Sustainable Fashion

Women are making a huge impact through their sustainable fashion brands and stores.

BY AUSTIN WOMAN

The words “sustainability” and “fashion” usually don’t share space in the mind of the general public. However, fashion’s impact on the environment cannot be understated, particularly “fast fashion,” a term for clothes that are cheaply made near-replicas of runway styles priced at rates that encourage consumers to buy large quantities quickly. Earth.org compiled a list of the most harrowing fast-fashion facts. Nearly 10% of global emissions come from the fast fashion industry, and even more disconcerting, by 2030, the industry’s global emissions will increase by 50%. What’s more, 90% of garments produced end up in landfills. But the tide is slowly shifting. At the local level, cities like Austin are intentionally introducing strategic plans to actively create a more environmentally responsible community. Local fashion brands and stores have taken the charge for sustainability head-on.