In recent years we have been bombarded with the word sustainability. Sustainable food, sustainable clothing, sustainable fairs, sustainable care, sustainable sports, sustainable work, and sustainable living. But what actually does it mean?
"We are the first generation to experience the impact of climate change, but also the last generation that can do something about it."
As it is, we as consumers must go to work…
As it is, we as consumers must go to work and remember to “put your money where your mouth is” with each problem. If you are conscious, things will alter on their own. I had a firsthand encounter with it a few months ago. I came to a halt in my hectic and always-hurried life. Before I became aware of everything, I wanted to establish a profession, raise two wonderful children, and work my way up the ladder as much as possible.
Which ladder am I actually trying to climb and at what price is that really?
In my world, the fashion industry, it seems as if I’m struggling hard every time and then asking myself; where and for whom do I actually do this for? It’s this undefined love/hate relationship with Fashion, I assume. Unfortunately, I rang the bell too late and I ended up in a sort of burnout status. In my stressed status, I thought about life. Am I still happy with my job, am I on the right track? Who I am again? And what do I actually want to give my children? If they see me go to work so unhappy, they will never understand my work ethos. Is that the example I want to leave behind? And of course, there is also the complete exploitation in the fashion industry. What do I want to give to future generations?
The textile industry is a very polluting industry
Rana Plaza, the disaster in Bangladesh in 2013, in which more than 1100 women and their children died, because the building did not meet the requirements for textile production. Do you remember that? Did you know that there is still slavery in the clothing industry and that people have to work extremely long days, sometimes 24/7, days and weeks in a row for our must-have outfit or ‘Fashion Fix’? The textile industry is a very polluting industry. 10% of CO2 emissions come from textiles, for comparison: 2.5% CO2 emissions come from the aviation industry. We then use around 10,000 litres of water per outfit (a pair of jeans + shirt) to produce it. In addition, I have not even talked about all the chemicals and dyes to make our jeans so special. These are namely dumped in nearby rivers. This means, the entire community can see which trendy colour is “in fashion” in the West.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg. But of course, you can now ask yourself why we still produce nature polluting apparel and why the working conditions in the factories are so bad?
If we continue with our consumption in this way, there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050
This is such a typical case of the “pointing finger”. The fashion brands blame the consumers, the government blames the companies and the consumers blames the government. My father always said if you point a finger at the other, three points at yourself. So time to get started. If we continue to use our consumption in this way, there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans (by weight) by 2050. Tips for a greener and more sustainable existence:
- Pay and save greener: investing, saving but also daily banking can be done at greener banks/investment companies (eg Triodos)
- Vote for green: use your voting rights and vote for people in politics who speak about climate change.
- Buy plants: it absorbs CO2 and you get more balanced + you become more energetic with the colour green.
- Reduce your own CO2 footprint: buy solar panels, take a bicycle, take the bus, go carpooling with your colleague or opt for an electric car. But, also separate your waste, do your shopping with cotton bags (also for fruit/vegetables), and become vegetarian or eat less meat.
In the meantime, I have also started to live greener and more sustainably. I have introduced five different waste bins. That seems extreme (if you come from one or two), but trust me, it is not so bad once you do it (and you’ll be surprised by the number of single-use plastics).
Then I went to clean up waste after a wonderful day at the beach. A real hashtag has been created for this on Instagram: #5minutesbeachcleanup.
After the beach season, I thought; hey we have to do this in our neighbourhood. You know; create awareness of roaming plastic. So we did just that! Because of this you are not only enjoying the walk, but you are also doing something good for fellow human beings and nature. Below is a photo of the garbage disposal in our neighbourhood. It was a fantastic evening.
Honestly, I’m not there yet. I’m still on my path, and I’d like to take you on a journey through my “greener” and more sustainable life without the picture of goat wool socks. Ultimately, I am still the fashionista who adores fashion… Sustainable fashion!
Do you want to start your sustainable journey? Check out our services pages and give us a call today.
Or why no enrol in our RethinkRebels Academy. In collaboration with Mumster we have developed 4 new online training programs - aimed at 4 target audiences - to assist fashion professionals in overcoming everyday challenges.
Don't have the time? Our short courses in sustainable fashion provide the essential knowledge you need without lengthy commitments.
Don't have the time? Our short courses in sustainable fashion provide the essential knowledge you need without lengthy commitments.