In this blog, I want to discuss the relationship between the fashion industry and the Earth’s environment. In my opinion, the environment is not only the foundation of our planet but also the foundation of the art and fashion industries.
Firstly, the fashion industry is characterized by a vast and complex supply chain, which means that numerous factories and production facilities are being established around the world. I believe that in the future, the number of such factories will continue to increase as the fashion industry expands.
Secondly, the environment is one of the essential factors for human survival, which has given rise to an important concept — the circular economy.
As Fletcher and Grose (2012) pointed out,
“The core of the circular economy in the fashion industry is to break the linear model of ‘extraction – production – consumption – disposal’.”
This definition is crucial for the fashion industry. In my view, there will be growing challenges between fashion and environmental factors in the future. As more factories join the industry, natural resources will become increasingly scarce. Renewable resources on Earth may no longer be able to meet the high demand of the fashion sector — let alone non-renewable ones.
It is evident that many brands have already become aware of this issue. For example, Prada’s Re-Nylon collection is made from regenerated nylon, with raw materials sourced from discarded plastics and textile waste collected worldwide. This demonstrates that more and more fashion brands are beginning to focus on sustainability.
Sustainability is extremely important for fashion brands. As mentioned earlier, the Earth’s resources are depleting, which means that in the future, fashion companies will need to pay more attention to the use of recyclable materials and sustainable fabrics. More recyclable materials mean lower costs and better environmental protection, while higher-quality fabrics lead to longer product lifespans.
Beyond individual brands, the United Nations has also launched 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Among them, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production is closely connected to the fashion industry.
As Gwilt (2020) explained, SDG 12 aims to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. By adopting eco-friendly materials and circular processes, the fashion industry can help reduce resource waste and align with the goals of SDG 12.
In conclusion, fashion and sustainability are not opposing forces but rather complementary elements. As more brands embrace circular economy principles and recyclable materials, both the Earth and the fashion industry will benefit from a more sustainable future.