Comments on: How Sustainable Fashion Is Ruining the Industry

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 14:15:30 +0000

I think you make some great points here from a very different perspective, but sustainable fashion brands are still doing something as opposed to nothing, even if it is just raising awareness. This article I was just reading gave another perspective on high street stores like Zara and the aspects they’re taking and how it could actually be counter-intuitive. https://www.businessleader.co.uk/hm-and-zara-the-sustainable-fashion-brands-killing-the-environment/56166/

By: OC

OC — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 01:02:59 +0000

I think the term “ethical fashion” and “sustainable fashion” have been thrown around too much that they have lost the very meaning they set out to have. It’s become just throwaway terms that companies are using to promote sustainable fashion as a business model to attract consumers without care for what it really entails (ethical production, certified organics, strict labelling?). What we need to do is look beyond these terms and start to form our own ethical standards of buying clothing, such as researching brands, reading the label carefully and being aware of which materials are more eco-friendly.

By: Simone

Simone — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:10:46 +0000

Interesting article and comments. As a consumer there has to be a way to distinguish between products, so that I can make an informed decision. We need a label, don’t mind what it’s called. In terms of sustainable fashion being expensive, that’s the same argument as free range chicken being too expensive. We need a mind set shift, we need to wear our clothes more than a handful of times, consume less meat (food in general) and care about how what we consume/wear was produced. Less greed by the individual/share holders, a fair price to the producer and care for the planet which supplies the raw materials.

By: Style Eyes

Style Eyes — Thu, 12 Feb 2015 19:54:26 +0000

I can kind of understand Orsola’s point of view but unfortunately unless consumers care to find out more about their clothes, how they are made and whether they are ethical or sustainable, then they are not really going to change their buying habits. Sustainable fashion, ethical fashion, whatever you want to call it, is just a label and it often takes a little more research to find out whether a brand really fits with you values regardless of the label. But grouping together brands that are at least making an effort with these label, it does make it easier for those that do care, to find what they want. I definitely disagree that sustainable brands are expensive or unstylish. I feature lots of fresh and stylish brands on my blog with prices comparable or only a little more than fast fashion chains. The quality is usually much better though. Great to see IFB featuring more great posts to raise awareness!

By: Jennifer Nini

Jennifer Nini — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:33:47 +0000

In reply to Brooke Vlasich. Looks like we're on the same page lovely! Read my comments further down and you'll know where I sit on the matter xx

By: Jennifer Nini

Jennifer Nini — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:32:29 +0000

In reply to Lauren Smith. Great that is has caused you to think about these things - the more people that do the better off the world will be. But please don't just stop at thinking. Beliefs aren't what change this world, actions do xx

By: Jennifer Nini

Jennifer Nini — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:30:58 +0000

In reply to Bike Pretty. Yes I agree with what you say but like I mention in my point: we label organic food because we need to inform consumers. Once upon a time all food was organic much as sustainable fashion was just fashion. Unfortunately industrialisation has wreaked havoc in our industries making everything fast, robotic and thoughtless. If we ever get to the point where we wouldn't need to differentiate using terms such as 'sustainable' and 'ethical' I would love it. But this is not our reality so, using labels is as close to relaying the message as we can get. For now. Thanks for contributing to this important discussion! x

By: Jennifer Nini

Jennifer Nini — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 23:22:40 +0000

In the years since I have been writing about this (since about 2008 and publicly blogging about it since 2010) I have heard this argument raised time and time again. The terms ‘ethical’ ‘sustainable’ ‘eco’ are interchangeable and depending on a persons individual reference points and ethics we could argue this all day. It is just semantics at the end of the day and it appears when it comes to these words, perhaps a global transparency system is in order so producers/consumers/governments stop are all on the same page. I’ve often said in my blog and to the people I have had many discussions with that one day I wish not to be writing about ‘ethical’ or ‘sustainable’ fashion because the hope is one day ALL fashion will be such. As this is not our current reality I disagree with Orsola de Castro in that we DO in fact need some sort of labelling that is transparent. You may disagree with such terms as ‘sustainable’ ‘ethical’ and ‘eco’ to describe fashion but these labels are merely a starting point and as consumers/and or producers it is your role to investigate/or promote transparency in your entire production process including farming/sourcing/manufacturing/care. The same can be said of the food industry. I am establishing an organic food business and we are spending extra dollars to ensure that we comply with the strict organic food guidelines and it is a 3 year process to call ourselves ‘certified organic’. We are only at the early stages and already we have to be transparent about everything we do on the farm. If we applied Orsola de Castro’s non-labelling argument to food, than we wouldn’t know what was ridden with synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or GMO produced. Thus we have to differentiate ‘organic food’ otherwise consumers wouldn’t know the difference. So again going back to the earlier point: perhaps then as with organic food, there needs to be an agreed consistent global use of the terms ‘sustainable’ ‘ethical’ ‘eco’ but as you can imagine this is a time consuming costly exercise that would take some of our leading fashion/government/industry organisations to get their act together. Or you could just call it ‘socially responsible and environmentally friendly’ fashion if you don’t like the sound of ‘sustainable’ fashion. Anyway, if you wish to explore this subject further, feel free to email me – you’ll be able to find my details on hello[at]ecowarriorprincess[dot]com[dot]au Keep these discussions coming! x

By: Akaleistar

Akaleistar — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 22:21:02 +0000

What an interesting view on sustainability and fashion!

By: Susie

Susie — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 13:22:34 +0000

As ‘Fashion Revolution Day’ is approaching this topic will be discussed more. Fortunately more people are made aware of what really happens behind the scenes of fashion but there is still a long road to go. Ethical fashion brands have to start to cater to an audience with different budgets and not not high-end. I’m very optimistic that in the years to come things will change in the fashion industry!