How sustainable is eco-fashion?

The above garments were made by BA(Hons) Fashion 2nd years as part of a project around sustainability and all fabrics remnant stock fabric donated by Cookson & Clegg a clothing manufacture factory based in Blackburn.

Eco-fashion is a word used to describe clothing and other products that are produced using methods that do not cause harm to the environment. Using recycled materials for manufacturing clothes or materials that have been organically grown without pesticides are just two examples of this.

How does eco-fashion become sustainable?

Eco-fashion is used within the industry to describe a brand’s attempt to minimise their impact on the environment when producing shoes, t-shirts, dresses and other fashion items. Eco-brands also consider the effects on wildlife and other ecosystems as well as the wages and working conditions of those who make the items. This is also similar to Fairtrade, which is a term used to describe a form of ecology which treats low paid workers fair wages in comparison to other conglomerates who might take advantage of their situation.

Who campaigns for sustainable, eco-friendly fashion? 

There is already a great buzz around eco-fashion, with many celebrities and influencers advocating for it. This can only mean that the industry is set to boom and that more talented designers who have a better understanding of how to make more ethical clothing will be required. 

Has fashion finally become sustainable?

As more celebrities move away from fur-friendly designers like Louis Vuitton and Dior to more environmentally conscious brands such as Stella McCartney, we could start to see a shift in designer brands as we know them. Brands such as Prada and Chanel have already vowed to keep animal fur off the catwalk and to invest more time into developing eco-friendly fashion.

There is still a long way to go, and more knowledgeable designers will be required for eco-friendly fashion to be successful in the future. 

An exciting career as a fashion designer, textiles designer, pattern maker or manufacturer are just a few of the jobs you could end up with when you graduate from a Textiles and Fashion degree at the University of Bolton. Yet the future of fashion is with those imaginative enough to involve the environment in their creative process.