There are a number of companies that have taken it upon themselves to make sure that all of their employees get fair payment and humane working conditions, and that the environment does not get destroyed in the making of their products. Naturally, these brands will be more expensive, but the money will be going towards better practices. It is hard to believe that the people who made a $5 shirt are getting paid an adequate amount of money and that the environment was not destroyed in the process, so that is something to be conscious of.

 

What are the impacts of your clothing at every step of its existence?

 

           1. Raw materials

First, the material must be removed from the source. Cotton is grown in fields, silk from worms, fleece comes from recycled water bottles, polyester and spandex are made of plastic, etc. The people collecting these raw materials may face unsafe working conditions, be underpaid, and be exposed to harsh pesticides.

2. Fabric

Next the raw materials must be made in to thread and then into fabric. The fabric must get dyed to whatever color the producer of the clothing wants. These dyes are most often made of toxic chemicals what will later get dumped into waterways. (HISTORY- toxic rivers). Workers in this stage may also face unsafe working conditions, be underpaid, and expose to harsh chemicals that then pollute the environment.

3. Production

Next the fabric gets sewn into individual articles of clothing. The leftover scraps will be thrown away, which means they will be in a landfill until they decompose.

4. Consumer

Plastic particles break off from your clothing when you wash/dry them and will eventually end up in the ocean. Dyes irritate your skin, and the chemicals used to clean your clothes are bad for your health and the health of the environment.

5. Post-consumer

After you no longer want your clothing, you have some options of what to do with it, each with a different environmental impact. You can throw it away, donate it/hand-me-downs, upcycle it, or use old tattered clothing as rags for cleaning. Anything you can do to prolong its life before it ends up in a landfill will reduce its environmental footprint.

 

What are some brands that are trying to make things right?

  • L.L. Bean
    • responsible packaging
    • long-lasting proucts
    • responsible materials
  • Patagonia
    • responsible materials
    • fair trade
    • safe working conditions
  • Tentree
    • Commits to plant 10 trees per item purchased
    • Makes clothing out of sustainable materials- organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester

 

 

What can you do?

  • Consume less
  • Consume smarter- opt for well made, timeless pieces rather than “fast fashion”
  • Choose sustainable materials like cotton over polyester and rayon
  • Purchase from companies with a commitment to sustainability
  • Buy clothes second-hand

 

What do others have to say about this?

  • Blogger Jessica Pierce offers this guide on how to make sure you have clothes that will last. She offers tips such as rotating through your clothing, wearing old clothes to do tasks like working out/cleaning so you don’t ruin nice clothes, and hanging your clothes to dry them instead of using a dryer.