What is Sustainable Fashion?
Embracing Sustainability: The Essence of Slow Fashion
In a world where fashion trends evolve at the blink of an eye, consumerism is at its peak and people can buy fast fashion cheaper and faster than making a homemade meal, a new movement is gaining momentum – one that values ethics, environmental responsibility, and longevity. Welcome to the realm of sustainable fashion, where the slow and steady approach is favoured over the fast-paced, disposable nature of mainstream fashion.
This movement is not necessarily new, it has been around for many years and has been highlighted by many amazing clothing companies like Patagonia, but it’s only now when consumers, through the lens of modern media, are being educated on the devastating impact fast fashion can have, are more and more people starting to stand up and take a personal stance.
What is Sustainable Fashion?
Sustainable fashion is a holistic approach to clothing production and consumption that aims to minimise the negative impact on the environment, promote fair labour practices, and prioritise long-lasting quality. Unlike fast fashion, which encourages rapid churn and the constant pursuit of new styles, sustainable fashion focuses on creating timeless pieces that last and wear well – a quality over quantity approach. As we say in KYIO: ‘Our pieces are made to be handed down, not thrown out.”
We use the word ‘slow’ in association with sustainable fashion, encouraging consumers to adopt a more deliberate and conscious approach towards their clothing choices.
The Three Pillars of Sustainable Fashion:
Environmental Impact: We adore kindness in people and our planet deserves our utmost kindness. Sustainable fashion aims to reduce the environmental footprint of the industry. This involves using eco-friendly materials like GOTS cotton, adopting responsible production processes, and minimising waste throughout the supply chain.
Ethical Labour Practices: Fair wages, safe working conditions, and respect for workers' rights are paramount in sustainable fashion. Every person who works in the manufacturing of clothing (or any industry) deserves to be respected and paid fairly. KYIO’s use of GOTS cotton allows us to ensure the people who make our products are treated ethically and with dignity.
We also believe that all things are energy, so we strive to ensure that the energy passed down in the production process of making a piece of clothing is of a high vibration all the way through to the customer.
Longevity and Timelessness: Slow fashion embraces quality over quantity. Instead of churning out disposable clothing, sustainable fashion promotes well-crafted, timeless pieces that endure fashion trends and offer long-term value.
Why We Choose To Use GOTS Organic Cotton:
At the heart of sustainable fashion lies the choice of materials, and one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics is GOTS organic cotton. GOTS is a globally recognised certification for textiles made from organic fibres, ensuring that strict environmental and social criteria are met throughout the entire production process.
Benefits of GOTS Organic Cotton:
Environmental Friendliness: GOTS organic cotton is cultivated without synthetic pesticides and fertilisers, promoting soil health and biodiversity. The absence of harmful chemicals in the farming process protects ecosystems and reduces water pollution.
Reduced Carbon Footprint: Organic farming methods used in GOTS certified cotton production often result in lower carbon emissions compared to conventional cotton farming. This contributes to mitigating climate change and fostering a more sustainable future.
Social Responsibility: GOTS certification mandates fair labour practices, ensuring that workers involved in the cotton production process are treated ethically, with proper working conditions and fair wages.
Biodegradability: GOTS organic cotton is biodegradable, offering a solution to the issue of textile waste. Unlike synthetic fibres that linger in landfills for centuries, organic cotton breaks down naturally, leaving a minimal ecological impact.
Embracing sustainable fashion and opting for GOTS organic cotton are powerful steps towards creating a fashion industry that is both environmentally responsible and socially conscious. As we, as consumers, become increasingly aware of the impact of their choices, sustainable fashion, with its emphasis on longevity and ethical practices, is emerging as the antidote to the fast fashion epidemic. By choosing slow and sustainable fashion, we not only express our individual style but also contribute to a more harmonious and responsible world.
