It's mind-blowing to think that sustainability was the subject of public ridicule and confusion just ten years ago. According to the New York Times “This was back when everyone thought it was funny to make jokes about green being the new black, and most people thought ‘eco’ and ‘vegan’ and ‘organic’ all meant kind of the same thing”. It's interesting to see how far we’ve come, as we have become a more eco-conscious society. Nowadays, more sustainable habits have become the norm since we’ve learned how dangerous overconsumption has been for our planet and all that call our planet home.
We have come a long way from where we were then because now almost every big-name brand has a sustainability strategy in their production process. The U.N. climate change body has been a spearhead for ensuring Climate action from the fashion industry. The Times states that “In 2018, the U.N.F.C.C.C. unveiled the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate action…including reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050”.
The fashion industry has effectively become a race to see who can be the safest for the environment while maintaining cultural relevance. Some key examples of this race are the 150 brands that signed the Industry Charter for Climate action, and the “clamor” to publish “Pledges to reach carbon neutrality” from numerous Fashion companies.
While these pledges are crucial to saving our planet from harmful carbon emissions and other forms of pollution, not every company has or keeps its pledges for carbon neutrality. Making a difference in the Fashion industry is not as easy as making a (potentially unreliable) promise to consumers, it is a systemic issue in the industry itself. Vanessa Friedman from the New York Times states that “responsible fashion”: a term that refers to a world in which players, from the consumer to the C.E.O., the manufacturer and the farmer, take responsibility for their part in the supply chain and the creative process, and for the choices they make”.
We are all responsible for making a change in the fight for sustainability. Do you agree?
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Many who fight for Climate action are always trying to find new ways to neutralize their carbon footprint when it comes to their fashion consumption. And with major fashion brands’ slippery “green” promises, it's more important than ever to find your own way to being sustainable. Curious what your carbon footprint looks like? Click the picture below to use the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calculator.
Where did your household come in? The average American has a 16 ton carbon footprint, which btw is 4x the average carbon footprint of the rest of the world.
ThreadLocal360 can help! ThreadLocal360 is the only truly sustainable alternative to the traditional wasteful fashion industry format. Our company is a membership-based, upscale, fashion exchange. A place where you can shop while lessening your carbon footprint, saving a ton of money, and conserving thousands of gallons of precious water each and EVERY time you reward yourself with a great new look. Here, members build community and awareness while exchanging their like-new, high-end clothing with fellow climate-conscious members. Together we can OWN making a difference while shopping local and helping the planet.