Sustainable fashion is no longer just a trend-it’s an essential shift reshaping how we view clothing, its environmental impact, and the broader ethical questions surrounding the industry. The fashion world, long criticised for its environmental damage and unethical labour issues, is now facing pressure from both consumers and activists to embrace more sustainable and ethical practices. I spoke to fair fashion campaigner Venetia La Manna, Abbie Dewhurst, and Mikala Loach who are leading this change, offering tangible solutions to the challenges in the fashion industry and inspiring change through their advocacy and work both online and offline.
The Urgent Problem: Fashion’s Environmental and Social Impact
The fashion industry is a major contributor to global environmental harm. It accounts for around 10% of global carbon emissions, surpassing even the emissions of international flights and shipping combined (United Nations Environment Programme, 2018). Additionally, the production of a single cotton shirt can require up to 2,700 litres of water-enough to sustain one person for nearly two and a half years (Hickman, 2014). This isn’t just a theoretical problem-it’s a massive, ongoing issue that needs real solutions.
However, there’s hope. As awareness of the fashion industry’s impact grows, so too does the demand for eco-friendly materials and more sustainable production practices. Mikala Loach’s work, for example, highlights the importance of dismantling extractive industries and shifting toward systems that prioritise regeneration and sustainability. By supporting circular fashion-where clothes are designed to last, be reused, or recycled-we can take meaningful steps toward a more sustainable future. Venetia La Manna explains that the most sustainable clothes are the clothes we already own in our wardrobe. She encourages me and other young people to look at what we already own before purchasing a new item. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2017) underscores this vision, calling for a circular fashion economy that would drastically reduce waste and lower the industry’s carbon footprint.
The Human Cost of Fast Fashion
Sustainability isn’t only about the environment-it’s also about people. Fast fashion has long been criticised for exploiting garment workers, many of whom endure unsafe working conditions and who are not paid a living wage. Venetia La Manna uses her social media to document this and creates short form and long form content to educate her audience of over According to the International Labour Organisation (2017), 170 million children are engaged in child labour globally, many in textile and garment production. Tackling these labour issues is just as important as addressing environmental concerns.
Venetia La Manna is speaks in our conversation about the human side of sustainable fashion. Her content centres around holding fashion brands accountable for their unethical labour practices and ensuring transparency in supply chains. Campaigns like Who Made My Clothes?, initiated by Fashion Revolution, have gained massive traction on social media, encouraging consumers to ask tough questions about where and how their clothes are made. By supporting brands that prioritise ethical labour practices and transparency, we can help drive industry wide change.
Practical Solutions: How We As Individuals Can Drive Change
The good news is that we all have the power to make a difference. Whether it’s through our purchasing habits or our advocacy, we can be part of the solution. Here are some actionable steps that can help reduce your fashion footprint and push the industry toward sustainability:
1. Invest in Quality, Not Quantity: Opting for timeless pieces that are built to last. Rather than chasing trends, focus on buying items that will withstand the test of time both in terms of style and longevity.
2. Embrace Second-Hand Fashion: Platforms like Depop, Vinted and local charity stores i.e. Royal Trinity Hospice provide a great way to shop sustainably. Buying second-hand reduces the demand for new clothing.
3. Create a Capsule Wardrobe: A capsule wardrobe is made up of versatile, high-quality pieces that can be mixed and matched. This reduces clutter, prevents impulse buying, and encourages more thoughtful consumption.
4. Support Sustainable Brands: Look for companies that prioritise ethical labour practices, use eco-friendly materials, and are committed to sustainability. La Manna states ‘purchasing power can help push more brands in this direction’.
5. Advocate for Change: Educate yourself and others about the impact of fast fashion. Share resources online, have conversations in your communities, and support and amplify activists doing important work in the climate space like Mikala Loach, Venetia La Manna, Abbie Dewhurst, and Alice Aedy, who are working tirelessly to expose the problems within the fashion industry and offer tangible solutions.
The Role of Education and Advocacy
Education is critical to creating lasting change. The more we learn about the environmental and social costs of the fashion industry, the more equipped we are to make conscious decisions. By listening to their voices and supporting their efforts, we can help accelerate the push toward a more sustainable and ethical fashion system.
Fashion for the Future
Sustainable fashion is about more than just making better choices-it’s about changing the system itself. From reducing waste and carbon emissions to demanding fair labour practices, the journey toward a greener and more ethical fashion industry requires collective action by individuals. By following the example set by thought leaders in the climate space and making more sustainable choices ourselves, we can contribute to a future where fashion is responsible, too. Together, we can create a fashion industry that values both people and the planet.
Leave a Reply