Published on : 24 July 20203 min reading time
With the industry accounting for about 10 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, there are ways that can be adopted to reduce the impact and positively marry sustainability and luxury industry. A recent report now predicts that, if not controlled, the industry will account for a quarter of the total world carbon budget by 2050. Currently, the defining challenge is securing a sustainable future. Below are top trends that have been seen to embrace a sustainable planet.
The Adoption of Economic Principles
As a result of limited recycling technology, the fashion industry has seen a rise in the loss of value in their production from the materials used. The industry has, however, made a bold move towards adopting circular economy principles. Although some materials that were initially second-hand are now considered vintage, only a minor percentage is recycled. Most retailers are now becoming circular and collaborative, whereby they have introduced a partner program for the collection of old clothes at defined stores. This is a step that has seen an incredible rise of the recycling rate. Although some materials such as cotton have been recycled for many years, the technology is being advanced to see more fabric recycled at a more cost-effective price.
Designing for a Long Lifetime
The fashion industry has been seen to adopt a sustainable solution of designing clothes that last. It is a shift that is seeing the production of high-quality materials, which will, in turn, cut a high percentage of waste and carbon impact. In the last decade, a large number of people, both consumers and designers have come to terms with the fact that the clothes produced have a direct impact on the planet. Today, consumers identify with products that do not put the planet at risk, fabrics that last yet limit the amount of wasted material. Creating designs that will stand the test of time will encourage consumers to keep their fabrics longer. New technology such as 3D printing is going a long way to help in creating personalized and customized products with the input of the consumer.
The Embrace of Sustainable Materials
In the current fast-paced world, the efforts to attaining a sustainable environment have taken a back seat in many industries, with the fashion industry being one of them. Fashion report statistics show that, in the next decade, the world population will have exceeded 8 billion, with the fashion industry expanding further. Thankfully, a sustainable livelihood has been a major concern, particularly among millennials who have chosen to spend on companies producing sustainable products.
The materials used by a large part of the fashion industry face two major challenges, including the lack of recyclability and scarcity. Also, the costs of most of them is rising by the day. With fossil fuel taxes rising, for instance, materials drawn from petrochemicals may keep experiencing a steady rise in prices. For this reason, most designers are now leaning towards the sustainable materials that already exist and those that are recyclable and offer long lifecycles.
Despite the fashion industry facing major hurdles towards sustainability, one drive that has been seen to suffice is the willingness to change and create connections that support the safety of the planet. Some fast-growing entities such as H&M have been focused on transforming their operations. H&M reported that, by 2030, it will be 100 percent circular. This means that the company will only use sustainable materials in their productions, which is a wake-up call to other organizations.