I became interested in sustainable fashion when I worked at Joe Fresh in high school. During the time I worked there, the factory in Bangladesh that produced the clothing for the company collapsed, killing hundreds of workers. This horrific disaster once one of the turning points that shone light on the terrible and inhumane conditions that people work in with the production of fast fashion. Fast fashion, companies like Joe Fresh, Zara, Forever 21, and so one, is one of the most waste producing, carbon emitting industries, and one that relied heavily on the exploitation of labour through the outsourcing of work to produce this clothing.
In a system of capitalism, we have become increasingly used to and expect convenience and cheap access to the material things that we desires, but at what cost do these things come?
Sustainable fashion is a way that allows us to think critically about what we are purchasing, why we desire it, and where these things are coming from. Sustainable fashion can look like buying less, thrifting your clothing instead of purchasing it new, or buying from brands that use sustainable fabrics, produce limited quantities, and create proper working and production conditions for those that they employ.
A little it better than nothing. Try buying your next pair or jeans second hand, rewear your clothing until the end of their life, or check out my sustainable shopping page for some places to buy ethically sourced items.
Happy fashion!
fashion with mackenzie 