Print-on-demand models are becoming more widely utilized to minimize waste and excess inventory, and eco-friendly designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Stella McCartney offer sustainable pieces.
Find fabrics made of renewable and biodegradable materials, such as organic cotton or responsible merino wool, as everyday basics to support sustainable fashion. Additionally, secondhand clothing can help support this initiative.
- Organic cotton
Organic cotton is one of the most eco-friendly materials on the market, using less water and chemicals than conventional cotton production processes. But organic cotton production that adheres to GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) standards becomes even more eco-friendly.
GOTS certification of organic fiber and fabrics is one of the world’s toughest requirements, demanding manufacturers adhere to stringent environmental and social standards while guaranteeing that organic cotton is grown, processed, and finished without using harmful chemicals.
Organic cotton products that have been certified GOTS compliant are safer for workers because they do not use toxic synthetic pesticides that expose workers to potentially hazardous chemicals while helping preserve healthy soils that can store carbon, store climate change mitigation efforts, and make products that are softer, stronger, and longer-lasting than regular cotton.
Organic cotton textiles can be found everywhere, from apparel and home textiles like T-shirts and dresses, bedding and blankets, and towels to baby clothing and diapers. Organic cotton’s growing popularity stems from consumer demand: more people want eco-friendly fashion brands that prioritize health for both the planet and people.
Retailers are responding to this rising trend by offering eco-friendly clothing options and accessories made of organic cotton. Thought, an ethical clothing brand based in the UK, provides upcycled, GOTS-certified organic Pima cotton from small producers for clothing, and recycles scrap fabric scraps into bags and accessories to minimize waste.
Retailers are also taking steps toward sustainable fashion practices by emphasizing slow fashion and minimalist aesthetics to minimize waste, increase garment lifespans, and promote a circular economy. Furthermore, retailers have reduced polyester use due to its high water and energy demands for production, as well as prohibiting the destruction of unsold stock in order to curb overproduction and boost circulation.
- Regenerative agriculture
Regenerative agriculture, which restores soil and water vitality, is another trend in eco-friendly fashion that reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while improving animal, plant, and soil health. You can support regenerative agriculture by purchasing clothing made with regeneratively sourced organic fibers.
Regenerative clothing requires being produced in such a way as to replenish rather than deplete soil resources by adding new nutrients back in, using non-toxic fertilizers and pesticides, using non-GMO seeds, and supporting biodiversity. However, brands also use regenerative processes during design and manufacturing.
Creating a standard framework is one of the primary challenges associated with regenerative practices in fashion industry innovation, but organizations like Textile Exchange are working on creating one. By emphasizing place-based indicators over universal criteria, Textile Exchange’s innovative framework will empower fashion brands to advance regenerative agriculture while supporting farm communities.
Regeneratively sourced fabrics are more eco-friendly and better for the planet than their conventional textile counterparts, which explains why more brands are turning to cotton, wool, and cashmere sourced through regenerative methods.
Regenerative fashion goes beyond using specific fabrics; it involves changing how we view clothing. One key part of regenerative fashion is purchasing less, better, and longer-lasting clothes that can be returned or recycled. According to one report, American consumers purchase an average of 70 new garments annually that end up being discarded!
So the next time you need to refresh your closet, remember these eco-friendly clothing brands and consider shopping secondhand, renting from friends, or borrowing pieces as needed; purchase new pieces only when truly necessary.
- Chemical-Free Dyes
Fashion industry trends have seen a major transformation towards eco-friendly fabrics that are both innovative and sustainable. The production of clothing is increasingly using organic cotton, plant-based leather alternatives like pineapple leather or mushrooms, and other eco-friendly options, thereby reducing the industry’s overall environmental impact.
Harvest and Mill are among the many brands exploring ways to add color without resorting to dyeing for their clothing designs. Their approach reduces both water consumption and energy use while helping ensure vibrant hues remain for an extended period of time.
Natural dyes may also be better choices for use in textile production than the commonly used azo dyes, as these have been linked to health issues including skin sensitivities and allergies. They may be more costly and challenging to produce on a large scale than their petrochemical-based counterparts, yet consumers increasingly demand healthy apparel, so this may become an effective solution in the future.
Ethical brands are searching for new ways to become even more dye-free, such as using natural colors that occur naturally within fabric or designing naturally-hued designs. This approach not only minimizes the amount of dye required, but also lowers the risk of contamination with heavy metals such as antimony, arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead, mercury, and nickel.
Apparel retailers are taking steps to expand the availability of sustainable clothing options by providing digital solutions that help shoppers make more informed purchasing decisions, including virtual fitting rooms that enable users to find their perfect fit without waste and shipping back and forth. In addition, retailers are revamping their production processes by manufacturing items in-house or by using recycled or organic materials during production.
- Seaweed
Seaweed may not be your go-to material when it comes to sustainable fashion, but this nondescript denizen of the deep is having a major moment. From skincare ingredients to growing vegan protein powder lists among health-conscious eaters, seaweed has proven its eco-friendliness time after time; one 2019 study even demonstrated it can absorb 20 times as much carbon dioxide as plants! Perhaps its greatest advantage lies in being completely biodegradable!
Designers and startups around the world are exploring seaweed’s potential as an apparel material, with some making strides in creating clothing from it. One challenge with working with seaweed textiles is their complex preservation process and incompatibility with regular machine washing, but some brands have managed to solve this issue through innovation.
Pangaia, for instance, has developed a solar-powered process to convert seaweed to fabric that uses less water than cotton production methods. Several brands, including Tanguy Melinand, nominated for an LVMH Prize award, have already collaborated with Pangaia to create seaweed-based garments.
Other companies are exploring ways to combine seaweed with other fabrics. Keel Labs in Morrisville, North Carolina, developed a T-shirt containing 39% or less SeaCell fiber made up of 19% Icelandic knotted wrack and 65% beech and eucalyptus tree pulp; this combination helps reduce water usage when making garments.
- Biodegradable packaging
Many brands are moving away from plastic packaging in favor of more eco-friendly alternatives, as plastic is made up of fossil fuels and requires toxic chemicals and flame retardants for production, resulting in ocean pollution. Switching to eco-friendly garment bags and boxes is a great way to lower your carbon footprint and show customers you care for our planet.
Some companies even design eco-friendly packaging that you can plant after use! Once discarded, plantable packaging aims to biodegrade into edible materials such as seeds or paper. It’s an effective way of reducing landfill waste or ocean pollution.
Selecting biodegradable packaging material can be challenging when creating clothing lines, so finding suitable options such as paper or cardboard may be beneficial to achieving sustainability in terms of biodegradability and recycling efforts. Cardboard can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another choice would be cellulose film packaging that minimizes trash generation while offering variety in styles.
Seaweed and mushroom roots are two other sustainable materials used in clothing packaging. Seaweed is a renewable resource that biodegrades quickly in soil, helping reduce ocean acidity. Mushroom roots offer strong yet lightweight boxes that are 100% biodegradable and compostable—another sustainable material perfect for packaging clothing products!
Look for third-party certification programs that align with your sustainability goals to choose eco-friendly packaging for your fashion business. For example, GreenBlue’s How2Compost program requires that products become BPI compostable before they qualify for its label; if you need help selecting certifications appropriate to your business, please reach out to TIPA to explore your options.
