The truth is, whether we choose to open our eyes and see it or not, that the fashion industry is the second largest polluter of water in the world and about 20% of the water pollution comes from dyeing fabrics with harmful chemicals..at if there shall ever be a future for our grandchildren. In the perfect world, people would not consume any more than absolutely necessary. They would not over-consume and they would be more aware of the impact they make on our planet.
The truth is, whether we choose to open our eyes and see it or not, that the fashion industry is the second largest polluter of water in the world and about 20% of the water pollution comes from dyeing fabrics with harmful chemicals.
”Today’s textiles economy is so wasteful that in a business-as-usual scenario, by 2050 we will have released over 20 million tonnes of plastic microfibers into the ocean” as stated in the Business of Fashion's sustainability report
So how can the fashion industry contribute to a better world? The answer is simple. The way to do it is through finding sustainable ways of making and buying clothing.
As of this moment, there are two entities responsible for creating a more sustainable planet; the big corporations and the everyday consumer. The corporations set the standards of which the consumer then goes by. The consumer buys what they are offered and the corporations produce what is demanded. One would change the supply, or demand of the other but if none of the two chooses to change we are stuck in an infinite cycle of no change. So what actions by consumers or corporations will lead to significant change? What in the humanities psyche does not make us understand the harm we are doing on the planet? We are the only ones who can change the outcome of the planet, yet we are not prepared to do enough to change our habits.
Though many other aspects of sustainability are important, such as materials, manufacturing and production, the corporations set the rules for the supply chain and the customer sets the demands and their behavior is therefore, the most important when it comes to making the fashion industry more sustainable. Without a change in behavior from these two parts, the other aspects will never change either.
Us at WL Journal may not be able to impact the big corporations but we can educate, inspire and motivate the consumer which we will aim to do with interesting engaging posts, not only about what is done wrong in the world but more importantly what is done right. What brands work hard on being sustainable? What can we do in our every-day life to make ourselves and the planet feel better? And how can sustainable fashion and design be trendy and fun?
Stay tuned for more from WL Journal
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