The fashion industry has a bad rap when it comes to sustainability.
Experts estimate it is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. That is way more than maritime shipping and international flights combined.
The sector causes major pollution in terms of landfills ชุดแต่งงาน. About 92 million of the 100 billion pieces of clothing manufactured every year end up in landfills.
This might not concern the Baby Boomers or the Gen X, but it certainly troubles
Millennials and Gen Z. They are coming in support of sustainable fashion brands. That is, they’re demanding more from their favorite brands, pushing them to adopt greener, more responsible practices.
Going green isn’t easy. But there are plenty of innovative ideas that are helping fashion brands make this shift without compromising on style or success.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most creative practices that can help you make your operations more sustainable.
#1 Adopt Sustainable Materials
Relying on non-recyclable materials and synthetic fibers like acrylic and nylon can help you cut costs. But these materials aren’t sustainable and are harmful to the environment.
Washing clothes made from synthetic fibers, for instance, releases millions of tiny microfibers via water treatment plants into the sea. The ingestion of these microfibers can stunt the growth of crabs, reveals BBC Earth.
Switch to sustainable materials instead. Use organic cotton, bamboo, and hemp to manufacture clothing.
Organic cotton is grown without pesticides, and its carbon footprint is small. Bamboo and hemp are also great options—they’re fast-growing and need less water than traditional crops.
Luxury brands like Gucci and Stella McCartney are leading the charge in using sustainable materials. These brands are seamlessly blending trend-focused designs with eco-friendly materials.
The Philippine fashion industry is also embracing sustainable fabrics. Filip + Inna, famed for its handcrafted garments, for instance, uses eco-friendly materials such as organic cotton.
#2 Offer Rental Options
Consumers of fast fashion are quick to throw clothes away. In fact, consumers consider the lowest-priced garments almost throwaway items, with some pieces being discarded after just seven wears. An article published in McKinsey & Company revealed that.
Offering clothing rental options can be an effective solution to combat this wasteful behavior.
Brands can encourage sustainability and reduce the amount of textile waste by giving customers the choice to rent rather than buy. Why not offer rental options, then?
Rent the Runway and Nuuly have emerged as two major players in the fashion rental market. The latter reported over 50% annual sales growth for the first quarter that ended on April 30, 2024.
You can also tap into this growing trend by building a website for renting clothing.
Thanks to AI-powered website builders, creating a professional, user-friendly platform has never been easier. These tools use artificial intelligence to automate much of the design process. That means you can launch a fully functional clothing rental website in just a few steps and as little as five minutes.
Website builders powered by AI have all the features you would need to build a site. As per Hocoos, they have multimedia tools for adding images, videos, text, and audio. E-commerce tools like payment integrations and product listing features are also available. You can even integrate them with Google Analytics and other SEO tools.
Once your website is ready, showcase the latest styles. Make sure to feature categories based on occasions, such as casual wear, formal events, or even work attire. That way, it will be easy for users to find exactly what they need without the commitment of purchasing.
#3 Stop Overproducing
Fashion brands overproduce—it’s one of the dirty secrets of the industry.
A staggering 89% of major fashion brands do not reveal how many garments they produce every year. That’s according to the 2023 Fashion Transparency Index of Fashion Revolution.
A recent feature of The Guardian has disclosed that as many as 40%—or 60 billion—of garments manufactured each year are not sold.
Overproduction might generate profit, but it also leads to increased textile waste.
Move away from the traditional model of mass-producing items that may never sell. Focus on producing smaller, more thoughtful collections based on actual demand instead. Make quality and sustainable products that last for a long time, not cheap disposable ones.
Zara has already taken steps to eliminate waste by shifting to a just-in-production model to make turnaround times as short as possible. This production philosophy focuses on producing clothes when and in the quantities needed by customers rather than producing in excess or in advance.
Embrace the just-in-production model where you produce clothing closer to when it’s needed, minimizing overstock.
For fashion brands, embracing innovative practices that make their brand sustainable is not easy. But it is a step that every brand must take to reduce their environmental footprint.
Small shifts, such as switching to sustainable materials and offering rental options, can make a big difference. The beauty of these practices is that they’re not only good for the planet but also for business. Today’s consumers are looking for brands that align with their values, and sustainability is at the top of that list.
Hence, taking steps to be more eco-conscious will not only help your business grow but also contribute to a greener future for everyone.