Empowering Consumers: Simple Steps to Support Sustainable Fashion Initiatives

Choosing Eco-Friendly Fabrics and Materials

One of the most impactful and popular ways to support sustainable fashion is choosing garments created from circular fabrics and materials. The textile industry is responsible for significant environmental damage, from water pollution to greenhouse gas emissions, and one of its principal reasons is overproduction, which often prioritizes cheaper and easy-to-get polluting materials made with plastic and other non-biodegradable materials.

Consumers and brands must prioritize circular textiles, such as deadstock fabrics, organic fibre fabrics, and specially choose recycled and recyclable fabrics.

Organic Fibres

Organic fibres like cotton, hemp, and linen are excellent choices for eco-conscious consumers. These materials are biodegradable and often require fewer chemicals and water to produce compared to conventional cotton. The most popular organic fibre fabrics are:

• Organic Cotton: Produced without harmful pesticides or synthetic fertilizers, organic cotton is better for the environment and the farmers who grow it. It promotes soil health and biodiversity while reducing water pollution. Organic cotton also tends to be softer and more durable than its conventional counterpart.
• Hemp: This versatile plant requires minimal water and no pesticides to grow. It's also naturally resistant to pests and produces more fibre per acre than cotton. Hemp fabric is known for its strength, durability, and ability to soften with each wash. It's an excellent choice for a wide range of clothing items, from T-shirts to jeans.
• Linen: Made from flax plants, linen is durable, biodegradable, and requires less water to produce than cotton. Linen fabrics are also naturally moth-resistant and antibacterial, making them an ideal choice for summer clothing. Its breathability and moisture-wicking properties keep you cool in warm weather.

Recycled Materials

Recycled materials are becoming more popular in the fashion industry by offering a way to reduce waste and conserve resources. These materials fit perfectly the circular fashion principles, where products are designed to be reused and recycled. Look for garments made from:

• Recycled polyester: This material, which is often made from plastic bottles or other waste from landfills and oceans, diverts plastic and reduces the need for virgin polyester production.
• Recycled nylon: This material usually comes from repurposing old plastic products such as fishing nets. Recycled nylon helps to combat ocean pollution while creating durable fabric for activewear and swimsuits.
• Recycled cotton: This process saves water and energy compared to producing new cotton while reducing textile waste reintroducing post-industrial and post-consumer cotton waste.

Innovative Sustainable Materials

The fashion industry is constantly innovating and developing new sustainable materials that can replace more resource-intensive options. These innovations showcase the potential for creativity and sustainability. Some of these new innovations on textiles include:

• Tencel: This soft, breathable fabric is produced using sustainably harvested wood and a solvent-recycling process that minimizes environmental impact. Tencel's popularity has been increasing during recent years by its unique and high-performance qualities.
• Piñatex: This innovative material utilizes agricultural waste from pineapple leaves, providing additional income for farmers while offering a cruelty-free alternative to leather.
• Orange Fiber (fabric made from citrus by-products): This silky material repurposes citrus waste from the juice industry, creating a luxurious and sustainable fabric option.

Supporting Brands Using Deadstock Fabrics

Benefits of Deadstock Fabrics

Using deadstock fabrics from Recovo’s marketplace offers several advantages for both consumers and the environment:

1. Reduces waste by giving new life to materials that might end up in landfills: This helps alleviate the burden on our waste management systems and reduces the fashion industry's environmental footprint.
2. Decreases the demand for new fabric production: By reusing existing materials, fashion can minimize the need for additional water, energy, and raw materials in textile production.
3. Often results in unique, limited-edition pieces: Limited stock helps to create exclusive collections that can be appealed to consumers as one-of-a-kind items.
4. Supports a more circular approach to fashion production: Deadstock fabrics are perfectly aligned with the circular fashion principles, which enlarges materials lifecycle.

Finding Brands That Use Deadstock

Many emerging and established brands are incorporating deadstock fabrics into their collections. To support this sustainable practice, consider the following steps:

1. Research brands that prioritize sustainability and transparency in their production processes.
2. Look for companies that specifically mention using deadstock or surplus fabrics in their product descriptions.
3. Support local designers and small businesses, as they often have more flexibility to work with deadstock materials.
4. Explore online marketplaces dedicated to sustainable fashion, where you can find a curated selection of brands using deadstock fabrics.

Upcycling

For the crafty consumer, consider purchasing deadstock fabrics directly from suppliers such as Recovo to create your own garments or upcycle existing pieces. Upcycling is a unique opportunity to repurpose unused materials to create one-of-a-kind products. Some examples to get started in upcycling can be:

• Transform old curtains or bedsheets into stylish summer dresses or skirts.
• Use deadstock fabric to add patches or embellishments to existing clothing items.
• Create accessories like scarves, headbands, or tote bags from smaller pieces of deadstock fabric.

Embracing Second-Hand and Vintage Shopping

One of the most effective ways to reduce the environmental impact of fashion is to extend the life of existing garments. **Second-hand and vintage shopping offers a sustainable alternative to buying new clothes** while often providing unique and stylish options. This approach not only reduces waste but also allows you to discover one-of-a-kind pieces with history and character.

Benefits of Second-Hand Shopping

• Reduces demand for new production: Giving old items a new purpose decreases the need for additional manufacturing and reduces its associated environmental and production costs.
• Keeps clothing out of landfills: Textile landfills create huge environmental and social issues for those territories and communities nearby. Extending materials’ lifecycles helps to combat the growing problem of textile waste in our landfills.
• Often more affordable than buying new: This option are budget-friendly fashion choice, democratizing access to quality clothing and designer pieces at more attractive prices.
• Provides access to unique or discontinued styles: Enabling you to create a truly distinctive wardrobe with unique styles which are difficult to find on big commercial superficies.

Extending the Lifespan of Your Clothes

One of the most impactful ways to support sustainable fashion is to make our existing clothes last longer. This can be accomplished by choosing more qualitative garments than fast-fashion, which are usually related to used-to-wear and worst-quality materials.

Upcycling and Repurposing

When clothes are no longer wearable in their current form, consider upcycling:

• Transform old t-shirts into cleaning rags or reusable produce bags.
• Convert jeans into shorts or a denim skirt: The leftover fabric can be used for patches or other crafting projects.
• Use fabric from worn-out clothes for crafting projects or patchwork: This can be a great way to preserve sentimental items in a new form.
• Create accessories like headbands, scrunchies, or tote bags from old clothing items.

Participating in Clothing Rental Services

Clothing rental services have gained popularity as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. **These services allow consumers to enjoy variety in their wardrobe without the environmental cost of constant new purchases**. By embracing the sharing economy, we can reduce our individual fashion footprint while still enjoying diverse style options.

Benefits of Clothing Rental

• Reduces the need for individual ownership of rarely-worn items: Formal wear or seasonal pieces which consumers rarely wear can be acquired by renting them. This helps minimize closet clutter and reduces the demand for new production.
• Allows access to high-quality or designer pieces at a fraction of the cost: Some of the most luxury and exclusive brands launched their own fashion rental services. This democratizes fashion, making luxury items more accessible to a wider audience.
• Decreases overall clothing production and associated environmental impacts: By sharing garments among multiple users, we maximize the utility of each piece.
• Provides an opportunity to experiment with different styles without a long-term commitment: This can help you refine your style and make more informed purchases in the future.
• Supports a more circular approach to fashion consumption