ETHICS
SLOW VS FA FAST FASHION
REFERS TO THE ACT OF IMITATING TRENDS AND STYLES FROM THE BIG-NAME DESIGNERS ON THE RUNWAY. THE APPEAL OF FAST FASHION IS NOT HIGHER QUALITY. THE TERM FAST FASHION WAS COINED BY AMERICANS IN THE 1990S. THE IDEA WAS THAT “QUICK RESPONSE” COULD HELP THE US TEXTILE INDUSTRY WORK MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH RETAILERS AND STEM THE TIDE OF PRODUCTION MOVING OFFSHORE. THE APPAREL INDUSTRY ACCOUNTS FOR 10 PERCENT OF GLOBAL CARBON EMISSIONS AND REMAINS THE SECOND LARGEST INDUSTRIAL POLLUTER, SECOND ONLY TO OIL. FAST FASHION ITEMS ARE OFTEN WORN LESS THAN 5 TIMES, KEPT FOR ROUGHLY 35 DAYS, AND PRODUCE OVER 400 PERCENT MORE CARBON EMISSIONS PER ITEM PER YEAR THAN GARMENTS WORN 50 TIMES AND KEPT FOR A FULL YEAR. MORE THAN 70 MILLION BARRELS OF OIL ARE USED TO MAKE POLYESTER EACH YEAR. AND NOT ONLY DOES MAKING POLYESTER NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE ENVIRONMENT IN A HUGE WAY, BUT THE FABRIC ISN’T BIODEGRADABLE, MEANING WHEN IT GETS THROWN OUT, IT ENDS UP IN LANDFILLS WHERE IT TAKES OVER 200 YEARS TO DECOMPOSE. NEWS MAGAZINE
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AST FASHION SLOW FASHION
AIMS TO DECREASE THE SPEED OF PRODUCTION, CONSUMPTION AND DISPOSING BY PLACING GREATER APPRECIATION ON ONE’S PURCHASE. SLOW FASHION IS THE INTERSECTION OF ETHICAL, ECO, AND LASTING FASHION. ETHICAL FASHION CONCERNS HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS. IT IS ABOUT FAIR TREATMENT AND RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE EMPLOYED TO CREATE THE CLOTHING. IT ALSO TOUCHES ON PROVIDING PEOPLE WITH EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF A BRAND WANTS TO CREATE BASKET BAGS WITH A DESIGN NATIVE TO AN AREA, THE ETHICAL CHOICE WOULD BE TO PROVIDE JOB OPPORTUNITIES BY EMPLOYING LOCAL ARTISANS TO MAKE THE BAGS, RATHER THAN HAVING THEM MASS PRODUCED AT A FACTORY THAT HAS NO RELATION TO THE PRODUCT. A BRAND MAY ALSO BE ETHICAL IN RELATION TO ANIMAL RIGHTS BY CHOOSING TO CREATE VEGAN APPAREL.
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BRANDS TO LOOK FOR PATEGONIA:
The “father” of the whole movement, created by Yvon Chouinard has pioneered quality clothing with organic, recycled, and upcycled fibers. The company makes clothes that pack well, travel even better, last forever, and feel good to wear.
KOWTOW:
Kowtow is a new brand from New Zealand that’s committed to “certified fair trade organic clothing that is ethically and sustainably made from seed to garment.”
UNITED BY BLUE:
For every product sold, United By Blue removes one pound of trash from oceans and waterways. And just as important, the company sources cotton that’s organic. NEWS MAGAZINE
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