02/17/2023
How to Check if a Brand is Sustainable👇
✔️First, Check the Materials
Unless they’re made from vintage, upcycled or waste fabrics, the textiles used by sustainable clothing brands should be made from recyclable, renewable materials like linen, h**p, Tencel or silk.
✔️Never Leather
Doesn’t need additional comments.
✔️A blind eye to toxic dye
It’s said that you can tell which colors will be ‘in’ next year by looking at the color of some rivers in China. Yep, dyeing clothing actually does this to rivers, and believe me, most clothing dye is highly toxic. It kills off plants exposed to factory wastewater, destroy ecosystems, poison drinking water, and generally end up in our bodies, thanks to water precipitation cycles and food exports.
There are laws against using such toxic dyes without proper disposal and filtration. But that’s only true in most developed countries; not in developing Asian ones.
Of course, completely banning brands made in developing countries with lax regulations is bit complicated. Mainly because many people rely on those companies for their income. Ultimately, it’s actually down to us to realise that any $5 tee shirt reeks of exploitation and environmental degradation, and to demand change. After all, wouldn’t you feel prettier paying $15 for the same shirt, knowing whoever made it was well paid, and the materials used for it won’t end up giving someone (including you) cancer?
✔️Be Wary of Anything Made Far, Far Away
What do labels like Alexander Wang, Louis Vuitton and Opening Ceremony have in common? They (and many, many more brands!) are all made in China. That’s not bad in itself. But when luxury labels move production to Asia to increase their profit margins by paying workers peanuts, well, that’s just not on. You want to charge me $2000 for a handbag? Fine, but the woman who made it better be pretty darn well paid!
To sum up, Textiles, dyes and ethically paid workers are the three main factors to consider when purchasing clothing.
