Fashion, an integral part of culture, and a culmination of history, pop culture, identity and expression, is something that most, if not all, people participate in whether they are aware of it or not. Most people view fashion and the fashion industry as frivolous, vapid and inaccessible, but as we move into the future, other factors, including sustainability and ethical issues surrounding clothing and how we dress everyday, will come to the forefront. Future ethical fashion will come to include peoples personal views, particularly pertaining to environmentalism and human welfare within the clothing and fashion industry. People are beginning to think about, and care about the source of their clothing, how it is made, and it’s impact on our Earth and subsequently, us as humans.

 

 

 

Facing the environmental and ethical issues that are a product of the fashion industry – more so fast fashion – may be surprising and probably something not much people give any thought to. I myself, am worried about the future of our planet and am particularly interested in researching what measures we need to take to ensure a healthy planet and healthy habits when it comes to the dispensability of clothing and the attitudes that most people currently hold towards their clothing and their wardrobes. Below are some harrowing facts about the environmental impact which occurs as a direct result of the fast fashion industry.

It takes 2,700 L of water to produce a single T-shirt

3 out of 4 garments will end up in landfill or will be incinerated

Synthetic fabrics such as Polyester, Spandex, Nylon and Rayon can take anywhere from 20 – 200 years to break down

20% of industrial water pollution comes from treating and dying textiles

 

Apart from environmental issues, something that particularly concerns me, is the use of animals and animal by-products within the fashion industry. For me, the use of products such as leather, fur and other animal skins as a form of “luxury”, is something I hope to see dying out from the fashion world in the future. This will only be made possible by educating people on where their clothing items come from, and bringing accessible alternative lifestyle choices to the forefront.

To steer the future of fashion towards a greener future, society will start to concentrate and emphasise concepts such as up cycling/thrifting and a larger volume of second hand buying, increase in interest of ethical brands, sourcing  and purchasing as well as suitable innovative substitutes for leathers and other animal by-products.

I see the future of fashion correlating with the changing values of society and it’s people. Recent interest and support for environmental efforts, especially in young people, already foreshadows a more environmentally conscious world, and if the fashion industry and fashion enthusiasts want to be included in that world, it has to modify some of it’s current practices and attitudes.

 

 UPCYCLING/SECOND HAND BUYING

 

One way of enjoying fashion in a more sustainable way, is to upcycle clothing or to mainly buy second hand or vintage clothing. Also known as thrifting, this practice has gained popularity in recent years, which has already seen a shift in peoples attitudes and their awareness of the impact of cheap fast fashion clothing. There is no reason why upcycling can’t be seen on the runway in increasing numbers. Below are examples of designers who recognise this need to change and their examples of up cycling applied on the runway:

 

Bria Hendrickson, 2017

 

Viktor and Rolf, 2017

 

Maison Martin Margiela FW 14

 

Ruizgalán Spring/Summer 2013

Runway Redux: Zero Waste Fashion, 2015

 

 

Ethical Brands

 

Another idea in the fashion sphere, is the growing popularity and support for ethical clothing brands. There is a rapidly growing number of these brands that specialise in products such as clothing, swimwear, activewear, underwear and footwear. Because of the current and exponential growth of these brands, it forecasts a future where ethical fashion is the only or the dominant fashion available.

 

Some ethical/low waste brands:

Girlfriend Collective: An ethical, Vietnam based activewear brand, that makes its garments out of recycled plastic: https://www.girlfriend.com

 

Naja: An eco-conscious brand specialising in underwear and activewear: https://www.naja.co

 

Kowtow Clothing: An ethical and sustainable NZ clothing brand: https://au.kowtowclothing.com

 

Leather Alternatives

 

One thing I know will have to change in the future, is the cruel and heavy use of animal skin in the fashion world. As people educate themselves, along with efforts to produce alternatives, the future of fashion is looking not only more sustainable, but more compassionate.

 

Wasted Fruit Leather Alternative: https://inhabitat.com/students-in-rotterdam-are-turning-wasted-fruit-into-a-leather-alternative/

 

Mushroom Leather: https://inhabitat.com/ecouterre/muskin-a-vegan-leather-made-entirely-from-mushrooms/

 

“Pinatex” or Pineapple Leather: https://www.dezeen.com/2016/06/09/pinatex-ananas-anam-vegan-leather-alternative-ethical-recycled-pineapple-leaves-sustainable-materials-design-camper/

 

 

Kombucha Leather Jacket: https://www.thekitchn.com/you-can-make-clothes-out-of-your-kombucha-scoby-214887