Fast fashion wrecks the environment: Here are 3 ways to slow it down

November 13, 2017 113 Views No Comment

1. Make It Last

Hilke Patzwall from Vaude

“One of our key problems is too much consumption. It’s important to inform consumers about all the consequences of fast fashion, but it is even more important that the industry takes on their responsibility. As a brand, we need to make products with a physical and emotional durability, and provide the infrastructure so that consumers can live up to slowing the loop.”

Eliina Brinkberg from Nudie Jeans

“At Nudie Jeans, we encourage our customers to wear their jeans longer by offering free repairs. We’re so happy to be brought up as an example of being on the right track and we share Greenpeace’s belief that prolonging the life of our clothes is one of the most important ways of slowing down the flow of materials in the fashion industry.”

“By appreciating true craftsmanship, learning to love and care for our clothes and by buying less and wearing longer, we can create a more sustainable textile industry.”

2. Make It Right

Andrea Cavicchi, part of the Italian Detox Consortium

“In the Prato area of Tuscany, we’ve been making sustainable fabric since the 12th century. We use production techniques where wool fibres are reused to produce new fabrics, allowing the recovery of fibres and textile waste materials. Used clothes that would normally be thrown away are reintroduced into the production cycle as raw materials. The first manufacturing companies to sign up to Greenpeace’s Detox Commitment were in the Prato textile district.”

“Now the Italian Detox Consortium is applying the Detox approach to the virtuous process of recycling textile fibers by promoting an investigation of the chemical contamination of regenerated articles and finding out what we can do to solve it. We ensure the traceability of the recycled textile material with their certification and by working with an international authority.”

Enrica Arena from Orange Fiber

3. Make It Different

Pola Fendel from Kleiderei

“Society is definitely shifting. Consumers are starting to question more. The amount of people who want to buy less and choose quality over quantity is growing. The projects and companies represented on Greenpeace’s Fashion at the Crossroads panel all feed into this change in society whilst shaping and broadening it. We are increasing attention to this topic and providing much needed alternatives to fast fashion and overconsumption.”

Arielle Lévy from L’Herbe Rouge

“Sustainability is a state of mind. The stakes are high for fashion. I believe that we have to inspire the economy by showing the success of new business models, especially post carbon initiatives. This is the only way our highly polluting industry can protect people, consumers and the planet.”

“As far as the L’Herbe Rouge business model is concerned, our four pillars have proved that une autre mode est possible,” (another fashion is possible):

Coherence of Chain of Value: Eco design, eco production, eco distribution.

Eco Frugality: Minimize resources and maximize added value (product and service).

Innovation: In order to find new answers and create local jobs and autonomy for companies.

Affordable Quality: Fair and accessible prices, direct selling, no intermediary, democratization through slow wear.

Shifting Mindsets

How do we thank the marvelous people working so tirelessly to change fashion for the better? We chose to give the final word to a Greenpeace ally:

Orsola de Castro from the Fashion Revolution

“Before technology and the advancement of the circular economy will save us, we have to slow down mass production and accelerated consumption.”

“Now that consumers are asking questions, and an increasing number of brands are beginning to understand that tomorrow’s loyalty will demand sustainable innovation, we need to encourage a culture where people are encouraged to challenge brands to be more ethical.”

“If we increase the visibility of smaller slow-fashion brands we can make the fashion industry much more biodiverse. Small really is beautiful!”

Our next challenge is changing people’s minds.

Gabriele Salari is the Communications Specialist for the Detox My Fashion campaign in Greenpeace Italy.

In : External News