Create a More Sustainable Fashion Wardrobe

Everyone is using sustainable fashion to replace fast fashion clothing, buying garments that will withstand the test of time. With numerous global attempts to help people create a more sustainable fashion wardrobe, there are plenty of options available. Let’s take a look…

When we purchase a garment, we need to know how much sustainability was accounted for in its manufacture. And that includes the human element – whether the people who made that garment live and work in a healthy environment. We’ve heard about those brands like Shein and Temu, where people work and live in terrifying conditions and are paid a pittance. We know that even ‘environmentally friendly’ brands are often using less sustainable methods in their manufacturing processes.

The Facts About Fast Fashion

The effects of fast fashion on our environment are unsettling, and very real. Consider what we do every time we buy something from shops like Zara and H&M. Instead of creating a fast fashion glut, why not create a more sustainable fashion wardrobe?

An extremely concerning article created by the UN, entitled Fashion’s Hidden Secret, reveals that “The fashion industry itself has a huge impact on the environment. It consumes 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools of natural water resources, while generating two to eight percent of the world’s global greenhouse gas emissions. Every second, one garbage truck full of textiles is landfilled or incinerated. If that wasn't enough, our clothing is also polluting the ocean with plastic.”

The article also tells us that “about 60% of material made into clothing is plastic”, made from synthetic fabrics such as acrylic, nylon and polyester, which are inexpensive. However, there’s a catch – “every time they're washed, they shed tiny plastic fibres called microfibres, a form of microplastics – tiny pieces up to five millimetres in size.”

When we wash these garments, half a million tonnes of these plastic microfibres are released into the oceans annually. Sadly, fish and various other marine life consume these microfibres, considering them as food. They are unaware they’re consuming toxic substances such as industrial chemicals and pesticides. The result is catastrophic, leading to death, starvation and destroyed digestive systems.

What You Can Do For Your Fashion Wardrobe

·      We need to develop new materials for our UK sustainable fashion brands: Globally, manufacturers are trying to lessen the damage caused by those microfibres.

·      To limit microfibre shedding when garments are washed, the article suggests we wash the items less, as the more we wash a garment, the more those microfibres are released.

·      Use a front-load washing machine rather than a top loader, as these reduce the amount of microfibre shedding.

·      Even better, place garments in a washing bag in the machine as it can release up to 86% less microfibres.

The Lowdown on Clothing Production

Let’s discuss the different stages of clothing production, and how each of these can be more sustainable:

1.     Concept & Design

This involves the creative process of conceptualising a garment and designing it, and “doing things right from the start”. The more a designer considers sustainability in fashion from the outset, the more likely it is that the garment will be environmentally friendly.

2.     Fabric Selection & Production

·      Choosing a natural fabric instead of a synthetic one is a great starting point towards sustainability in fashion.

·      Some synthetics are certainly better than others, particularly those created from recycled components, such as recycled polyester, which is produced from plastic bottles. Read our comprehensive Recycled Polyester Guide to find out more.

·      The process used to create the fabric is just as important. Bleaching, dyeing and applying a finish to the material to make it waterproof, flame-retardant, antimicrobial, etc., all require different processes, that can be sustainable. We’ve compiled a thorough report on Sustainable Fabric Dyeing that explains this process.

3.     Garment Creation

Once the fabric is chosen, the garment is manufactured using various processes, from cutting the fabric to sewing, trimming and ironing. The amount of energy used in these processes is another sustainable consideration.

4.     Packaging, Distribution & Selling

The garment is now ready to be packaged, sent to different retail outlets and sold. Ensuring garment transportation is minimal involves reducing the carbon footprint. The further the garment needs to travel from the manufacturer to the store, the more carbon emissions are required to transport it.

5.     Wearing & Caring

Don’t forget to extend the lifespan of your garment by keeping it in good condition. Lost a button? Hem slipping? Mend it. Care for it, even if you aren’t planning to wear it again, but rather resell it. You’ll get more for the garment if it is in good condition. Check out our guide to Upcycling & Recycling: Giving Fabrics a Second Life.

6.     Fashion & Sustainability

Tired of wearing an item of clothing? Make the sustainable choice to recycle it so it doesn’t end up in landfills. If circularity became a global phenomenon instead of a dream, your garment would be recycled and reused or redesigned into a new fabric. We’ve created a thought-provoking piece on Future Fabric Sustainability Trends to inspire you.

How to Purchase Clothing Responsibly

So, how do we make a responsible choice when we buy garments for our fashion wardrobe?

A recent article in Scientific American, entitled A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable & Ethical Fashion, gives the following advice: “The two simplest ways to participate in sustainable fashion are to buy less and to ask questions.”

One of the biggest problems we have currently is that we aren’t wearing our clothing enough. We used to have favourite items that we wore time and again – these days we purchase cheap, low-quality garments that are on trend for as long as they appear on Social Media, and then are discarded and replaced with the latest trend.

So what’s a consumer to do? “Using, repairing or adapting when you already have; borrowing items, buying vintage or second-hand, or leasing from sustainable rental companies can all provide a low-impact alternative to purchasing new products,” the article tells us. 

“If you want to buy new, ask the right questions: look for evidence to support claims, don’t be fooled by terms such as ‘natural’, and engage with companies directly to request more information and more sustainable processes and products. These actions alone, if done at scale, would have the power to change the fashion industry.”

Be a More Sustainable Fashion Shopper

·      Buy less new garments.

·      Wear what you have.

·      If you want to add something to your wardrobe, choose vintage. Buy garments that will last because they are good quality and classically styled.

Focus on Fashion & Sustainability With maake

Every effort counts, so we decided to show you how maake makes a sustainable difference in our business.  

1.     We Print Sustainably

To eliminate an excess of water, energy and waste when we print, maake has installed sustainable printing machines and methods that are proven to use 95% less energy than traditional fabric printing. We also use 100% renewable energy resources in the printing process, and very little water. 

2.     We Choose Safe Fabrics

The fabrics we use are ethically sourced from trusted local mills to assist the local economy and to reduce our carbon footprint. Mills we work with are REACH accredited, and many hold SEDEX accreditation. We print with sustainable inks and our fabrics are certified by Oeko-tex and GOTS, which is how we know these inks are safe for children. To find out more about fabric certifications, read our comprehensive Certification Guide.

3.     We Only Print on Demand

To ensure sustainability, we only print as much as our customers require – no more. 

4.     We Focus on Reducing Carbon Emissions

Our free pick-up service from our NW10 factory means we don’t have to deliver your order; you can pick it up yourself.  

5.     We maake Less Waste

If we have any excess fabric, we donate it to charity and educational institutions. Our maakeLess Fabric Waste Initiative offers our customers the opportunity to give fabric a second life and to be sustainable. We offer free upcycling bags filled with plain fabric in three sizes – small (approximately 1kg), medium (about 2kg) and large (up to 15kg). Each bag is filled with fabric offcuts from our factory. You can pick these bags up from our factory, or pay a small fee for delivery.