What is Sustainable Fashion? - Sustainable Fashion, also called eco-fashion and ethical fashion, involves the design and manufacturing of clothing, home furnishings and other textile products in a sustainable manner that takes into account any environmental and socio-economic impacts. The goal is a system that protects the environment, causing minimal to no harm, and promotes social responsibility and ethical treatment of workers.
Sustainable Fashion involves all stages of the product's life cycle from design; selection & production of raw materials; manufacturing;
dyeing/finishing; sewing/assembling; packaging/storing and transportation, and disposal. It may include the use of recycled materials and components; reuse of wastage; and, the careful use of natural resources, such as water, land, soil, plants and animals. From a socio-economic perspective, there is a responsibility to maintain ethical working conditions for workers in the field, the factory and the office, including complying with best practice methods and applicable codes of conduct.
The consumer also has responsibilities: to stay educated and maintain awareness of sustainability issues when making purchases; avoid short-term fads that drive fast fashion; properly caring for and repairing clothing to extend its life; and, recycling, repurposing and donating old garments. You can also let companies and manufacturers know that stainability is important to you, and join organizations that promote sustainability.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
ECO-GLOSSARY Learn terms such as carbon footprint, fast fashion, transparency, recycled & upcycling. Glossary Link
UNIVERSITY RESEARCH
Read below about university research programs involving advances in sustainability, cutting edge textile products & technologies.
Neolast™ - Celanese and UnderArmour announce the development of a more sustainable alternative to spandex/elastane stretch fabrics.
FABRICLINK NETWORK TOP 10 TEXTILE INNOVATION AWARDS - These awards recognize technical & sustainability advancements that advance performance or expand product applications. Review Award Winners Here
NEWS RELEASES - Read recent press releases on sustainable products & technologies, an learn what's new in apparel & textiles.Read the News
CERTIFICATIONS Learn about the various Eco-Certifications & Standards for textiles.
GET INSPIRED & WRITE YOUR OWN SUSTAINABILITY STORY!
Do your part: stay educated and be aware of sustainability issues when making purchases; avoid short-term fads that drive fast fashion; properly care for and repair clothing to extend its life; repurpose and donate old garments. You can also join organizations that promote sustainability & environmental protection.
Helpful Hints & Connections:
How to be a Smart Shopper - Be educated; read labels, know who's making your clothes & what they're made of; avoid buying clothes you may only wear a couple of times.
10 Tips to Make Your Clothes Last Longer - Learn: What to look for in well-made clothes; How to sort, wash & dry items, Remove stains; and, hang & store clothes.
25 Environmental Organizations & Agencies
Get involved and sign up with one of the active notable environmental organizations currently working for green causes, including wildlife preservation, land conservation and climate change prevention.
NEWS & VIEWS
How to Choose Cycling Clothing and Apparel for a Better Ride
The right cycling clothing can help manage sweat, improve comfort, protect you from changing weather and make long hours more enjoyable.
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How Long Do Dryer Balls Last? Here’s When To Replace Them
Instead of reaching for dryer sheets to soften your laundry and get rid of static cling, dryer balls are an environment-friendly alternative.
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Think Your Donated Clothes Go Straight to Someone in Need? Here’s What Happens
So what really happens after you leave that donation bag at the door? Here are 16 things worth knowing.
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Initiative to bolster defense textile manufacturing announced
North Carolina State University has been chosen to lead a 10-year Dept. of War initiative aimed at modernizing textile manufacturing in the U.S. to support the defense industry.
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DITF researches bio-based FR materials
This work has potential applications in building materials, home and auto upholstery fabrics, and carpets.
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EcoFresh by Microban International earns USDA Certified Biobased Product Label
Microban’s EcoFresh ER1000 contains 62% biobased content, as certified by the USDA BioPreferred® Program.
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The importance of protection and safety
The textile industry is an important subject in the workplace considering the health and safety regulations specific to textile manufacturing.
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Finnish researchers grow mushroom 'leather' strong enough to outcompete cow leather
The fabric reached a tensile strength that puts it in competition with, and at times above, chrome-tanned cow leather.
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Can Fashion Recycle Its Way Out of Overproduction?
New research suggests that technology alone cannot solve fashion’s waste problem while the industry continues to produce and consume at enormous scale.
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‘America’s Tapestry’ spotlights original Colonies
Over the course of 18 months, each 35-by-45-inch panel was hand-embroidered by community members in each state, including those with and without embroidery experience.
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