How to Convert Your Fashion Brand to Sustainable Fabrics
Businesses thrive for many reasons. Their efficient marketing practices, high-quality products, or innovative approaches could all be among the major contributing factors. But most importantly, the ability of a brand to satisfy its customers is what makes it successful.
Today, shoppers are prioritising sustainability more than ever. An extraordinary 80% of consumers were found to be willing to pay extra for sustainably produced products. And it is this shift that has become the driving force behind the willingness of countless fashion brands to make fashion more ethical.
But how can we make fast fashion more sustainable? Choosing sustainable fabrics is a sure way of becoming an eco-friendly name. This approach not only helps in staying relevant; it is about doing what is right, and in the bargain, meeting the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly fashion.
Significance of Sustainability in Fashion
The fashion industry has been a major source of serious climatic challenges. Whether it is through excessive greenhouse gas emissions, massive waste generation or intensive water consumption, this industry has played a significant role in damaging the environment.
Luckily, the share of the sustainable segment of the garment industry is expected to rise to 6.14% by 2026. This promises many things. It ensures that the climate crisis created by this industry can begin to be tackled. It also means that businesses are willing to commit to being transparent and employing fair labour practices.
And finally, it is this way of doing business that will help build a loyal and happy customer base.
What are Sustainable Fabrics?
Sustainable fabrics are eco-friendly and produced in a socially responsible way. The main aim of these fabrics is to minimise negative impacts on the environment. At the same time, the production processes involved are ethical and transparent.
These fabrics are generally produced using renewable resources and safe, organic farming techniques. Many innovative technologies are utilised during production allowing for a reduction in waste generation and pollution.
Sustainably-made materials also help conserve natural resources, such as water and energy. During the production processes, closed-loop systems are employed so that water can be recycled.
Sustainable fabrics are often biodegradable and this way they do not choke up landfills.
How to Convert to Sustainable Fabrics
Several crucial steps can be taken.
- Research Sustainable Fabrics
The most important first step is to research the sustainable fabrics available and select the one most suited to your brand. There are many sustainable materials available to choose from. These fabrics offer countless benefits to the environment.
Organic Cotton
Selecting organic cotton is sure to be a great choice for your fashion brand. When cotton is grown organically, no pesticides or fertilisers are used. As a result, neither soil nor water gets contaminated. At the same time, less water is used compared to conventional farming methods.
Hemp
This sustainable crop requires very little water to grow. There is no need for harmful pesticides or herbicides to be used during cultivation and the crop is resilient enough to grow in diverse climatic conditions.
Hemp is suitable for use in many applications including textiles and building materials.
Recycled Materials
Using recycled materials is a sure-shot way of conserving resources and minimising waste generation. Recycled polyester, textile scraps or even plastic can be used to create new fabrics and help reduce the strain on landfill sites and natural resources.
Innovative Materials
The use of innovation and technology has a big role to play in making a brand sustainable.
The development of innovative materials like CELYSTM fully compostable fibre is the result of groundbreaking technology. CELYSTM is suitable for various applications in any fashion brand and can help solve the environmental crisis created by the fast fashion industry. It has the ability to compost within 179 days under industrial composting conditions and offers a perfect solution to plastic pollution problems created by the fashion world.
- Design for Sustainability
It is essential to keep sustainability as the main priority during the design stage. Designers should focus on creating products that have a bare minimum of environmental impact.
For this purpose, the first step is to create designs which are timeless and evergreen. The aim should also be to prepare durable clothing which can last beyond the first few wears and does not need to be disposed of frequently. The products should also be suitable for a variety of different uses.
Sustainable design also focuses on the end-of-life of a product, so that recycling, upcycling or even composting is possible once the garment has served its purpose.
It is also imperative to use such efficient pattern-making and production techniques, so that waste is reduced to a minimum and there is no excess fabric left on the floors of cutting rooms.
- Implement Eco-friendly Production Processes
It is important to adopt practices that drastically reduce resource consumption, waste generation, and carbon emissions throughout the production cycle for a brand to be sustainable. Companies should use renewable energy sources, such as solar or wind power, and bring down their greenhouse gas emissions.
Water should be used through closed-loop systems so that waste can be cut down. Natural dyes and water-based finishes can prevent harmful chemicals from entering ecosystems.
Waste reduction can be further achieved through zero-waste pattern making and upcycling, where fabric scraps are repurposed into new products.
- Ensure Fair Labour Practices in Manufacturing
Another crucial step in attaining sustainability is ensuring fair labour practices where the workers must be given fair wages. Moreover, the work environments should be safe and healthy and the working hours should be reasonable. No child or forced labour should be allowed and the rights of the labourers should be safeguarded. Access to health and medical facilities should be available to all.
- Transparently Sharing Your Sustainability Journey with Customers
Taking all the above steps is crucial but being open about them is also important. The workings of a company or brand should be transparent in such a way that customers have access to all the information they need.
Transparency in your sustainability journey is about openly sharing your efforts, challenges, and achievements related to sustainability with all the customers, employees, investors, and the community. It is also helpful to obtain third-party certifications from reputable organisations such as GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), Fair Trade, or OEKO-TEX to back your sustainability claims.
Conclusion
We still have a long way to go.
By adopting these practices, brands can not only contribute to a healthier environment but also pave the way for long-term success in a market where sustainability is increasingly in demand.
Transitioning to sustainability is about more than just reducing our environmental impact—it is about creating a responsible, resilient brand that values people and the planet.
