Although highly successful, some questions are left unanswered regarding the fashion sphere, such as what effect does all this making and wasting have on the environment?
In recent years there has been a larger focus on environmental issues, the waste accumulated from clothing being one of them.
Many stores are now opting for a sustainable future, for example, retailers H&M recently released a sustainable line for spring.
To see popular clothing companies endorsing this new point of view towards fashion and conservation is hopeful, however there is a lot of work still to be done.
According to EDGE, the clothing and textile industry is the second largest polluter in the world, after oil.
Out of the fabric intended for clothing, 15% ends up wasted; swept up to be thrown out instead of making something from these ‘scraps’.
Up to 95% of the textiles that are sent to land fill each year could have been recycled instead.
On average, consumers throw away over 30kg of clothing and shoes annually instead of opting to recycle.
Donating just one bag of old clothing has the potential to go much further than a land fill site, discarded clothing could end up on the back of someone who truly needs it.
Events such as ‘Kilo sales’ allow people to browse through stock hosting vintage or recycled items instead of taking to fast fashions sites or shops.
Photo Credit: Cole Proctor
Clothing which has been sourced in this ethical way reduces the amount of waste left by fast fashion retailers.
Cole Procter, the Marketing Manager of Preloved Kilo said: “We live in an age where we have to be very careful about the impact we have on the environment.”
Procter believes people are becoming increasingly aware of these problems and that shopping via kilo sales allows them to feel guilt-free.
Photo Credit: Cole Proctor
Although these kilo sales may be helpful to those who wish to shop with the conscious that they are doing good for the environment, will events like this really help on a larger global scale?
Proctor said: “We have got to remember that we are the only ones who can change our pattern of behaviour,
“If we can reduce the amount of pollution that we cause it will help massively.”
On an individual scale, any small changes someone can offer will hopefully cause a ripple effect and eventually add to a larger impact.
Photo Credit: Cole Proctor
Have a look at what sustainable fashion cities like Manchester have to offer:
Platforms such as ‘Depop’ encourage the upcyling and recycling movement.
Users such as Ellier (@ANXY) prove how “reconstruction starts with deconstruction”, their creativity of turning old coats into three- piece outfits show that there is more life left in clothing.
Watch Ellier's creative process here:
A group of people answered some questions on sustainability:
Graphic created via Piktochart
As a planet, there are only a few critical years left to make a difference.
Think of the future and start to shop sustainably.