Like art, fashion is at its best when it’s a little bit controversial. Between Zendaya’s floral Met Gala look of 2017 to Lady Gaga’s iconic meat dress, high fashion tends to be outside the bounds of what’s conventionally accepted. While designers should never settle for what’s “acceptable” in their art, more companies are beginning to see the importance of clothing sustainability.
Moving Away From Furs
One of the ways that high fashion houses have begun to move towards more sustainable fashion practices is by no longer using furs. In most cases, the fur used in clothing comes from highly unethical fur farms. On these farms, animals are kept in close quarters with improper nutrition for the duration of their short lives. When high fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana move away from using real fur in their designs, the world moves closer to closing down fur farms permanently.
As the fashion world moves forward, seeing materials such as fur and leather step out of style would make a massive leap towards clothing sustainability. While there are sustainable and ethical ways to obtain these textiles, the cost makes it undesirable for many brands. Because high fashion houses dictate the upcoming trends, there will hopefully be a downturn in the use of leathers and furs in the coming seasons. By making the bold statement of not using fur in their designs, brands like D&G are leading the way in a new wave of green fashion.
Sustainable Production Practices
One of the most important aspects of clothing sustainability is having eco-friendly production practices. No matter how stunning a brand’s pieces are, a poor environmental impact can last longer than good press. The first way brands can improve their carbon footprint is by sourcing their materials ethically. While this can be more difficult for small businesses that don’t have large budgets, high fashion items that have a larger financial reach have the opportunity to source more ethical textiles.
The second way that brands can stay eco-friendly is by producing their fashions in an environmentally conscious method. If the clothes are handmade, it’s up to the company to make sure that the working conditions are fair and ethical for everyone involved. For machine-made clothing, the brand needs to consider its power consumption and put in work to use sustainable forms of energy. By making changes to the production process, fashion can remain sustainable and accessible for everyone.
Moving Away From Fast Fashion
Finally, the fashion world ought to move away from fast fashion practices. While it can be fun to head for a mall and buy the latest cheap clothes, this practice can be more damaging to the environment than most people realize. Many fast-fashion pieces that appear in stores go out of style before they’re sold, giving them a one-way ticket to a landfill. Because these brands tend to use cheaper synthetic materials, some of these clothes can take hundreds of years to decompose.
Rather than buying fast fashion clothing, having a few choice statement pieces can lead to a more sustainable closet. When brands put out clothing that can be used in multiple situations, it’s far easier to avoid the dangers of fast fashion. For a truly sustainable closet, people should look to pieces that can be worn for years over something that will fall apart in one or two seasons. These items may be more expensive but will prove their worth in durability. By moving away from the harm of fast fashion, the fashion community can become more sustainable as a whole.
Overall, the changes that high fashion houses are making are dictating the environmental standards of the fashion world for years to come. If these brands continue making environmentally conscious decisions, the fashion industry will become a more accessible and ethical place.