[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/03\/03\/how-to-make-fashion-sustainable\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/03\/03\/how-to-make-fashion-sustainable\/","headline":"Green rules the runway: How to make fashion more sustainable in 3 steps","name":"Green rules the runway: How to make fashion more sustainable in 3 steps","description":"Consumers can make fashion more sustainable by becoming conscious consumers who reuse and resell clothes instead of tossing them.","datePublished":"2021-03-03","dateModified":"2024-10-30","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/abadesi-osunsade\/#Person","name":"Abadesi Osunsade","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/contributor\/abadesi-osunsade\/","identifier":492,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/787c132c230ebcc4638cb29423005140c76fc7675f606f5d6d9909191c375833?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/787c132c230ebcc4638cb29423005140c76fc7675f606f5d6d9909191c375833?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Future of Commerce","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/logo-foc-schema-app-1.png","width":172,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/How-to-make-fashion-more-sustainable.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/How-to-make-fashion-more-sustainable.jpg","height":375,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/03\/03\/how-to-make-fashion-sustainable\/","about":[{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/customer-experience\/customer-experience-general\/","name":"Customer Experience","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Customer_experience","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q984142"]},"Fashion",{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/","name":"Purpose","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purpose"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/purpose\/purpose-general\/","name":"Purpose","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Purpose"]},"Retail Industry","Retail Trends, Data, News",{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/commerce\/sustainability\/","name":"Sustainability","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sustainability","http:\/\/www.wikidata.org\/entity\/Q219416"]},{"@type":"Thing","@id":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/sustainability-in-business\/","name":"Sustainability in Business","sameAs":["https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Sustainable_business"]}],"wordCount":847,"keywords":["Sustainability","Sustainable Commerce","Sustainable Fashion","Sustainable Retail"],"articleBody":"I like to think of myself as an ethical consumer \u2013 someone who spends money on brands and labels that align with my values and the causes I care about, like the environment.So I was shocked to learn how much needs to change to make fashion sustainable and more environmentally conscious. Did you know, for example, that manufacturing one pair of jeans uses 1,800 gallons of water?According to the most recent episode of \u201cBlank Canvas,\u201d an original digital video series hosted by Baratunde Thurston, the fashion industry produces 10% of the world\u2019s carbon emissions. That\u2019s more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. The industry is also responsible for a whopping 20% of the world\u2019s water pollution.And the Passionates are not having it. As I mentioned in my last\u00a0blog, the Passionates are people who work for and do business with the companies that share their personal values on critical social issues. Our research shows that 90% of Passionates think about the sustainability approach of fashion companies before they make a decision to buy products.Why we need to make fashion sustainable: The high price of fast fashion\u00a0So in our second Blank Canvas after-party, I discussed the changing fashion industry with two incredible experts: Tara Nolan, founder and CEO of\u00a0The Conscious Connoisseur, and Maya Penn, the 20-year old CEO of\u00a0Maya\u2019s Ideas, an award-winning slow fashion brand.We started by examining \u201cfast fashion,\u201d where the industry produces more goods, often at lower quality and a speedier pace, to address changing fashion trends. \u201cThe fashion industry didn\u2019t think of the long-term implications of this production on the planet, such as waste,\u201d says Nolan. \u201cWe\u2019re starting to realize that fast fashion comes with a cost.\u201dFor example, 84% of clothes in America end up in landfill.As they become aware of this outcome, many consumers are changing their behavior. Here’s what they’re doing.Sustainable fashion: Don’t toss that torn shirt\u201cPeople are starting to invest in capsule wardrobes,\u201d which are smaller, curated collections of timeless clothing, Nolan says. \u201cI\u2019m a big fan. I wear a lot of the same things because they last longer. Buying more stuff that will end up in a landfill does not align with my values.\u201dOne way to make items endure is to take better care of each item.\u201cIf you tear a shirt, learn how to repair it instead of throwing it away,\u201d says Penn. \u201cIf you stain a blouse, spot wash it instead of using a full washing machine cycle to clean it. These little things in the entire lifecycle of a garment really add up.\u201d      Sustainability in fashion: Industry teeters on ethical catwalk                Sustainability and fashion appear to be on opposing catwalks destined for collision. Fashion is a $2.5 trillion industry, producing 10% of global carbon emissions, 20% of global wastewater, and vast biodiversity loss. Consumers are demanding change, forcing sustainability in fashion as a requirement, not a trend.      Reuse, resell, remix\u00a0Participating in the circular economy is another way to make your mark. I\u2019ve been buying high-end secondhand pieces. And once you\u2019re finished with an item, don\u2019t throw it away \u2013 resell it.\u201cSome of my early memories are of going to thrift stores with my mom and getting secondhand clothing,\u201d Penn adds. \u201cI always wear vintage or sustainable items. I create some pieces and buy others from sustainable brands.\u201dYou don\u2019t have to be a fashion designer to remix or up-cycle a piece. The internet has lots of easy DIY projects \u2013 such as turning a t-shirt into a tote bag or painting, embroidering, or cutting an old pair of jeans. \u201cThere\u2019s so much you can do with every piece to give it new life,\u201d Penn says.Become a conscious connoisseur\u00a0As consumers rethink their relationship with fashion, the industry is taking notice. \u201cConscious consumerism is on the rise,\u201d says Nolan. \u201cThese hard proof points help business owners and companies take the right actions.\u201dFor example, companies like Levi\u2019s are recycling old jeans and turning them into building insulation. Footwear manufacturer Allbirds is working to fully eliminate their carbon footprint in the next few years. Other brands are following suit.But consumers need to keep up the pressure \u2013 by making informed purchases and communicating their point of view to fashion companies.\u201cWe need to stand for our values, leveraging our voices and talents to create a better world for everyone,\u201d Nolan says.      Where purpose, passion, and influence meet: Blank Canvas After Parties                Blank Canvas is an SAP original series hosted by Baratunde Thurston. Blank Canvas After Parties are where purpose and passion meet on Twitter.      Making fashion sustainable: Start the conversationWith so many people focusing on sustainability\u00a0\u2013 and fashion brands taking note \u2013 it\u2019s an exciting time to be a socially conscious consumer and a Passionate.\u201cBrands are hearing the voice of the customer,\u201d says Penn. \u201cSustainability is not a niche or a trend. It\u2019s the new standard of business.\u201d  Giants don’t leave (carbon) footprints.Future-proof your business \u2013and the world.Get your free trial\u00a0HERE."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/\/03\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Green rules the runway: How to make fashion more sustainable in 3 steps","item":"https:\/\/www.the-future-of-commerce.com\/2021\/03\/03\/how-to-make-fashion-sustainable\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]