What is Sustainable Clothing?
"Progress is a nice word. But change is its motivator. And change has its enemies"
Robert Kennedy
What might the enemies of a small Irish sustainable clothing brand be I hear you ask. Bohoo, Zara and Forever 21 for a start. But without sounding like a self help guru, we believe our biggest enemy is actually consumer mindset. Sustainable fashion is becoming more in vogue by the day but a sense of unknown still permeates in the consciousness of the mainstream consumer. We're motivated to change this by shedding light on the concept of Sustainable Clothing.
Why is it important to be Eco-Friendly?
Listen to Elon Musk (not advisable granted) and you might come around to the thinking that Mars is liveable. However, earth is all we have at the moment so if that isn't a good enough reason to be eco conscious then I don't know what is. I really believe it is that simple. We have nowhere else to go so why wouldn't we look after our planet.
Now let's take things from a clothing perspective. Supporting eco friendly brands is often a two fold benefit. You get clothing that is produced in a sustainable manner, helping brands to make societal impact. The vibrancy of the Irish sustainable clothing market means that it was never easier to access fashion that's good for you and the environment.
Is all Sustainable Clothing the same?
The shorthand answer is no. Organic cotton, recycled polyester, hemp, bamboo and tencel are all eco friendly fabrics. The more deeply rooted answer is no too. Our focus is on the latter. From New Look to Tommy Hilfiger himself, the sustainable clothing hype train is nearly at full capacity these days. At a glance, yes so many well known brands are now offering clothing that is made from organic cotton or recycled polyester. But the fact remains that the vast majority of their clothing lines continue to be made from conventional cotton and polyester. Therefore their sustainability efforts can be likened to nothing more than a marketing ploy. A disrespectful one at that. Robin Hood robbed from the rich and gave to the poor, a large portion of clothing brands rob from the earth and throw it a few measly cents in return.
Can it become more popular than Fast Fashion?
Yes, yes it can. Recognised as the 2021 Sustainable Fashion capital of Europe, Dublin is flying the eco friendly clothing flag. On a global scale, Etsy recently purchased Depop- a haven of sustainable second hand fashion. To finish, the tide is turning and we're delighted to be on the right side of it. Fast fashion damages our planet, shows disregard for worker's rights and is typically lacking in quality and durability. So the next time your wardrobe needs an upgrade, follow the rising tide, you won't regret it!
