An Ultimate Sustainable and Ethical Fashion Guide From A-Z

Introduction – Discover Meaningful & Sustainable Ethical Fashion

According to the United Nations Environment Program, the fashion industry takes up to 10 % of global carbon emissions, raising global concern amongst environmental-conscious consumers and leading green fashion or sustainable fashion to be the upcoming trend.

Through this post, we attempt to provide you with a sustainable fashion guide from A-Z. So, let’s read on to find out the concept and how to be a wise and green consumer.

What Is Sustainable Fashion – Earth’s Next Top Model?

Sustainable fashion or eco-fashion is defined as changing the fashion system towards ecological integrity and social justice. 

The Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management refers to this branch of the fashion industry as having transparent supply chains, work processes, and environmentally friendly raw materials with safe working conditions and fair wages.

Generally, sustainable fashion refers to longevity—environmental, social, and economic systems and industries need to be designed to be in balance and adapt well into the future.

Importance Of Sustainable Fashion – What Makes Good Fashion Eco-Friendly?

There are three main reasons why sustainability is important, and the sustainable and ethical fashion guide from A-Z will break it down for you right now.

Sustainable Fashion Reduces Waste

Every day, humans release tons of textile waste into the environment all over the world.

Most of the huge amount of waste is produced by fast-fashion suppliers, who sell poor-quality clothing products at cheap prices in a short period.

In contrast, sustainable brands focus on slow fashion. They produce quality clothing from durable and safe materials. Eco-fashion requires a conscious approach to apparel, about the processes and resources to manufacture apparel.

Sustainable Fashion Reduces Air Pollution

As mentioned above, the textile industry is one of the main culprits for leaving tremendous CO2 footprints.

One of the reasons is that many fashion clothes are made from synthetic fibers, such as polyester, nylon, and spandex. These are synthetic materials from petroleum, harmful to the environment.

During material production, we use many energy resources that impact the environment. That is not to mention that these blended fabric types release microplastic into the ocean during every wash. And it has to take decades to disintegrate.

Meanwhile, sustainable fashion using natural clothing or recycled fabrics can be degradable.

Sustainable Fashion Prevent Animal Cruelty

Animals play a crucial part in the earth’s ecosystem, but our exploitation has pushed many species over the edge of extinction.

Fashion products made from animal skin and fur may look appealing, but the production process is far from that; it is indeed cruel.

Instead, you can choose alternatives such as eco-friendly cotton, flax, wool, ramie, vegan silk. It is our shopping habits that will help prevent and stop animal cruelty.

Main Forms Of Sustainable Fashion

Green Fashion

This term has become widely used recently with the rise of concern about environmental pollution. 

With its huge amount of waste, the textile industry overwhelmingly contributes to global warming. Green fashion is the solution. It refers to products and resources that are sustainably sourced and made from eco-friendly materials that can circulate for a long time.

Many brands are claiming that they follow green fashion only because they want to push sales. As a smart consumer, you should check the certifications of the company before shopping for clothes. 

A true green fashion brand will publicize its certifications and production processes on the website. So you can see whether it is living up to the promises it makes.

Recycling Clothing

In fashion, recycling describes a process starting from collecting, reusing, and renewing all the materials, garments, or clothing that people throw away. 

There is plenty of benefits when using recycled materials and products:

• Recycling clothing to reduce a considerable amount of textile waste.
• Reusing waste materials that are supposed to be discharged into the environment.
• Minimizing the use of resources to create new fashion products.

Second-hand Clothing

Have you ever been to a vintage or second-hand store? If you haven’t, you certainly don’t want to miss out on it. You will be surprised at how such beautiful items have such reasonable prices.

Besides, buying second-hand clothing means you are changing your shopping behavior, reducing the consumption of new products, and protecting the environment.

You don’t have to worry that there are few vintage stores or thrift shops around your neighborhood. Online thrift shopping will make it much easier.

Fair And Ethical Clothing

A fair and ethical fashion industry is a key component of sustainable fashion. This term refers to fashion items produced fairly and ethically.

This form of sustainable fashion focuses on working conditions and fair wages for all workers in the fashion industry.

Currently, most fast fashion brands outsource labor in developing countries, where low wages, demands, and protection are not under scrutiny. A safe and well-paid work environment is certainly not the priority. Alarmingly, some companies don’t consider ethics and employ child labor.

Therefore, transparency is crucial. Now, consumers focus not only on the product but also on how it is made.

3 Factors Of A Sustainable Fashion Brand – What are the Key Principles of Sustainable Fashion?

Three main factors that contribute to building a sustainable fashion brand are people, places, and materials.

People

Though sewing is not an easy job and usually requires skill and talent, the tailors are not treated fairly. Most clothing makers still use their workers and consider them a profit product, which is not sustainable manufacturing.

A green brand has to own certifications and follow labor laws and high-quality employment standards.

Location

Location is the second factor that creates a sustainable brand. Check the country where your product is manufactured. There are two cases when shopping for clothes: the piece is a domestic or an imported product.

Perhaps it’s a good choice if you appreciate locally produced clothing as it reduces the resources used during transportation from abroad. Or else, when choosing products manufactured abroad, the company needs to respect the laws and human rights in the host country. 

Dony Garment from Vietnam is the prime example in this case. The company has a transparent work process and complies with international certifications and domestic regulations and laws. It is an ideal choice for fashion companies who want to find a sustainable yet affordable clothing manufacturer.

Material

Generally, eco-conscious consumers tend to choose natural fibers rather than synthetic ones. But, not all-natural materials are safe for the environment.

As a green fashion advocate, you should steer clear of conventional cotton due to a large amount of pesticide and water used during the processing of this material.

If you still prefer a soft and sweat-absorbing material, organic cotton is an excellent substitute. Besides, the green fashion houses always prioritize upcycled and repurposed materials. Natural fibers such as hemp, Tencel, and linen are also environmentally friendly choices.

Sustainable Fashion Certifications

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

The GOTS is one of the most prestigious certifications in the fashion industry. It ensures that yarn, fabrics, and clothing meet requirements for organic classification throughout the manufacturing and supply.

GOTS assessment specifies that natural materials must be 100% organic and without applying chemical treatment. These standards also focus on labor forces that lack fair wages or exposure to unhygienic and unsafe work conditions. 

This certification aims at increasing global transparency in certified organic clothing.

Global Recycle Standard

As its name implies, the certification is developed based on the demands of the fashion industry. It provides a basis to verify the number of recycled parts or ingredients in a product. 

It is divided into three different certifications:

• Bronze Certification: Applied for products made from under 30% recycled material.
• Silver Certification: Applied for products made from 70% to 95% recycled material.
• Gold Certification: Applied for 95% to 100% recycled products.

SA8000 Certification

SA8000 is one of the leading social certification programs in the world. It is developed based on the content of the main conventions of human rights organizations (ILO and the United Nations.

SA8000 applies to almost all industrial fields and aims to promote the human rights of workers worldwide.

Fairtrade Certifications

Fair Trade is one of the most popular and trusted certifications worldwide. It focuses on production, promotion, sale, and artisanal items.

Its standards are designed to aid the sustainable development of three stakeholders, including small producer organizations, hired labor, and trade standards.

Fairtrade certification labels are divided into four types, which are:

• Fairtrade Certified Textiles 
• Fairtrade Certified Cotton 
• Fair Trade USA
• World Fair Trade Organisation (WFTO) Guarantee System

About Dony Garment

Dony Garment is one of the sustainable and trusted textile companies in Vietnam. It is not a wholesaler but a manufacturer that provides made-to-order uniforms and workwear. 

Dony Garment provides services to fashion houses worldwide, in America, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. And it is still expanding the scale to new markets with top-quality and environmentally friendly products at reasonable prices. 

Its production line can execute bulk orders of uniforms, workwear, and accessories in the shortest time while adhering to BSCI, WRAP, OeKO-Tex® 100 certifications to achieve the goal of sustainable development.