Eco friendly clothing – That a thing?

Turns out to be yes and given the current environmental circumstances, a loud yes. Eco-fashion or Eco friendly clothing denotes any brand or line that attempts to minimize the impact on the environment, and often the health of the consumers and the working conditions for the people that are making the clothes keeping the fashion intact!

But why do we need it? An average consumers is always on the lookout for the “best bargain” or “sale of the week” and understandably so. However, do we even once think of the impact our fashion choices are having on the environment?? It is obvious we do not but what we also fail to realise is that a simple switch from our favourite fashion house to a sustainable line and we would be bringing the carbon emissions down by thousands and so would be increasing the green coverage of the earth, all the while improving the living conditions for many.

In this blog, we will talk about why we need to finally make that switch!

The not-so-pretty side of the clothing industry

Clothes may not feature close to the damage that plastics do but they aren’t any less either. A recent study carried out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature found that more than 1/3 of the 9.5 million tonnes of plastic that enters the ocean each year can be attributed to synthetic clothing! Which makes it one of the top seven culprits, joined by items like car tires and personal care products and just to emphasise on this point further, let us mention that a single polyester fleece jacket is enough to release a million plastic fibres in the very first wash!

The cotton clothing isn’t safe either for it requires 1/3 of a pound of chemicals for a single shirt. That amount really adds up and is disastrous for our environment.

Pollution makes up a strong case to switch the green light on, but just in case it’s not enough let’s ponder upon the thought that how many clothes especially kids clothes, will end up in the landfill or garbage because one can’t reuse those clothes. According to a report from the Guardian, it is predicted that 235 million items of clothing will be sent to landfill over the next year which is still better than dumping them into the ocean but how about the ground water pollution?

What are the alternatives?

In no way are we trying to say that our kids should be draped in the basic of clothings for the sake of environment. However, we do want to make the parents aware that sustainable options exist. A lot of major brands have also started turning to such environmental friendly fibres. Sharing some of them below:

• Organic cotton: Organic cotton is grown without the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. Do not fall for terms such as “undyed”, “untreated”, “natural” or the likes because they do not necessarily mean that the cotton is organic. It is organic when it says it is-no more, no less!
• Industrial hemp: Industrial Hemp is good in the terms that for the same amount as cotton, it can produce thrice the amount of products and plus it needs no pesticides to save it!
• Bamboo: Bamboo is always the plant that comes to rescue whenever one talks of sustainability. Be it making utensils, cooking wood or now, even clothes too! Bamboo fibre can easily be substituted for rayon or rather, bamboo fibres can be used to make rayon.
• Wool: Well yes, it is literally a weight off of the sheep and a good fibre which can be blended and moulded into the best of the intricate designs

Recycling and Reuse

We understand that a lot of the sustainable and organic options aren’t as pocket friendly but one trend is- Recycling and Reusing. For instance, fabrics such as fleece are often made from recycled plastic bottles. This turns a waste product into something useful. The easiest way to reusing clothing is by passing on old clothes to new users. Simply shop at a thrift store or use hand-me-downs. And if all this doesn’t sound like something that you would do, there are so many DIY videos on line which tell you how you could make something new out of an old clothing piece.

And with torn jeans already making a strong comeback, why not you start a trend of your own?

The Final Words

Dear Parents, we know you are putting in a lot for your kids. You want nothing but the best for them and while you would want all that, what would you do if the planet isn’t left?

For them to have a good future, you need to make sure that they have a future and without a happy healthy earth, a good future would be tough to have!