As the physical and digital worlds are blurring into each other, and we are increasingly living in the metaverse, screen wear has become the new streetwear. Thanks to the 3 billion people in the world playing video games every day, virtual goods are now a 100 billion dollar industry and are dematerialising fashion. Non-fungible tokens(NFTs) are not just the couture of digital fashion but are the future of sustainable fashion. They produce 97% less carbon in the production-manufacturing chain and thus result in measurable planetary savings.
Sustainable fashion necessitates a fundamental paradigm shift in how people understand fashion and consumerism, rather than merely making more ecologically responsible things. Slow fashion is becoming more popular as a counter to quick fashion among organisations, consumers, and merchants. Slow fashion advocates a clothing production method that is ethical and respectful to people, the environment, and animals. The Fashion Design course at Arch College of Design and Business is designed after considering all of this.
According to the World Resources Institute, businesses should slow down, test, and invest in closed-loop business models that reuse textiles and optimize their useful lives instead of prioritizing speed and profit. Furthermore, governments must stress sustainable fashion by enforcing stricter laws and limits.
THE WORLD REQUIRES A SUSTAINABLE FASHION INDUSTRY
Brands have no other choice than to embrace sustainable fashion. Our planet’s future, efficient resource management, and human rights protection rely on our toxic fashion sector transitioning to a more sustainable and circular fashion business. Fashion makers, suppliers, brands, and retailers must all play a role in addressing the necessary adjustments. In a study by Research & Markets, the ethical fashion industry is is expected to reach $8.3 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 9 percent.
DEMAND FOR ECO-FRIENDLY FASHION
Fast, toxic fashion refers to high-volume, low-cost, fashionable apparel and accessories designed to maximize profit and fulfil demand. Such clothing is made with no regard for the environment, waste, or human labour. For years, this has been a standard practice with few customers noticing; nevertheless, trends are changing, and consumers are seeking more ethical items. In Fashion Colloquia, a series where experts from the industries discuss the responsible future, we have come across the same points.
IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
Textiles, together with aluminium, are the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases per unit of material.
The fashion sector is estimated to account for 8-10% of yearly worldwide carbon emissions (4-5 billion tons). The source of energy for manufacturing accounts for a significant portion of the high carbon footprint. With 79 trillion litres of water consumed every year, the toxic fashion industry is the second-highest water user. For instance, one cotton shirt takes 700 gallons of water, and a single pair of pants requires 2,000 gallons. It also contributes 20% of industrial water contamination from textile dyeing and treatment.
WAYS TO IMPLEMENT SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES IN A BRAND
To be a genuinely sustainable fashion brand, you must address all areas of the value chain. The brand must reduce waste and emissions, but it must also encourage better environmental conservation and restoration, advance global gender and pay parity, and engage in research and practices that will create a sustainable norm.
The following are vital practices following when developing a sustainable fashion brand:
Things to keep in mind while setting up production unit:
● Build industries in locations free of essential species and, where feasible, rehabilitate and develop on damaged land.
● Maintain the highest environmental and social standards in production facilities.
● Use renewable energy to generate power if it is geographically and politically feasible.
● Adhere to local ecological rules, and improve if they aren’t up to par.
● Use nontoxic colours and detergents.
● Install catchment devices to keep microfibers out of rivers.
Considerations for Resources
● Calculate resource demand, taking into account beginning extraction.
● Avoid textiles that need a lot of water, land, and energy.
● Avoid fabrics manufactured from fossil fuels.
● Make an effort to produce high-quality, long-lasting products.
Considerations for Waste
● Hold training on how to prevent errors and fabric waste.
● Learn how to reuse fabric waste.
● Make a line of “error clothing” at a discount.
● Eliminate single-use plastics at all stages of the supply chain.
● Use environmentally friendly packaging.
● Complete the lifespan of the garment.
● Return clothing at the end of life
● Create a repair or upcycling program.
Ensure that the cloth is obtained from ethical producers that pay their employees equally and provide safe working conditions.
Provide an opportunity for workers to get trade-specific training and development and advance to management roles.
How are we playing our part?
Arch College of Design and Business, Jaipur was founded in the year 2000 with the goal of engaging individuals’ inherent potential via design education and empowering them to flourish through the spirit of holistic co-creation facilitated by positive thinking and action. With our programs like Fashion Colloquia and even the upcoming Design Culture 2022, we ensure that students get true practical exposure from the industry experts and they stay updated. The green infrastructure of the institute also aids in this learning; we also have installed solar panels on the campus to show the benefits of sustainability to learners. This enables them to understand the necessity of implementing the right practices and makes them responsible designers.