Fast Fashion Alternatives
In the world of consumerism, fast fashion has a huge place. Trends are changing rapidly every season and there is a big group following them. I think everyone would agree with me when I say, fast fashion brands like H&M and Forever 21, do not manufacture the highest quality products. Their low quality is often being justified by the low price tag. However, I realized my low quality clothes do not last for a long time at all. So I keep buying and buying. At the end of the day, I probably spend more money than if I had purchased a limited amount of high quality items. As I started to be more aware about sustainability, my fashion taste also changed.
There is a growing number of companies that try hard to be eco-friendly and to contribute to sustainability. There is no doubt Patagonia is a great example. They use organic cotton in their products, they encourage buying less and they have a line made from recycled materials. I wondered what other companies are out there that do different things in terms of incorporating sustainability to fashion. One of them was pretty different than the others.
I found out about this inspiring initiative called Thread. It is a fabric company, that manufactures fabric from used hand collected plastic bottles from Haiti & Honduras! I know, it's crazy. They not only recycle plastic bottles, they also create job opportunities for people in need in Haiti & Honduras. Here is a summary of their impact taken from the company website...
Thread collaborated with a lot of brands but I think the biggest one on the list is Timberland. Check out their shoes collection! You can even check out every single company that is behind the production of this collection on the interactive map on collection's page.
Maybe it's me being overly enthusiastic but I loved the way they contribute to a good cause. I also found a list of 35 more companies that put effort in being a fair trade, ethical business to fight with fast fashion. Here they are:
There is a growing number of companies that try hard to be eco-friendly and to contribute to sustainability. There is no doubt Patagonia is a great example. They use organic cotton in their products, they encourage buying less and they have a line made from recycled materials. I wondered what other companies are out there that do different things in terms of incorporating sustainability to fashion. One of them was pretty different than the others.
I found out about this inspiring initiative called Thread. It is a fabric company, that manufactures fabric from used hand collected plastic bottles from Haiti & Honduras! I know, it's crazy. They not only recycle plastic bottles, they also create job opportunities for people in need in Haiti & Honduras. Here is a summary of their impact taken from the company website...
Thread collaborated with a lot of brands but I think the biggest one on the list is Timberland. Check out their shoes collection! You can even check out every single company that is behind the production of this collection on the interactive map on collection's page.
Maybe it's me being overly enthusiastic but I loved the way they contribute to a good cause. I also found a list of 35 more companies that put effort in being a fair trade, ethical business to fight with fast fashion. Here they are:
I completely agree with you, I have tended to shop at Forever 21, H&M, and other 'fast fashion' stores in the past but recently realized how short the life of each item was and how constantly buying new, cheap things does add up quickly in the long-run. I have definitely started moving towards buying more expensive things that are made to last and have started increasingly adopting the use of the term 'minimalism'. Although I definitely wouldn't call myself a minimalist (at least not yet), I think starting to think this way and change my habits is a good start. Also, the company you found, Thread, sounds like such a great social enterprise and is not only making an environmental impact with their fabric, but also a social impact by employing the people in need! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteHi Aylin!
ReplyDeleteFor the longest time, I would always purchase clothes from fast fashion brands such as H&M and Forever 21. There's a few reasons why. One, these brands are cheaper compared to others. Though the quality of said clothes is not as good, this was a tradeoff I was willing to make. Secondly, quantity over quality. With $100, I could probably purchase 5 pieces of clothing from Forever 21, compared to buying 1 piece of better-quality clothing elsewhere. My mindset is that I would rather have more lower-quality clothing in my wardrobe than a few better-quality ones.
It’s very interesting to not only think about the quality of the clothing, but also about the sustainability aspect. Taking sustainability into consideration, I realize that a lot of the clothes from fast fashion brands go to waste. This is definitely something that would affect my decision making next time I go shopping. What other factors do you take into consideration when you buy clothes? :)
Nicole Poon
Hey Aylin!
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome. Coming from the Dominican Republic (just next to Haiti), I can totally see the amount of plastic waste lying everywhere not only in Haiti, but in my home country as well. I have also been in Honduras, and both Haiti and Honduras are in need of job opportunities. Moreover, referring back to F21, I remember being super excited whenever I traveled to the US when I was around 15. If not on the first day, I would visit F21 on my second day. Nonetheless, I have stopped purchasing from F21 once I got to college. After using a couple of their sweaters when I first arrived to Vancouver, I became skeptical about their quality as the threads would come off easily. Thus, they didn’t really keep me warm and I had to donate them after a couple washes. Now, I have decided to go for more expensive and longer lasting garments and shoes! In the long run, I believe that this is better for the environment and also for my wallet!