The Hidden Benefits of Sustainable Fashion for Health Well-Being and More
Buying secondhand garments, learning basic mending skills, and shopping from brands that offer repair or resale programs are simple ways to become more sustainable. You can also look for organic fabrics like hemp, organic cotton, and Tencel that require less water, energy, and fertilizers to grow.
Increased Self-Esteem
Sustainable and slow fashion brands use fabrics that require little to no chemical treatment, are biodegradable, or are made from renewable resources like hemp, organic cotton, and Tencel (made from sustainable wood pulp). They also invest in circularity, meaning they find ways to repurpose existing garments to avoid producing new ones. This includes reselling, upcycling, and thrift store shopping to reduce clothing production, consumption, and waste. You must do more with sustainable fashion to promote fair trade and ethical labor practices. It helps prevent the exploitation of garment workers and gives them a chance to live a dignified life. This also means reducing the negative impact on our precious water resources – it takes 2,720 liters of water to make one cotton shirt, for example. Purchasing secondhand or vintage clothes is estimated to cut this amount by 85%.
Better Health
Sustainable brands use recycled materials and a circular design model to reduce waste and environmental impact. They also encourage consumers to mend and resell their garments to keep them in circulation longer, further reducing waste and emissions. A new trend goes beyond sustainability to promote wellness for the planet and people. The athleisure movement has been a powerful example, as it offers health-supporting styles that are more comfortable, durable, and versatile than traditional apparel. Many ‘healthy fashion’ brands, such as organic cotton, hemp, and flax, also launch textiles designed to improve and support the skin. These new textiles, plus others like modal, rayon, Tencel, and lyocell, require less water than their synthetic counterparts and can be treated with botanical ingredients that are healthy for the skin.
Reduced Stress
Sustainable and slow fashion brands work to lessen these effects by embracing environmental sustainability, ethical business practices, and morally sound initiatives. They are also creating innovative digital technologies that help reduce waste by reducing the need for physical patterns, samples, and fabric cutting. As a consumer, you can support this trend by buying from local and small brands that produce locally. You can also learn how to mend your clothes and donate unwanted clothing to charity rather than binning it. Wash your clothing only when necessary, and try to learn basic mending skills so that you can extend the life of your favorite pieces.
Increased Well-Being
Fashion brands that are sustainable offer a much healthier choice for your body. This is because they use organic fabrics and avoid the harsh chemicals used in fast fashion. You will also have the peace of mind that you are not contributing to the waste and pollution of the planet. You will also be able to reduce the risk of allergies, asthma, and other issues caused by chemical clothing. Fashion wellness is a trend that is expected to grow and impact consumers in many ways. A healthy-for-the-planet-and-people approach redefines the industry. A recent survey found that while 65% of fashion consumers say they care about sustainability, only a third regularly prioritize sustainability when shopping. The gap between attitudes and behaviors is even more pronounced among Millennial and Gen Z shoppers.
Reduced Environmental Impact
The fashion industry might not be the first that comes to mind when discussing environmental issues, but it significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Garment production is incredibly energy-intensive, requiring tons of chemicals and a considerable amount of water. Using natural fabrics such as hemp, organic cotton, and Tencel (made from sustainable wood pulp) requires less chemical treatment and significantly lower energy usage. Sustainable brands also work to reduce their impact on the planet by incorporating 3D printing into their design processes, which minimizes trial and error. Designers like Iris Van Herpen use 3D-printed fabric from recycled plastic and marine debris. Ultimately, consumers need to take responsibility for the clothing they buy and wear. Getting to know your brand’s story is an essential step toward sustainability, with websites like Good on You and eco-friendly clothing stores helping consumers make more informed choices. It’s also important to embrace the idea of refashioning and recycling, which is a great way to extend the life of clothes while decreasing waste. Purchasing secondhand is another excellent option, as well as learning basic mending and being mindful of water and electricity usage.
