Sustainability is an increasingly important topic in the fashion industry, as more and more people are not only looking at design and price when buying clothes, but also at the sustainability of the products.
The production of clothing causes enormous amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, water waste, air pollution and waste. In addition, most clothing is produced under poor working conditions and with low wages, which leads to exploitation and poverty.
Sustainable fashion, on the other hand, incorporates ecological and social aspects into the entire production process. It uses environmentally friendly materials and production methods, reduces waste and improves working conditions.
What is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion is also known as green fashion, fair fashion, sustainable fashion, organic fashion, eco fashion or slow fashion. It incorporates ecological and social aspects into the entire production process and uses environmentally friendly materials and production methods, reduces waste and improves working conditions.
Fast fashion vs. slow fashion: how do sustainable fashion labels differentiate themselves from fast fashion?
Fast fashion and slow fashion are two very different approaches in the fashion industry. While fast fashion focuses on mass production, fast trends and low prices, slow fashion emphasizes sustainability, timeless design, quality and ethical production.
1. recycling and upcycling
Recycling and upcycling are two concepts that are becoming increasingly important in the fashion industry.
" Recycling refers to the reuse of materials that already exist to produce new garments. This can be done, for example, by using recycled materials such as PET bottles, old garments or textile waste. This means that no new raw materials are required and there is less waste.
" Upcycling, on the other hand, is the art of transforming waste products into high-quality products. In the fashion industry, this means that old items of clothing or other textiles are transformed into new and fashionable items of clothing or accessories. An example of upcycling in the fashion industry is the use of old jeans to make a new bag or skirt.
2. biological raw materials
Organic raw materials are becoming increasingly important in the fashion industry and are an important contribution to sustainability in the fashion industry. Meanwhile, innovative materials such as mushroom leather or pineapple leather are also becoming more popular and offer a sustainable alternative to animal leather.
More and more companies are therefore using natural materials such as organic cotton, hemp or linen to produce their garments.
3. environmentally friendly processes
The environmentally friendly process uses natural and environmentally friendly dyeing methods. As a result, no chemicals are released into the waste water. Manual techniques, such as special printing techniques, help to save energy.
4. resource-saving production
The fashion industry is known for its rapid change and constant innovation. One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is the waste of resources during the manufacturing process. The production of garments requires enormous amounts of water, energy and chemical substances. However, there are already many initiatives and approaches that can help to make the industry more sustainable. These are listed below:
- The choice of materials: Biodegradable materials such as cotton, hemp or linen are a sustainable alternative to synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon.
- Reduction of water and energy consumption: The use of water and energy-efficient machines or the implementation of closed loops that enable water and energy to be recycled.
- Promoting recycling and upcycling: old items of clothing are recycled or transformed into new items of clothing.
- Application of sustainable production processes: The aim here is to optimize the entire value chain, starting with the use of renewable energies, procurement of materials and production through to delivery to the customer.
5. regionally produced clothing
If you want to lead a sustainable lifestyle, you should mainly buy locally produced products where the supply chain is limited to one region as far as possible. This applies to both textile and clothing production and helps the local economy. In addition, long shipping routes can be avoided, resulting in fewer CO₂ emissions.
6. good working conditions
One of the most important changes in the fashion industry is the introduction of social and ecological standards and certifications. There are now numerous organizations that have developed standards for fair working conditions and environmental protection in the fashion industry. One example of this is the Fair Wear Foundationwhich campaigns for fair working conditions in the textile industry and supports companies in implementing these standards in their supply chain.
➔ These are, for example: improving wages and working hours, ensuring safety in the workplace, training workers, promoting trade unions, transparency and responsibility in supply chains
7. short transportation routes
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world. One way to change this is to focus on short transportation routes. When companies source their products from the region, transportation routes are shortened and CO₂ emissions are reduced.
These fabrics are particularly sustainable
More and more people are looking for ways to reduce their ecological footprint and do their bit for the environment. One way to do this is to use particularly sustainable materials and fabrics.
There are various materials that are considered particularly sustainable. Here are a few examples:
- Organic cotton: In contrast to conventional cotton, organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. This significantly reduces the environmental impact of cotton cultivation.
- Wool & virgin wool: Wool is a unique renewable raw material with numerous advantages compared to synthetic fibers such as polyester. Unlike synthetic fibers, wool does not release tiny plastic particles into the sea when worn and washed and is in principle biodegradable. In most cases, products made from wool or new wool have a long lifespan and need to be washed less often and at a lower temperature, which has a positive effect on their eco-balance.
- Hemp: Hemp fibers are strong and resilient, making them a durable and sustainable material. Hemp can also be grown without the use of pesticides and requires less water than cotton.
- Linen: Linen is a natural material obtained from the flax plant. It is robust, durable and biodegradable. It also requires less water and energy to produce than other materials.
Sustainable fashion at Wellington of Bilmore
At Wellington of Bilmore, we want our customers to not only look good, but also feel good by making fashion that is good for the environment and the people who make it. Our sustainability therefore starts with the development of our products. Wellington of Bilmore stands for timeless design and thus contradicts the trend of ''fast fashion''. The clothing is made from a variety of raw materials, but above all from biodegradable natural fibers such as organic cotton, linen, virgin wool and viscose.
By working with European suppliers, we create transparency in ensuring fair working conditions and traceability and accountability in the supply chains. Thanks to short transportation routes, CO₂ emissions are reduced, which saves energy and costs and also protects the environment.
It also enables closer cooperation with local manufacturers and promotes the local economy. We pay attention to sustainability not only in production, but also in shipping. The invoice is sent by email and the shipping boxes are recycled.
