By Serina Tatham
When thinking about sustainable fashion, the focus tends to be on what the garments are made from or who made your clothes. We mindlessly add to basket without thinking about the wider impact of our clicks. But, as the fashion industry is more harmful than the airline industry, it’s something we should start considering as well.
With climate change becoming an increasingly pressing issue facing society today, we need to make sure that we’re not counteracting our conscious choices with unconscious ones. In this article our aim is to give you all the facts about why you should pay attention to where your clothes come from, allowing you to online shop with full peace of mind.
With the rise of awareness about fashion and sustainability, there are some great new brands based in the US and other countries that are becoming increasingly popular here in the UK. But, despite being socially responsible and considerate about how they manufacture their products, can the clothes really be sustainable if they carry the extra carbon footprint of having to travel all the way from the US to Europe?
What to consider
The first thing to consider is whether an item is made in locally or in a foreign factory. The actual manufacturing of textiles makes up 1.2 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year – more than all international flights and maritime shipping trips combined! One reason for this is that foreign factories, particularly those in Asian countries, are heavily coal-dependent and therefore have a higher carbon footprint. So, wherever possible, buy from a brand that uses local manufacturers.
The second important thing to think about is whether the garments travel via sea or sky. Air travel comes with such a huge carbon footprint, so it’s best to stay away from companies using this as their main method of shipping. If you can find out the information, look for brands using maritime shipping as this is the most carbon-efficient form of transport – even more so than road travel.
Some fashion retailers like NA-KD are taking it upon themselves to offer free climate compensated shipping, but unfortunately these are few and far between.
Whether you’re based in the UK, Europe or further afield, we’ve put together a list of our favourite sustainable brands across the globe so you can shop responsibly and locally.
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS: UK
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS: EUROPE
- amt. (Spain)
- Aniela Parys (Spain)
- Bogdar (Bulgaria)
- Eat Dust (Belgium)
- Holzweiler (Norway)
- COSSAC (Portugal)
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS: AFRICA
- TONGORO (Senegal)
- Orange Culture (Nigeria)
- Lisa Folawiyo Studio
- RICH MNISI (South Africa)
- Christie Brown (Ghana)
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS: AMERICA
SUSTAINABLE BRANDS: AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
As studies have shown, the miles that our clothing travels contributes more to climate change than our holidays. Thankfully, it’s so easy to make some changes to your shopping habits.
Crucially, though, reducing your fashion footprint isn’t a one-step job but something that requires you to re-think your entire approach to spending.
When trying to be a more mindful fashion lover, they key is to be conscious:
As society starts to challenge old consumer habits, we can help inform the future of fashion. By shopping more consciously, big brands will become aware that we want a slower and more responsible future for the fashion industry.
To calculate your overall carbon footprint and learn about which other aspects of your life you can make more green, the WWF has an amazing calculator which you can find here.
If you’ve had any difficulty making some swaps, let us know down below and we can give you some handy tips.
Serina Tatham
Having been an avid writer from a young age, being at KeiSei has given her the opportunity to pursue this love and combine it with her passion for ethical living, all while completing her bachelors at the University of Amsterdam.
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