Sustainability awareness: what we know and how we can help

Ten years ago, Rana Plaza was still standing, plastic grocery bags were free, and ‘sustainable fashion’ conjured up images of hippies wearing brown linen tunics and trousers. In 2022 however, both people in fashion and members of the public have a much better understanding of what sustainability means for us and our planet. I have to ask though, how much has the industry changed? And more importantly, how much further does it have to go?

Sustainability has thankfully moved on in the public psyche from a buzzword used to describe expensive cotton, to a vital part of how the planet can be saved from climate change. There’s been so many public campaigns - from Who Made Your Clothes? at Fashion Revolution, to Blue Planet from the BBC and Sir David Attenborough, to Patagonia’s Don’t Buy This Jacket campaign - that have raised more and more awareness over the last few years. Innovations are being made, such as leather grown from mushrooms and pineapples, and more brands are being transparent about what materials are going into their clothes through their labels and websites. Influencers are beginning to support sustainable brands (like Love-Island finalist Tasha Ghouri partnering with eBay) and DIY culture on social media has encouraged many to start making and investing in slowly made textiles and fashion.

This is so much better than the opaque system we used to have, that didn’t share any information and actively hid criminal activity, like illegal pollution and deadly factory practices. However, there are still miles to go down the road to a wholly sustainable fashion industry. Despite the positive steps being taken, fast fashion still dominates the market and continues to cause damage to the environment.

We can make a difference in such a simple way – by raising awareness. Whilst we can’t all make award-winning documentaries or invest thousands in bio-materials, what we can do is make more people understand what is happening in fashion at the moment. We can share what we know, and if we all do this, we can demand change from retailers and create positive action. Together, we can make a huge difference. As a start, keep reading our posts, to learn more about sustainability! Ask brands on social media ‘Who made my clothes?’. Follow designers, creators, writers, educators, and influencers; anyone who shines a light on sustainability. Through this awareness, we can make steps towards a sustainable future together.

Best,

Tegan