Sustainable fashion and Climate Change
First, is the eye-catching display of mannequins draped in exquisite fabrics and trendy accessories at the facade of the boutique. Then, it’s rack upon rack of T-shirts, blouses, pants, skirts, dresses, shoes, and bags in every imaginable style and color. Next, are the bold red signs all over the store declaring , ‘Sale’, ‘Buy 2 Free 1’ and ‘50% off’.
It takes an enormous amount of willpower not to grab as many items as possible and head straight to the cashier. Unfortunately, most people give in anyway, and buy without giving much thought to whether the items they have selected are sustainable. Many do not stop to ask themselves if keeping up with the latest fashion trends is worth jeopardizing the environment.
But, how does fashion contribute to climate change? Here, it is important to distinguish between sustainable fashion and fast fashion. According to Vogue, sustainable fashion is an umbrella term for clothes that are created and consumed in a way that can be, quite literally sustained, while protecting both the environment and those producing garments. In other words, sustainable fashion addresses environmental issues such as the emission of greenhouse gasses and water pollution as well as social issues, namely the exploitation of labor.