“The Earth is a fine place and worth fighting for.”
—Ernest Hemingway
All of us are here on this planet trying to express ourselves, carving our personalities as unique as we can. One thing that helps us in achieving this is fashion. It is without a doubt a big part of our society and culture. As our societies developed over the years, so did our fashion and times have come now when fashion is one of the most flourishing industries in the world.
The value of the total fashion retail market (including footwear, excluding jewelery) is recorded as $1.78 trillion at the beginning of 2019. It is also estimated that around 300 million people across the world are employed in the fashion industry. This is all pretty huge!
But as it is said that every coin has two sides. It has also been estimated that the fashion industry is responsible for 8.1% of the greenhouse gas emissions of the world and by the year 2030 we will have about 148 million tonnes of fashion waste on this planet.
The Big Statistics of Fashion
We might never think such things before buying a piece of clothing that soothes our eyes but with every fashion product being made our environment is being largely affected. Here are a few more facts and statistics to back this up.
Well, there is good news too! As fashion industries are being aware of these facts, they are pledging to adopt more sustainable and environmental-friendly practices in the coming years. One of the many sustainable practices is Zero Waste Fashion or No Waste Fashion.
Zero is the Hero!
Zero waste fashion, as the name implies, is producing clothes with zero (or minimum) wastage. It implies using the existing materials to their fullest potential and capacity so that no wastes are produced. It can also be stated as recycling and reusing everything that is being created and bought.
No waste fashion exists in both production and usage stages. In the production stage, is the responsibility of the fashion brands. They may use recycled materials or efficient cutting and designing techniques that will, in turn, produce zero waste.
In the usage stage, it is the responsibility of customers to use pre-existing clothing or buying secondhand products to avoid wastage.
Designers Bringing The Zero Revolution
Designers play an important role in the no-waste movement of the fashion industry. One of the designs and business subject matter experts at GoDissertationHelp presented that it is the designers who work together with all the other departments of the fashion industry including the technologists, suppliers and the buyers. From raw materials to finished garments, they have a keen eye throughout the process and hence can participate in ensuring that minimal waste is being produced at different stages of the production.
At first, it is the designers who can create efficient designs and cutting patterns that would produce less waste. This can be seen as a jigsaw puzzle where the designer would fit all the pieces together in the fabric so that when they are cut, it leaves minimum waste. However, there can also be several other techniques to do that.
One of the best zero-waste designers, Farrah Floyd has devised a sustainable cutting technique. She uses every pattern piece as a rectangle and fits all of them together in a way that there is no waste material left.
A different technique that is nowadays being used by designers is upcycling. In this, they use their pre-existing clothing or accessories and use them to make new garments. Like, using old sweaters to make new ones, using pieces of fabrics to create handbags etc.
Daniel Silverstein is known for his technique of sewing the scraps together and creating new designs, patterns and patchworks. Daniel believes that every resource whether it be material, people, energy, resource or imagination, all are valuable in the fashion industry. He believes that more energy should be put into reusing wasted materials than creating new ones.
Fashion brands are also gauging over reducing the packaging wastes. Therefore, many are adopting recycled materials for packaging or compostable bags.
Consumers Can Be The Game Changers!
We started this article with a notion to fight for our planet and fashion consumers are equally a part of the Earth as the fashion producers. So, it is also their responsibility to help make the fashion industry a 100% zero waste industry. In fact, one of the consumer psychology assignment help experts suggested to us that consumers have got more power than the producers as they are the ones for whom these products are being made.
They can always choose and promote the products that have been made out of zero waste. They can support sustainable and eco-friendly products and fashion brands and help them make an impact all across the markets.
Customers also need to watch out for their buying habits. It is a guarantee that many of us would have clothes, accessories and jewelery in our closets that we do not need. Yet, we go and buy more and more! Being in style is not a bad thing. But, even a little change in your buying habits can make wonders for our planet.
For instance, you can try going for second-hand products or garments. You can always exchange clothes with your friends and family instead of throwing them or buying new ones. You must also learn to mend your clothes and use them in different ways.
Last but not least, increase your awareness of zero waste production. Take a look into what happens when you throw your clothes or bags away. How are they recycled? Are they being recycled or not? If you are buying from a brand, try and seek information about how they make clothes or how concerned they are about the environment.
Let’s Make Sustainable Fashion a Norm
No waste fashion can be helpful for our planet in many ways. It can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and hence prevent global warming. It can prevent landfills and toxic discharges in air and water. It can also save the expenses of raw materials as there will be less wastage and can help in enhancing the production and design processes tremendously.
So it is time for us to pledge to make our contributions no matter how big or small and help make the world a better place. Fashion is essential for all of us. Fashion is an asset to our identity. But, let’s not bring it in the way of keeping our planet safe. Share your take on zero waste fashion with all and bring this change.
Author’s Bio – Henry Jones is a content specialist and working in MyAssignmentAssistance, that provides academic writing services in all over the world. In the free time, henry do blogging and freelance content writing. He is also a part time certified fitness trainer in a gym in London.