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While its spot on the list is a contentious issue, it’s a truth universally acknowledged that fashion is one of the world’s most polluting industries.
That may seem hard to believe, but for those who’ve taken a harder look, it’s clear that a sector whose entire business model is based on providing its buyer with new, trend-led product on a seasonal basis (at the very least) is not good for the environment. Especially one that seems to shame those who don’t keep up with the latest and ‘greatest’.
Thankfully, though, the tide is turning. As awareness is growing, old, bad habits seem to be being usurped by fresh, new ideas which put the planet at the very heart of fashion.
Whether it’s a campaign alerting public consciousness to the dark truths, or brilliant brands and scientists working together to form previously-unheard of fabrics (who’d have thought you could make a leather-like material out of a pineapple?) the industry is changing in line with the demands of its customer.
Today, April 22, marks the 50th anniversary of World Earth Day. And while it’s slightly gutting to think we’re still battling the very same problem we were in 1970, it serves as a day for individuals and businesses to get together to demand action on environmental damage. More than a billion people in 192 countries take part in the action each year; marching, writing to leaders, signing petitions, planting trees and cleaning up their roads.
So why not harness that passion and apply it to your every day life too?
If you’ve been meaning to do your research about sustainable fashion but felt entirely overwhelmed the minute you Googled the term, you’re not alone. And with a lot of greenwashing (conveying a false impression of sustainability) out there it can be hard to know what’s *really* conscious fashion, and what’s merely environmental tokenism.
Visit our SUSTAINABILITY HUB for truthful news, features and shopping galleries focussed on conscious fashion, and scroll down to shop our Fashion Editor’s pick of the best sustainable buys to snap up this Earth Day…