In case you missed it, we recently hosted a webinar with the colour experts at Pantone. And, whilst much discussion was focused around colour trends for SS21, VP of Pantone’s Color Institute Laurie Pressman is also looking to sustainability as a key trend for the foreseeable future. With that fresh in our minds, we’ve been thinking a lot about how brands can get greener in every step of a garment’s journey. Including the production part.  That’s why we’ve compiled this three-step guide outlining how you can operate more sustainably, throughout your supply chain.

 

Business publication Raconteur sums it up nicely when they say that “moving fashion production from home shores was the beginning of the end”. In other words, as brands have moved their production lines and operations overseas, to cheaper sourcing destinations, the carbon footprint of any single item has increased tenfold. Of course, outsourcing production overseas also has its benefits, such as cost-savings that can be spent on greener fabrics, fair wages or more ethical working conditions, not to mention the fact that import and export right now is fraught with a whole new set of issues.

 

A culture of disposability and a supply chain full of non-biodegradable synthetics have pervaded the industry for a long time. Fast fashion has led us to produce quantity over quality, using the cheapest and most convenient materials available to us. Whilst you can’t transform your sourcing cycle overnight – throwing away raw fabric is even worse than creating collections from them – using higher quality materials, natural fibres and upcycled or recycled fabrics are just three of the options available to you. It may push up your price point, but with consumer demand for sustainable fashion growing, we promise it will be worth it.

 

Much of the inherent disposability of fast fashion has come from the simple fact that clothes wear out within a matter of months – in terms of physical appearance and seasonal trends. Whilst the concept of seasonality in fashion is very much engrained in the industry, it is still possible to focus on designs that are both versatile and “timeless” in terms of their aesthetic. What’s more, if made from quality materials and solidly constructed, these items are far more likely to become wardrobe staples and not landfill fodder.

 
We want to know how you’re helping planet and people throughout this difficult time. Share your stories with us on social media using #InspiredByKindness or send us an email.
 

GET IN TOUCH