Understanding Ethical Fashion

Once I had my capsule wardrobe going for a few years, I stumbled upon an article on ethical fashion and sustainable clothing. I remember when I was younger, hearing news stories on child labor in textile factories. But I haven’t heard anything about that in ….. hmm, how long. (It helps when you don’t watch the news anymore.) Was this still an issue? So I did some research.

So what is ethical fashion?

There is no easy definition. Ethical fashion is an umbrella term used to describe ethical fashion design, production, retail, and purchasing. It includes topics like working conditions, fair trade, child labor and exploitation, sustainable production, and environment. With such broad issues covered, it can be challenging to pin down what makes clothing ethical and sustainable. 

Many people would like to purchase clothing that is ethical and sustainable, but there are no clear guidelines, and very few companies do it all right. With the internet at our disposal, knowledge is just a few clicks away. The most significant impact we can make starts when we learn about the issues at hand.

It all comes down to you. You choose what matters the most to you regarding the topics covered by ethical fashion. Find companies that follow those same moral standards.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it isn’t all important. I believe it is, but after feeling like I couldn’t make a purchase that fit into all of my wanted ethical categories, I had to start somewhere. So start somewhere! Pick some topics that matter to you and start purchasing clothing from companies that hold the same ethical viewpoints as you do.

Some values to think about include:

So what is Slow Fashion?

Fast fashion is a movement in the fashion industry where the latest styles are quickly turned out and on store shelves in a matter of weeks. Typically we shopped twice a year for clothing: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Now some companies are putting out new clothing almost every week. This pressure to speed up production and cut costs results in clothing that is not made to last. The textile industry is the 2nd biggest polluting industry. (The first being oil and gas). If our clothing wears out faster, than we just have to go shopping again, meaning more production for the textile industry.  

So what happens to all this worn out and unwanted clothing? Surprisingly Americans only donate about 15% of their clothing; the rest, 1.6 million tons a year, goes to landfills. And since much of our clothing today is made at least in part with synthetic materials, it sits in our landfills for a very long time.  

So what can we do?

• Buy less. Try to buy well-made items that will last.
• Shop at thrift stores.  
• Buy from sustainable/ethical companies.
• Donate your unwanted clothing.
• Find places that will take used clothing for recycling.

We are not perfect. I’ve purchased clothing from ethical companies, and I still buy clothing from Target. We make changes in small increments. Every little step counts. I am aware now of the impact the clothing industry has on the environment and the people who produce it. When I shop at Target, I think about the issues that are important to me. Is saving the money worth sacrificing those values? Many times this question is enough for me to put back that item of clothing. Instead, I make do with what I have until it wears out. For some items, like bras, I find it difficult to shop online. So I do purchase things that don’t always stand up to my values. Having the insight to think about my choices is where the change begins.  

On your journey, your choices will make a difference. You start where you are and allow the knowledge and insights you have gained to help you decide where you can begin.