Excerpt 01 : Sustainable futures

  • Tanya Madzima
This post is created to promote increased dialogue highlighting Sustainable practices within the fashion industry by Stephanie Madzima herwearsblog.wordpress.com. Keep the conversation going, leave a comment | Follow the dialogue, stay tuned and subscribe.

THE DIRTY “FAST FASHION” RAT RACE

Often the pace at which the fashion industry moves leaves us feeling like we’re in somewhat of a rat race. The dirty “fast fashion” rat race.[1]   Nonetheless, questions about our apparel are raised? The nature and ethics of our clothes often, or not, come into discussion. Factors concerning production and distribution, as well as retail and use phase are essential topics, but never do they overshadow talks of the latest trends, catwalks, or design. But recently, people want to know which brands are doing what and just how their doing it, with each step in the process to “conscious creation” equally raised as a platform for change and just as considerable as the other.The term ‘Ethical Fashion’ represents an approach. “It covers a range of issues such as working conditions, exploitation, fair trade, sustainable production, the environment, and animal welfare”.[2]   An approach to design, sourcing and manufacturing of garments which maximises benefits to people and communities, while minimising impact on the environment. It is part of the larger growing trend of creating more sustainable, environmentally friendly and ethical products.The term sustainable can be used in the context of both social, environmental and commercial issues; In 1989, the Brundtland Commission articulated what has now become a widely accepted definition of sustainability “[to meet] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”[3]   So in short have you done your bit or are you at least planning to do so for your future self?Follow the Sustainable Futures series on herwearsblog.wordpress.com to see which brands are making an ethical impact and setting the pace on sustainability within the fashion industry.
footnotes:
  1. ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-is-the-second-dirtiest-industry-in-the-world-next-to-big–1882083445
  2. vam.ac.uk/…cles/w/what-is-ethical-fashion
  3. uq.edu.au/…ability/what-is-sustainability
PUBLISHED BY Herwears
Creative freedom perfected through conscious craft. BA (HONS) Fashion Management and Marketing Graduate. Speaks from experience. And market research.