Thought I'd share this post written by Sabrina about an issue I've approaching somehow here...
Last week I spent a couple of days in Copenhagen to attend the Fashion Summit,
an event on sustainability in fashion that takes place every other
year. Most of us – including me – don’t really think too much when
buying clothes.
Of course I don’t buy clothes just for
the sake of buying them, I do think about whether I am actually going to
wear them (duhh). But I have to admit I don’t always think about the
many hands on the other side of the line… And for example the amount of
water that is used to make a simple t-shirt. Or a heavily washed pair of
denim.
While at the Summit, I realized ‘being sustainable’ is a
very very relative concept. Because what is sustainability exactly? And
how sustainable does one need to be to be called sustainable?
H&M for example has their Conscious Collections,
which I feel is a great initiative. But at the same time they produce
humongous amounts of normal collections each year. Is it really
necessary to have new things in store each week?
The Summit left me with questions – which I believe is a good thing –
and also made think a bit more conscious about the things I can do as
an individual. Little things.
1. I don’t buy in bulk. No, this is not my best 5
Piece French Wardrobe season, but these adventures do definitely help me
think (way!) more consciously before I make any purchases. Excessive
consumerism is never a good thing, neither are unworn clothes with their
tags still on.
2. I try to not waste anything (fabric in this
case). To be able to understand which items in my wardrobe get worn the
least, I turn around all hangers and turn them back whenever I wear
something. Anything that’s still turned around by the end of the year
(they deserve a chance in each four seasons), they have to go out. I
either take them to a second hand store, sell them online or – when
there’s holes or stains (like old socks) – I try to collect them all in a
bag and take them to H&M for their recycling bins.
3. I only wash when necessary and never tumble dry.
Also, I very rarely iron. I would rather put a silk top or shirt in the
bathroom while I am taking a hot shower than take the iron out.
When you buy your clothes, do you ever think of where they come from?
Who made them? How they were made? What happens when you wash 7 times a
week? Let’s discuss!
