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
A path to greener fashion: UBC and KPU collaborate on sustainable rayon production
New production method reduces solvent use by up to 70 per cent
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A local designer turns her passion for sustainable wedding style into a new local bridal fair
Some experts say that a single wedding in the United States can create more than 57 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
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7 trends shaping polyester’s future
Just because the synthetic can be used in a multitude of incredible ways doesn't mean it should be.
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Unlock the Secrets of Thrifting: Your Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Shopping
This comprehensive guide delves into the art of thrifting, offering practical advice on everything from navigating estate sales to scoring deals at flea markets.
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Stretchy mixed-fiber fabric recycled into new garment
Radici InNova, the RadiciGroup division dedicated to research and innovation, has developed a textile recycling process based on selective dissolution technology, capable of treating mixed textile waste—such as swimwear, tights and leggings—and recovering both nylon and LYCRA® fibers.
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10 creative ways to upcycle old tablecloths into something beautiful
Sustainability pros say tablecloths are one of the easiest household items to upcycle. They’re durable, easy to cut or sew and often made from beautiful materials worth saving.
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Transform Vintage Doilies From The Thrift Store Into The Sweetest Home Decor
These unique treasures, made from intricate crochet work, are the perfect blend of nostalgia and comfort. Styled correctly, they can be used to make lovely faux flowers.
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People can't stop watching sweater holes being magically mended by hand
Videos of stitching holes in knit sweaters have gone viral on social media. Why? Well, you just have to see it in action.
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Naturalmat mattresses made with recycled denim
Naturalmat, based in the U.K., offers sustainably made mattresses and bed linens, utilizing materials such as coconut fibers and recycled denim.
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KARL MAYER spotlights new warp knit applications for home textiles
Knitted fabrics are among the most versatile materials in home textiles. Recent innovations include super-soft blankets with the look and feel of silk at the price of conven-tional midrange products.
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