber is produced by fast fashion industry every year. As a results these fibers can cause many negative health effects and cause global warming. For cheaper prices many producers turn to synthetic materials such as polyester. Fibers that are made out of plastic release carbon emissions. It’s recored that fast fashion is the cause of global warming with the 1.2 billions tones of carbon dioxide being release into the atmosphere.

The fashion and the textiles industry is a major concern to the pollution of water. We all know that the factories uses a lot of water to clean garments. Most garments is made out of cotton so it takes 10,000 liters of water to produce one kilogram of cotton. Out simple everyday t-shirts takes 3,00 liters of water for one cotton. This is insane with how much the fashion industry relies on water to get garments made. Textile dyes that are use today are harmful chemicals that eventually makes the way into the rivers and oceans. Many factories overseas distribute the dyes into our water stream  which is  extremely toxic.

Due to the negative impact of the fashion industry on the environment many companies such as Patagonia is making a change to reduce environmental impacts. Patagonia is a company that focus on sustainability. They focus on selling environmental apparels with the production of recycling materials and switch to a more organic cotton. Patagonia takes responsibilities in the environment by willing to work or partner with companies  to reduce the toxins that’s being release on our planet. They work with top leaders in apparel industry to work together to create environmental performance. Due to the help of Patagonia its reported that 49 members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition represent a third of clothing and footwear sold on the planet. As you can see the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard put the environment first.

I feel what Patagonia is doing for the environment is good! The company is doing a lot to make a change in the fashion industry. Currently I don’t have any Patagonia apparel, but with the contribution  to the environmental crisis I would definitely support this brand.

 

 

Reference:

https://www.cnbctv18.com/auto/all-you-need-to-know-about-charging-your-ev-at-home-12734262.htm

https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/7/20/the-impact-of-fast-fashion-on-the-environment

https://www.patagonia.com/sustainable-apparel-coalition.html

When it comes to sustainability, many fashion companies and designers have never used sustainable products or materials because they have always wanted their collections and garments to look fashion forward and not boring or dull in color. Today designers have leaned towards more sustainable collections because it is better for the earth and for sales. Milenials and Gen Z look forward towards the more sustainable collections because that’s what popular, the material and fabrics are much better and less cheap, they don’t break down as fast as the regular non- sustainable clothes do.

A company that had caught my eye on sustainable fashion was Hackwith Design House which is based in Minnesota, USA. Their company is made to order, they have an inclusive sizing range but they are limited run batches and they are a second hand shop with low waste. The Hackwith Design House is known for their investment pieces. they have many products ranging from swimwear to accessories, outerwear and women’s apparel. Their sizes in their store range from XS-4.5X , which is a really good thing because when it comes to plus size women they can never seem to find what they want in clothing and this company offers their clothing in bigger sizes and are also sustainable. “Hackwith Design House’s soothing, in-style color palette is perfect for the minimalist looking to invest in clothing that will last a lifetime.” (Staff, 35 ethical and sustainable clothing brands betting against Fast Fashion 2022).  The fabric that is used to make these garments are bought from local family owned fabric stores that specialize in purchasing run off fabrics.

Lisa Hackwith is the designer behind the brand and when she shops for fabrics at the local shops she try to feel each fabric until she finds the perfect ones for her clothing and different garments that she creates. She wants to ensure her customers that the products they are going to purchase, the fabric will equal to the value that she is selling the clothing for. When it comes to America making clothes and selling them some companies don’t really know what fabrics they are using and they don’t know how to use those fabrics. For example some American designers might want to use a thick fabric to make a skirt but they won’t know the consequences to making that skirt because a skirts fabric is supposed to be breathable and flowy not thick, non-breathable and stiff.

Something that really stood out to me about this company is that the owner and her employees find fabrics that are more sustainable than other because she wants her company to represent sustainable fashion lines and she wants to continue doing best for her company. Lisa Hackwith usually likes to send PR packages to bloggers from all over so that they can review her clothing, the material and price points. She wants them to be as vocal as possible when it comes to reviewing her clothing because it can give her an idea on what to improve and work on, she can even continue on some some of the pros from her company by sending clothing to bloggers.

References:

The best in ethical fashion. Hackwith Design House. (2022, March 7). Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://hackwithdesignhouse.com/

Shannon. (2020, November 23). Making it: Startup advice from Hackwith Design house. Factory45. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://factory45.co/making-startup-advice-hackwith-design-house

Staff. (2022, February 16). 35 ethical and sustainable clothing brands betting against Fast Fashion. The Good Trade. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing

Sézane: French Fashion Brand with a Focus on quality and creativity

BY: Alexander Domond

 

 

Slowly but steadily, the fashion industry has begun to shift its focus away from fast fashion and toward more environmentally friendly methods of manufacturing garments. Fashion, despite the efforts of certain corporations to be more environmentally conscious, continues to hurt the earth. Through the creation of clothes, we are expanding our carbon effect on the earth, which has an impact on people from all walks of life throughout the world. Sustainability is a relatively recent concept that has been brought into the fashion industry and which contributes to the preservation of our environment. Many firms and brands are gradually altering their business practices to include partnering with fair trade producers and using environmentally friendly manufacturing methods.

 

Sézane’s journey starts with long-forgotten luggage and a passion for all things old. In 2011, Morgane Sézalory discovered an abandoned collection of antique clothes and immediately started making minor alterations to the garments and selling them on Etsy and other social media platforms under the moniker “Les Composantes”(Sézane.com, “Who we are”, n.d.”. Her monthly drops, also known as rendez-vous, became a much-anticipated event in the French capital. After a few years, Morgane recognized she had discovered her calling she started incorporating new designs into her antique collection, which led to the creation of Sézane (Sézane.com, “Who we are”, n.d.”.

 

More than two-thirds of Sézane models are manufactured in Europe, with the other third created in other parts of the globe, depending on the source of raw materials, experience, working conditions, and manufacturing capacity. India, Portugal, China, Bulgaria, and Italy are just a few of the countries that create some of the models (Sézane.com, “Who we are”, n.d.”. Most of the garments by Sézane by Employees within Atelier shops are made by machine and hand. Sézane is known for their sustainability Organic cotton, certified fabrics, recycled polyester, and vegetable-tanned leather is used in the bulk of Sézane’s collections, as is recycled polyester.  Silk is Oeko-Tex 100 approved in 82 percent of cases, Organic cotton accounts for 83 percent of total cotton production, FSC Mix certified viscose makes about 68 percent of the total viscose, and Vegetable tanning accounts for 61% of leather production. As stated by the writer, “Guided by a desire to create timeless pieces that respect the plant and its people” (Sézane.com, “Who we are”, n.d.”. In my perspective, this is an indication that this company is sustainable. From a business/financial point of view, this company will thrive due to its Strong desire to respect mother nature and to limit the Pollution within the air that we breathe. Adult clothing, jeans, purses, accessories, and shoes are all available through Sézane (Staff, 2022)

 

To Conclude, Sézane would be considered a Semi-luxury Brand due to its use of craftsmanship and premium natural materials and yet, still affordable to an extent. Though they are sustainable and affordable to an extent, I Wouldn’t consider buying them when compared to many other brands that fit my liking. Sézane is a great B-Corp-certified Company with a large variety of adult clothing, jeans, purses, accessories, and shoes.

 

Reference

(2019). Ecocult. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://ecocult.com/french-brand-sezane-ethical-sustainable/.

 

Sezane.com. (n.d.). Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.sezane.com/us/aboutus/born-in-paris

 

Staff. (2022, February 16). 35 ethical and sustainable clothing brands betting against Fast Fashion. The Good Trade. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing

 

 

Fast Fashion and the textile industry continue to be the biggest problems impacting the health of the global environment. There is an enormous amount of waste that is produced as a result of the apparel industry. To counteract this, sustainability principles have become the topic of discussion when contemplating which brands to support and patronize. Overproduction in the fashion industry leads to about 60 billion clothing items being sent to the landfill within a year of purchase (Clean Clothes Campaign, Waste and Pollution, n.d.). It also accounts for 10% of total carbon emissions worldwide and is one of the leading causes of plastic and water pollution globally. It takes approximately 2,000 gallons of water to construct one pair of jeans (United Nations, Climate and Environment, 2019). While clothing production and sales are on a steady incline, the average number of times consumers wear an item is declining. This has led to detrimental consequences for the planet and has been a push for consumers to shop ethically and brands to become more sustainable.

Patagonia is a brand that has always had values centered around consumer and environmentally friendly practices. Founded by Yvon Chouinard in 1973, the company has amassed a global following with stores spanning across five continents. Patagonia has contracts with factories throughout 16 countries, including The United States. They subsequently joined the Fair Labor Association which ultimately prohibits child labor, forced labor various types of harassment and hazardous working conditions. One of their contracted factories in Texas employs disabled persons and is a key reason they continue to do business with this particular factory (Patagonia, Our Footprint Design, 2015). Their products are made by skilled sewing operators and these operators are paid the minimum or prevailing wage, whichever is higher.

American apparel companies are tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that workers employed by the factories they contract work to, are treated fairly, ethically and are paid decent wages. They must also protect themselves against conditions or rulings that may be outlawed in other countries. When American textile businesses outsource their manufacturing and production needs to the global community, it is their responsibility to guarantee similar or the same working conditions that would be deemed legal in The United States. Patagonia in particular has added another aspect of sustainability through their “Worn Wear” initiative. Aside from buying new online, this gives their consumers the option to buy used, trade in or fix existing merchandise which cuts down on total carbon and water waste by 82% (Worn Wear, n.d.). They sell an assortment of products for men, women and children, across a variety of sports including kite fishing, climbing, mountain biking and surfing and ranging in price from $10 to $700. Patagonia has a very loyal customer base and most sales are from consumers overseas.

 

I am a patron of Patagonia products and am a fan of their utility pouches and bags in addition to their t-shirts, shorts and pants. I love their products and have had individual items for over three years. The craftsmanship of their products ensures durability and they stand behind their workmanship. I believe they adhere to their company values which include building the best product and causing no unnecessary harm.

 

References:

Enviro Editor. (2021, November 18). Patagonia Clothing: Made where? how? why? Patagonia. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://www.patagonia.com/stories/patagonia-clothing-made-where-how-why/story-18467.html

Mulhern, O. (2021, October 27). The 9 essential fast fashion statistics: Earth.org – past: Present: Future. Earth.Org – Past | Present | Future. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://earth.org/data_visualization/the-9-biggest-fast-fashion-statistics/

Portela, V. (2021, March 9). The fashion industry waste is drastically contributing to climate change. CALPIRG. Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://calpirg.org/blogs/blog/cap/fashion-industry-waste-drastically-contributing-climate-change#:~:text=A%20lot%20of%20the%20clothing,up%20thrown%20away%20to%20landfills.

Staff. (2022, February 16). 35 ethical and sustainable clothing brands betting against Fast Fashion. The Good Trade. Retrieved March 4, 2022, from https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing

Villemain, C. (2019, March 25). Un launches drive to highlight environmental cost of staying fashionable | | UN news. United Nations. Retrieved March 5, 2022, from https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/03/1035161

Better than new. Worn Wear. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://wornwear.patagonia.com/?utm_source=patww

Fair Labor Association. Code of Conduct | Fair Labor Association. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from http://www.fairlabor.org/our-work/labor-standards

Our company history – Patagonia. Patagonia Outdoor Clothing & Gear. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.patagonia.com/company-history/

Our core values – Patagonia. Patagonia Outdoor Clothing & Gear. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.patagonia.com/core-values/

Waste and pollution. Clean Clothes Campaign. (2021, August 16). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://cleanclothes.org/fashions-problems/waste-and-pollution