Cataloging human’s damage to the
ecosystem is the easy part. Implementing practical changes that can have a
global impact is near impossible. Every change towards sustainability in
industries is a positive move, but to generate the changes necessary to really
stall the damage there needs to be a stronger public will.
As pointed out in Fashion
Sustainability customers are the critical drivers for a change in the
clothing industry towards sustainability. Customers need to realize the
capability of their role in the process as the consumers that empower the
clothing industry. It is too easy for companies to deny their responsibility to
the planet at the temptation of profits. Pesticide use in growing materials used
in clothing production, synthetic materials that are not easily degradable used
in clothing production, unmanaged product waste, and unfit labor conditions are
just a few measures many industries employ to keep the cost of their products
down and in the competition of the clothing industry. These measures however,
are adding to our ecological footprint. The complexity of the supply chain in
clothing production masks the reality of how great a footprint we are really
leaving. Fashion Sustainability sets out to provide solutions to these
issues and explains very adequately the problems caused by these practices.
The fashion industry is enormous,
worth over one trillion dollars worldwide and employing approximately
twenty-six million people. Making changes towards sustainability within the
industry would be huge in terms of affecting the planet, but the possibility of
such changes hinges on the consumers. Customers have to compel industries where
they care, in their profits, to demonstrate the intensity and immediacy of the
ecological issue. Embedding sustainability along the supply chain by compelling
brands to only work with companies that employ a certain standard of ecological
awareness.
This restructure of the
manufacturing process will make global changes. The manufacturing process is
very spread out, with each step occurring in different areas around the world.
Consumers driving brands to change has a trickle down affect world wide from
the nature of the production process alone.
Consumers too share a part in
sustainability beyond driving industries to change. The use of energy in
clothing care has a significant impact on the ecological footprint of the
clothing industry as well, up to eighty percent precisely. It is little things
like washing temperatures that make the difference in the aftermath of our
habits. These details seem obsolete as causes in the ecological crisis, but
that is exactly the why the demand for awareness is so crucial. People need to
become more educated how their individual choices have a direct effect on the
future of the planet down to something as small as brand of washer one uses.
Hannah-
ReplyDeleteI agree with every argument you made in your blog this week. I felt the following statement from your blog really sums up your argument, "Consumers driving brands to change has a trickle down affect world wide from the nature of the production process alone." In every DHM related course that I've taken since Freshman year, every professor has touched on the 'trickle down' effect in some way or another. The 'trickle down' effect that's most prevalent in our society relates to the trickling down of fashion trends beginning with higher economic classes and ending with individuals in lower economic brackets. Many consumer's are unaware that this 'trickle down' effect exists in areas much broader in scope. If consumer's started to consciously apply the 'trickle down' effect to more important areas, such as the environment and the various stages of clothing and textile production, it's likely more permanent changes would result. I fully agree with you that consumer's must voice their concerns to retailers and brands to raise awareness about this growing issue. However, the government plays a vital role in raising the awareness of consumer's, in order for them to know an actual problem exists. Did it surprise you that something as simple as ironing or drying clothing aids in the depletion of the environment? I was shocked by the number of washing and care methods that negatively impact the environment. Before reading this articles, the only concern I had in terms of washing and care methods, was making sure I didn't mix my colors with my whites. After reading this article I have a greater awareness concerning the specific areas that I need to change when washing and caring for my clothing. Did you find any personal areas that you need change relating to washing and care methods? Great job on your blog this week, I look forward to reading it next week!
Hannah-
DeleteHave you ever thought if we could slow down the fashion trends from changing so often that we could save more energy and our resources in relation to the clothing industry? Half the clothes I give away are clothes that I do not wear anymore because the styles have changed. I think that is the beginning of the trickle down effect. And would that be the most beneficial way to save money if that was possible? It seems like fashion trends go in circles anyway, so really nothing is out of style forever. Maybe if we could save our clothes for the next generation, when the style comes back again!!
Andrea-
DeleteThe thought has definitely crossed my mind and as ideal as that sounds implementing that into the fashion industry seems almost impossible. I think the fashion industry as well as the consumers who are passionate about clothing love how quickly the trends are changing and keeping up with them. I too am guilty of purchasing clothing trends too often but I do try to hold on to the clothes that I really love for years, no matter if they are in or out of style and have gotten use out of them again when they came back in style.
Bree-
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback on my blog! I too was very surprised that acts such as ironing or drying had effects of depletion of the environment. Ironing especially I had never even considered that it could even have an effect on the environment! I have always been conscious of washing my clothes concerning the amount of water I was using and try to do least amount of loads as I can, or if I am doing a load of only denim I will ask my roommates if they need theirs washed as well so I have a full load.
Hannah-
ReplyDeleteI need to start implementing more of your habits into my washing routine! Do you think the extent of the overall depletion of the environment could be greatly reduced by retailers and designers using the environmental costing method?
I agree! I was surprised by how much a difference washing temperatures could make. Retailers and designers adopting the environmental costing method alone is not enough to greatly reduce the overall depletion of the environment but the industry can be an example to the other global industry's that have a heavy hand in our abuse of the ecosystems resources towards a necessary change that is in desperate need for greater concern!
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