The two P's that are saving the planet

If you are not already familiar with the term ‘sustainability’, then here is a quick summary, ‘The degree to which a process or enterprise is able to be maintained or continued while avoiding the long- term depletion of natural resources’. But why is this important to the fashion industry?

Well, the rise of fast fashion brands has meant there is a rise in demand for cheaper, more convenient clothing options in exchange for many unethical practices such as labour and manufacturing processes. To quite literally contrast the definition of sustainability, there is no more longevity, a lack of transparency from brands and a decrease in value of what our clothes mean to us. The product life cycle has shortened by an expediential rate thus creating many problems within the industry that expand and affect us in unimaginable ways. To name a few, climate change, unethical labour and waste. Three huge issues caused by fashion brands due to a lack of transparency and aim to maintain ethical methods of production. From both a consumer and retailer perspective, everyone has a part to play in the maintenance of sustainable practices however, it is important to acknowledge the brands that are making a difference within the industry.

Pangaia

Pangaia are a materials science company who aim to ‘save our environment’. They create their own sustainable fabrics, dyes and processes to tackle unsustainable manufacturing methods within the fashion industry. From their ‘Food dye’ track pants to their ‘Recycled cashmere’ and ‘PANHemp denim’, Pangaia are constantly redefining what it means to be a sustainable fashion brand. Their transparency is a key part achieving their mission of saving the planet, allowing customers to be a part of the journey and understand new innovations.

Patagonia

CEO Yvon Chouinard who has made the decision to give up ownership of his (estimated) $3 billion outdoor clothing brand to a non-profit organisation that will work towards battling climate change and protecting the environment. Why is this so important? On average, Patagonia makes around $100 million a year in profits which will now go towards fixing some of the industry’s biggest problems and pro-long the life of our planet!

Links to both brands can be found here:

PANGAIA

PATAGONIA

Thank you for reading!

Mia Mazzocchi :)