Fashion Dress
Learn about sustainable fashion!
Sustainable: as related to fashion, involves the use of eco-friendly materials, reducing waste, and promoting fair labor practices in the manufacturing supply chain. It involves designing, producing, and consuming fashion in a way that is socially responsible, environmentally friendly, and economically viable. Sustainable fashion also involves creating garments that are long-lasting, versatile, and can be worn for multiple seasons. Basically the opposite of “fast fashion”.
Ethical: as related to fashion prioritizes fair labor practices, sustainable materials, animal welfare, and supply chain transparency. The goal is to reduce the industry's impact on the environment, ensure fair treatment and payment for workers, and create products that are honorably sourced in a way that allows for continual use of a natural resource without depleting it or causing environmental damage. Look for clothing that is GOTS, Fair Trade, or B Corporation Certified.
Values: Have you ever considered shopping in line with your values? It's possible to discover brands/products/companies that align with what you care about. Do you want products to be fare to animals? To People? To the environment? Where you choose to spend your money has a significant impact. By supporting brands that prioritize these values, we can encourage larger companies to adopt similar practices and make a positive change in the industry.
Minimize Waste: Overconsumption and mass manufacturing in any industry results in a significant amount of waste. The fashion industry is no exception, with textile waste being a major contributor to its negative environmental impact. Textile waste includes any leftover material produced during the manufacturing of textiles, all the way to the disposal of garments. This can include scraps from the cutting process, unused fabric rolls, unsold garments that are sent to landfills, and consumers discarding their used clothes instead of donating or recycling them. More work still needs to be done in consideration for creative waste management options starting from the top with designers/manufacturers considering the end of a product's life cycle, but if we all pay more attention to our consumption and how we dispose of things, change can happen on a large scale.
To learn more about how Picto Kits is minimizing waste, check out our blog post, "This will change the way you think about textiles (fabric)"
Textiles: The industry term for fabric or material made by weaving, knitting, or felting natural or synthetic fibers together to create a wide variety of products, such as clothing, home furnishings, and industrial materials. The textiles industry includes everything from the production of raw materials, such as cotton and wool, to the manufacturing of finished fabrics for designers to use. To learn more about the textiles in Picto Kits, check out the “FABRICS” page.
Natural Fibers: materials sourced from plants, animals, or minerals. The raw, natural materials are spun into threads and yarns that are then woven or knit into natural fabrics. Some common natural fibers include cotton, linen, wool, and silk. Natural fibers are often preferred for their breathability and comfort, as well as their biodegradability. Animal-based natural fibers include silk and wool, while plant-based natural fibers include cotton, linen, and jute.
Organic: as it applies to textiles, are made from plants grown and farmed according to strict guidelines, resulting in biodegradable fabrics that can be reused in nature. Non-organic cotton is the world's single largest pesticide-consuming crop, which harms soil, water, and the farmers. Organic cotton farming doesn't use pesticides and uses up to 60% less water than conventional methods. Also, no harsh chemicals or dyes are needed in the fabric-making process, which can harm the environment.
Eco-Friendly: in fashion design refers to the use of environmentally sustainable materials and practices in the creation of clothing and accessories. This can include the use of natural and organic fibers, such as cotton, linen, and hemp, as well as recycled and upcycled materials. Additionally, eco-friendly fashion design takes into consideration the entire lifecycle of a product, from the sourcing of materials to the production process to the disposal of the item, in order to minimize its environmental impact. It also involves reducing waste and pollution throughout the supply chain, as well as ethical labor practices and fair treatment of workers.
Recycle: This involves breaking down materials into raw components to create completely new products, but this process can require a lot of energy and resources and may result in lower quality products. The recycling industry still has a long way to go when it comes to fiber-to-fiber technologies, and currently only 100% cotton, 100% polyester, and 100% wool can be used for for this purpose. Other materials are often shredded, turning into “shoddy" and used for things like insulation, carpet padding, and furniture lining, moving blankets, etc. Unfortunately, fabric containing Spandex, Lycra, or elastane cannot be recycled and will end up in landfills if not reused.
Upcycle: a process of repurposing existing materials or items into something new and more valuable without breaking them down. It’s a creative way of giving new life to old items by transforming them into unique, one-of-a-kind products of higher value.
Reuse: Consider the longevity of the items you purchase, ensuring that you will wear or use them more than 7 times. It’s important to reuse textiles instead of discarding them because some can take up to 200 years to decompose in a landfill, leeching harmful chemicals into the surrounding ecosystem. Additionally, the production of new textiles requires significant amounts of water, energy, and resources, which also contribute to environmental degradation. If you have clothes in good condition that no longer fit or match your style, consider donating them to a charity or organizing a clothing swap with friends. This allows the clothes to be reused by someone else instead of being thrown away.
Make: Making your own clothes from discarded textiles or upcycling old clothes is not only a creative way to repurpose fabric but also helps reduce the amount of textile waste that ends up in landfills. If you have items that are no longer wearable, consider cutting them into a variety of household items such as curtains, pillowcases, and tablecloths, or turning them into accessories, such as scarves, headbands, and bags. Maybe even using them in Picto Kits!! These items can be both functional and decorative, adding a unique touch to your personal style and home décor. However, many people nowadays lack sewing skills, which makes this approach less accessible. But there are other ways to refresh your wardrobe and extend the life of your clothes. For instance, you can use simple techniques like paint, bleach, or fabric dye to transform faded items into a new, fresh look. What’s your favorite color? Do you wear a lot of black? Would you wear some of your old clothes more if they were all a different color? Additionally, you can take outdated clothes to a tailor to have them altered to fit better, updating their style and making them feel new again. Ultimately, with a bit of creativity, there are numerous ways to refresh your wardrobe sustainably and extend the life of your clothes.
Mend: Clothing should never be tossed out especially just because they have a rip or a hole in them. Most items can be repaired, or the fabric can be upcycled into something new, which extends the life of what you already own. There's a certain sense of satisfaction in fixing something so you can continue to use it or or someone else can. If you don't know how to repair clothes, consider taking a class or finding someone who can help you learn.
Thrift: a sustainable and cost-effective way to refresh your wardrobe, while also reducing your impact on the environment. Not only can you find unique pieces that you can wear with confidence, but you can also discover items that were made with better quality and durability than modern-day clothing. Some vintage items were designed to last and have already stood the test of time, making them a great addition to any wardrobe.
Change: What small changes can you make today to start living a more sustainable lifestyle?
If you’re into all this fashion talk and want to learn even more, check out this fabulous interview of Jessica Schreiber, founder of FABSCRAP, on the Conscious Chatter Podcast. Find out about the nonprofit’s startup journey, why textile waste is such an issue, and what they’re doing about it.
S01 Episode 49 | FABSCRAP + REUSING TEXTILE WASTE
Listen on the Conscious Chatter Website
The key to making better choices and small changes comes down to education. We hope we can be a resource to help you kickstart or continue on your journey of a more sustainable lifestyle. Please reach out to alyssa@pictokits.com if you have any questions.
