Is Fashion Sustainable?

Today’s fashion industry is one of the largest pollutants in the world – this has to change.

As the world starts to become more focused on suitability, the fashion industry has finally begun to follow suit. It’s incredibly important that all of us make adjustments to the way we shop, to make sure we do our part in making fashion eco-friendly.

We all want to be part of fashion, and we can! The thing is – if you know how to dress for your body shape, and dress according to your style personality and colouring, you’ll feel confident in the clothes you have and be less inclined to rush out and buy new fashion pieces at the drop of a hat.

Not only is sustainable fashion going to save the world, but it’s also becoming a huge fashion trend.

Shopping habits are changing! I have a lot of people tell me they’ve started to think about sustainability after seeing information on social media. They are beginning to change their behaviour. They want to know where the garment is made and if they trust that the brand is making it the right way.

What is Sustainable Fashion?

Sustainable fashion is a huge and increasingly popular movement that aims to change the way we shop.

Not only does eco-friendly fashion reduce environmental impact, but it’s also a cause for social and economic justice. It aims to help relieve labour violations caused by the fast fashion industry, such as when Bangladesh’s Rana Plaza collapsed and killed over 1000 garment workers.

Sustainable fashion brands have begun sourcing materials manufactured with natural ingredients. They are made from biodegradable and recycled materials that massively reduce global environmental impact.

There are so many things we can all do to reduce our contribution to climate change.

The thing is – if you know how to dress for your body shape, and style according to your colouring, you’ll feel confident in the clothes you have and be less inclined to buy new fashion pieces.

Scroll down for my top 5 sustainable clothing brands in Ireland, and for some tips on how to live a more sustainable life – from a professional personal stylist.

Is Fashion Bad for the Environment?

Fast fashion’s negative impact on the environment is an increasingly talked-about topic.

The fashion industry is one of the largest pollutants in the world. Your basic cotton T-shirt took about 3,000 litres of water to make. Every year, the fashion industry uses approximately 93 billion cubic meters of water – which could save about five million people around the world who go without clean and safe water every day.

One of the largest hurdles environmentalism faces is that fashion is so easily and affordably consumable. As of 2019, 62 million metric tonnes of clothing were consumed across the globe.

Arguably one of the worst culprits causing detrimental effects on the environment is Viscose. Viscose is sourced using toxic chemicals such as Carbon Disulphide, which is responsible for the death of animals and decrease in plant growth.

The fashion industry needs to change its ways.

It’s true, in recent years, a lot of fashion brands have taken notice of the detrimental effects that their manufacturing has on the planet. Some designers are opting for sustainable fashion sourcing. For example, companies can now make sustainable clothing made from bananas, pineapples, oranges and even potatoes.

5 Sustainable Clothing Brands in Ireland

The following are Ireland’s top eco-friendly brands that are, in my professional opinion, leading the way to a more sustainable (and fashionable) future for Ireland.

These brands are unique and different, but all have one thing in common, they’re ethical clothing brands that help fashion-lovers across Ireland make a positive impact on the health of the globe.

1. STABLE of Ireland

Stable of Ireland is a sustainable fashion brand based in Dublin, who source all of their collections from the Island of Ireland itself.

Not only are their collections beautiful, but they’re eco-friendly due to lack of transportation.

Stable of Ireland works exclusively with Ireland-based weavers and knitters with a variety of styles.

Find out more about Stable of Ireland’s sustainability here.

2. Against the Tide

Against the Tide have strong values as sea lovers. They aim to create sustainable fashion for swimmers, surfers and beachgoers.

They are passionate about bringing people in their community together while helping take care of and connecting with their beloved ocean.

Against the Tide sources all of its fabrics in Ireland, and hopes to minimise environmental impact while ensuring their workers receive a fair wage.

3. Feri

Feri believes in responsible fashion. Their collections are hand-made from natural, organic materials and repurposed fabrics.

Feri is an ethical clothing brand that stays local in Ireland but also works with an ethically accredited manufacturer in India.

Their prints are beautiful and uniquely hand-designed by an experienced and ethical fashion designer.

4. 31 Chapel Lane

31 Chapel Lane is a family-run Irish sustainable fashion brand that uses natural materials.

Each design is uniquely hand-crafted with local pure wool, Donegal and tweed.

“OUR APPROACH IS PROFESSIONAL, ETHICAL AND CONSIDERATE, THROUGH BEING SOCIALLY AND ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE”

5. Katie Ann McGuigan

Katie Ann Mcguigan lives for colour, patterns, individuality, and ingenuity. She’s worked with the greats, such as Alexander McQueen and Marc Jacobs.

As well as creating beautiful designs, Katie keeps everything London-local. She sticks to sourcing fabrics from London and uses London-based sewing technicians, pattern drafters, shoemakers and factories.

Find out more about Katie here

12 Ways to Become Sustainably Fashionable

from A Professional Personal Stylist

An eco-friendly wardrobe doesn’t have to be expensive and time-consuming. Here are my tips that will help you shop affordably and sustainably:

Good investments are key
Understand what works for your shape and style personality
Choose the right colours for your complexion
Carefully consider the pieces you buy
Avoid random purchases
When updating your wardrobe, understand what works best for you and stick to the staples that make you feel and look good.
Buy quality, love-forever pieces that can easily be dressed up or down, season after season.
Before you buy any new purchases, look through your wardrobe to remind yourself of what you already have and ask yourself “do you really need it?”. There are items in every wardrobe that haven’t been worn in years.
Mend or upcycle an old garment
Buy second-hand. You’d be surprised how many brand-new clothes, with the tags on, are sold in charity shops. 70{619a3c8b1f8a18e6647bfd73a853e0c63177444a908d5a5aa58714055aa8e4d1} of the items on THRIFTIFY (founded by Rónan Ó Dálaigh) are listed as “new with tags”. Or, consider hiring items for events or one-time-wears.
Make friends with your local charity staff and they’ll give you a heads up on any new donations.
Go online

“I like trends, but I value timelessness”

When buying something new, consider these 4 elements of style:

Colour
Shape
Style personality
Lifestyle

Ethical and Sustainable Fashion: The Future of Style

The world we live in revolves around consumerism.

If we truly want to reduce our impact on the planet, we all must do our part in showing the fashion industry that ethical clothing is what we want – and they will give it to us.

There needs to be a shift in the way the fashion industry works. Trends change week after week, meaning clothing is disregarded more and more frequently.

Let’s help make ethical clothing the biggest trend.

Now you’ve got some tips from a professional personal stylist, you can embark on your journey to leading a more sustainable lifestyle, and building a more eco-friendly and ethically sourced wardrobe.