colormegreenblog

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Animals in the Supply Chain

When it comes to fast fashion companies that use natural fibers in their clothing, most of the time these brands don’t take the animals lives and wellbeing into consideration.  It’s unfortunate that most consumers aren’t fully aware of how their clothes are produced, and it’s because of this fashion companies continue to do this without seeing the consequences.

Let’s take a look at a well know brand who encourages animal’s well-being when it comes to the production of fashion. Although this isn’t a fast fashion brand, it’s a brand that many fast fashion companies can learn from when it comes to being more sustainable.

( https://www.redbubble.com/i/sticker/build-to-endure-by-richardsgriff/82768690.EJUG5 ) 

When it comes to animals in the supply chain, Patagonia makes sure they are treated well by using certified responsible wool standards as well as global traceable down standards.

( https://textileexchange.org/standards/responsible-wool/ )

( https://www.textilestandards.com/standards/105-global-traceable-down )

If you’ve ever seen a puffer jacket, chances are the inside was filled with down or some other insulating fiber. For the most part, many consumers aren’t aware of what down is or how it’s cultivated. Down are the soft fibers underneath the feathers plucked from geese, and unfortunately, it’s done in a very inhumane way.

( https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/men-ultra-light-down-jacket-443318.html?dwvar_443318_color=COL58 ) 

( https://www.offthegridnews.com/how-to-2/how-to-find-alternatives-to-goose-down-in-the-wild/ )

( https://wheretheroadforks.com/goose-vs-duck-down-pros-and-cons/ )

Wool on the other hand is a fiber that comes from sheep and is used in many garments to keep people warm. Just like geese, sheep must go through a process of sheering and unfortunately, this isn’t the most pleasant experience in some cases. 

( https://www.forever21.com/us/2000440648.html?dwvar_2000440648_color=02 )

( https://www.fibre2fashion.com/fibres/wool-fibre-suppliers-1489972 )

( https://www.grit.com/animals/sheep-herding-zbhz1304zwar/ )

One thing fast fashion brands can do to become more sustainable is try and use certified sustainable wool and down. Doing so would ensure that animals used in the supply chain are being treated appropriately just as they deserve. Of course, if they can’t pay the premium for these, brands can always look to other materials that provide the same quality and preserve the animals well-being.

Below are some links to view how animals are mistreated during these processes. (VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED)

Sheep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3PPWwx9YIk  Geese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnnkHgyqARQ

I hope this gave everyone some insight into the behind the scenes of what animals have to deal with when it comes to most cheaply made fast fashion.

-Conor Garcia  

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4 Steps to Reduce our Fashion Environmental Impact

It can be really easy to get sucked into buying from certain brands who dont care about the environment, especially now with social media introducing us to cheaper and fast trending brands. I’m here today to introduce some ways you can implement to your every day life that will help your fashion environmental impact.

1. Buy Less

When buying we should start considering if we really need this product and ask ourselves if we already have 10 different versions of this product at home. Although some of our pieces are sustainable we have to take into consideration the process that it took for that product to land in our arms and how sustainable that process is.

2. Buy Better Quality 

We have become consumed over having the latest trend option that we often forget about the quality of our clothes. It’s important that we pay attention to how our clothes are made but also what’s it made out of? Buying poor quality products often have a longer effect to us than you might think. From our agriculture, health issues to it hurting our environment. 

3. Buy Second Hand, Swap & Rent Clothing 

One great thing that has came out of social media is the knowledge the younger generations have gotten from the exposure of thrift stores. Many people’s new favorite stores are becoming Goodwills, Salvation Army’s or even the online alternatives thrift stores. 

4. Buy Clothes From Sustainable Brands 

Buying from the sustainable brands can be difficult for most people because of the lack of resources and also the price points. It’s important for us to do the research and realize that in order to have a sustainable closet we should be buying pieces instead of buying a load of clothes that might be repetitive in our closet and with that being said we can buy from these brands and it not feel like such a weight on our bank. Here are some sustainable fashion brands you can check out! 

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/what-to-wear/g19491797/the-best-and-still-chic-sustainable-brands/

https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/reducing-our-impact

-Carolina Magana 

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The Real Cost

Today we will be discussing the unethical side of fast fashion by looking into a specific brand and how they work. We will be looking into one of the most popular fast fashion brands known today, Fashion Nova.

https://www.fashionnova.com/

Fashion Nova is a brand that is big on trends, they are always on top of every fashion trend that is happening or on the rise, no matter how ridiculous. They offer these trends at a more affordable price however, the real price is much more expensive.

https://www.fashionnova.com/collections/new-today

A popular controversy about Fashion Nova is that they became popular from copying high-fashion styles. They started being recognized when they would recreate outfits worn by the Kardashian/Jenner clan.

https://www.usmagazine.com/stylish/pictures/fashion-nova-makes-kardashian-jenner-outfits-for-less/kendall-jenner/

They have since actually collaborated with celebrities such as Megan the Stallion and Cardi B.

https://www.fashionnova.com/collections/megan-thee-stallion

https://stylecaster.com/cardi-b-fashion-nova-may-2019/

Although copying is frowned upon, the real price to pay is in how fast they produce each new trend. They are constantly releasing new clothing showing that they are wasting and polluting each time.

https://www.ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-riverblue-2318389169.html

https://sustainability.uq.edu.au/projects/recycling-and-waste-minimisation/fast-fashion-quick-cause-environmental-havoc

Join us again next week to learn more on how we can make a change one step at a time.

-Susana Montoya

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Shop Eco-Friendly Fabrics

When it comes to brands who are actively trying to better their environmental impact, I suggest looking into those who have taken the path into using “eco-friendly” fabrics. Some brands to look out for include:

( https://tonimarino.co.uk/patagonia-logo/ )

If you don’t already know, Patagonia should be at the top of your list. For Patagonia, a large portion of their apparel if not almost all, comes from polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. What this does is make use of waste that would have ended up in our landfills, and also reduces the production of virgin polyester that requires a lot of harsh chemicals. 

( https://www.patagonia.com/product/womens-better-sweater-fleece-jacket/25543.html?dwvar_25543_color=HAZP&cgid=collection-recycled-polyester )

( https://onondagaearthcorps.org/bottle-bonanza/ )

Next on the list is Vetta:

( https://www.behance.net/gallery/36310971/VETTA-Logo-and-Identity )

Vetta is another brand based out of California that has been pushing for the use of environmentally friendly fabrics. For example, instead of using viscose, a regenerated fiber that requires harsh chemicals and raw materials in production, they use LENZING ECOVERO. What makes this fiber different from viscose is the fact that it uses 50% less water in production, and they also use certified sustainable pulp from wood. Below are some examples of their products that incorporate LENZING ECOVERO:

(https://www.vettacapsule.com/search?type=product,article,page&q=*ecovero*)

( https://www.lineatextile.com/our-partners )

Lastly, we have Outer Known, a brand that focuses on saving our oceans by incorporating eco-fibers into their products:

(https://surfd.com/2020/08/20-of-the-best-online-surf-shops/outerknown-logo/)

When it comes to saving our environment, Outer Known focuses on using fishing nets that have been left afloat in our ocean for years and regenerates them into a nylon-like fiber called ECONYL. Not only that, but they use Polartec as well which is a polyester that is made from recycled bottles. What this does is help clean up our oceans protecting sea life, as well as cut down on the production of nylon and polyester. Down below are some of their products that incorporate these sustainable options:

( https://www.outerknown.com/products/evolution-dad-hat-mystery-blue?variant=13310986878999 )

( https://www.outerknown.com/products/fogbank-fleece-shirt-heather-olive?variant=39854135410872 )

( https://www.ovsfashion.com/holidays/beachwear-sustainable )

( https://getvectorlogo.com/polartec-vector-logo-svg/ )

Although these are just a few brands that incorporate eco-friendly fibers, there are so many more out there to discover. Join us next week for more information on sustainable fashion and learn how we can better our world one fiber at a time.

-Conor Garcia

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5 Brands to Stay Away From

Did you know that humans are now consuming 400% more clothing than 20 years ago? We, Americans have been buying more clothes than ever before. Of course, that isn’t good for the environment because where does it all go? Sadly, we waste over 82 pounds of clothes ever year. With that being said, here are some brands to stay away from and hopefully I can make you think twice about supporting them! 

 Shein is a Chinese owned brand that adds 500 products to their website every single day. A reason to not support this brand is because they show a huge red flag in not exposing their manufactures and their conditions as well as how they pay their workers. 

Mango is a Spanish owned brand that has stores in over 110 countries. Although this brand uses organic cotton, its their manufactures that are the issue. They dont plan on lowering their gas emissions by any means which is ultimately not progressing in the right direction. 

H&M is a famous Swedish brand in the fashion world. It is known for being the second largest retailer in the fashion industry. Over the years they have provided many “sustainable” options when it comes to their fabrics but fail to keep it consistent. Another huge issue they have when it comes to ethics is how they treat their employees. They have failed to pay over 800,000 of their employees and have sexual assault cases. 

Boohoo is a British retailer that hasn’t been around for that long. We have another brand who lacks on paying their employees properly. They are paying them as little was $4/hr. Not only are they not paying their employees but are producing product with horrible fabrics and quality. Something that was shocking to read about this brand was that although we were going through a pandemic they made their employees work through Covid-19. 

Last but not least. The OG of fast fashion. Forever 21 is a brand that has been around for quite some time now. Forever 21 has multiple factories here in Los Angeles and have yet failed to pay their workers properly. Their employees rate is $4/hr. What is really disappointing about this brand is even though they’ve been in the industry for a while, they lack to have inclusivity and body inclusivity in their brand. 

https://theprettyplaneteer.com/fast-fashion-brands-to-avoid/

Carolina Magana 

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Dangers of Fashion

Fast Fashion is actually much more dangerous than we think. We often don’t think about the behind the scenes when making purchases but keep these things in mind when shopping.

460,949 BEST Clothes Shop IMAGES, STOCK PHOTOS & VECTORS | Adobe Stock

Not only does fast fashion create a great amount of waste that pollutes our planet, but it is also very unethical. How can anyone see these images and be okay with it?

The environmental costs of fast fashion | The Independent

Fast fashion speeding toward environmental disaster, report warns | Fashion | The Guardian

Problems brought by fast fashion: environmental pollution – Fast Fashion and You (eyelearn.org)

This isn't to say that fast fashion is the only one causing harm, high-fashion brand Burberry was caught burning their products.

Luxury Brands Are Incinerating Millions Worth of Product | The Source

Burberry Clothing, Why Burn Unsold Stock? | CanUExplain?

Receiving so much backlash, they have since learned their lesson and started upcycling and repurposing scraps. Partnering with Elvis and Kresse, they are sustainable and ethical luxury designers.

Elvis & Kresse and the Burberry Foundation - "the fly and the elephant" - Leather UK

More on Elvis & Kresse.

Sustainable and Ethical Luxury - Elvis & Kresse - Designer Accessories (elvisandkresse.com)

Even Though Burberry learned their lesson, doesn't mean everyone else in the industry will follow. Fast Fashion rarely changes when it comes to how they make their products. As long as it's fast enough to sell by the next day, they don't care to change the process.

Join us again next week for more sustainable tips and lessons on fast fashion.

-Susana Montoya

[colormegreenblog]

Transition to Sustainability

As we’ve discussed in the previous post, fast fashion brands are typically non sustainable. From unsafe working conditions to polluting the environment and harming our natural abundance of resources, fast fashion contributes to it all. Before we discussion how these brands can become more sustainable, lets identify the issue at hand first.

https://www.trustedclothes.com/blog/2016/09/05/fast-fashion-landfills/

Let’s start with Zara for example, a company that throughout the year curates around 24 collections. With such a large number of collections, one can only imagine how many garments are created throughout the year. Although this might seem like a positive in the eyes of consumers, in that there are more options to shop from, the reality is that almost half will end up in landfills.

https://www.ohiooceanfoundation.org/blog-ohiooceanfoundation/how-your-clothes-affect-the-environment

https://theconversation.com/for-a-true-war-on-waste-the-fashion-industry-must-spend-more-on-research-78673

Fortunately for Zara, they have already started taking steps in the right direction towards sustainability. With their new line “Join Life” Zara is working on transitioning a large percentage of their clothing into sustainable made garments that are said to be recyclable. Unfortunately, this doesn’t necessarily get rid of the problem, but does reduce the number of garments in landfills.

https://katieknowles.co.uk/ZARA-SUSTAINABILITY

https://pcmlincoln.org/toss-boxes/

https://www.zara.com/us/en/join-life-woman-new-in-l2975.html?v1=1883905&page=2

Another popular fast fashion brand that most are familiar with today is UNIQLO. As we all know, with fast fashion comes mass production, and with mass production comes more pollution into our air. Because of this, UNIQLO and other fast fashion businesses are greatly contributing to global warming.

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-climate-change-what-you-need-know

Their response to this issue was the creation of “RE.UNIQLO” a program that placed recycling bins in stores for customers to donate used clothes purchased from UNIQLO. These used clothes would then be either donated to people in need across the world or recycled into reusable materials to create new garments. Again, this didn’t necessarily solve their problem as a whole, but it definitely reduced the percent of waste into our atmosphere due to less production and longer lived clothing.

https://genki-mama.com/articles/9JSIR

https://www.facebook.com/PlazaSingapura/photos/did-you-know-that-when-you-deposit-your-used-uniqlo-garments-in-re-uniqlo-boxes-/3362784657123969/

If we as a community can work together in getting more brands to start tapping into more sustainable practices like these two have, then we can slowly reduce fashion’s impact on our planet. If we don’t, eventually there won’t be an Earth for us to wear and appreciate our fashion. Next week, we will expand more on the topic of fast fashion and its issues with sustainability.  

- Conor Garcia

[colormegreenblog]

Fast Fashion

We live in an era where we are constantly trying to re-identify ourselves through clothes. Because of this, we as a society are known to go through our clothes quicker than the speed of a Ferrari. I will be sharing a couple of images and information on how damaging fashion fashion can be. 

What is Fast Fashion? 

Fast fashion refers to brands that produce high volumes of clothing throughout the year. Brands are now making clothes at a faster pace for a fraction of the price that they used to. As a result, consumers can update their wardrobes quickly and affordably.

Where are our clothes coming from? 

A lot of the brands that are considered fast fashion aren’t ethically correct because of how they produce their clothes. Many brands will use manufactures in China, Guatemala, and India which are allowing children to help produce the clothes. What is harming about this, is that the manufactures aren’t in good working conditions which ultimately is harming everyone. Another reason why fast fashion is damaging is because many of these brands aren’t paying their workers and offering them the pay they deserve. It’s impossible to produce a $5 shirt, pay garments fairly and have manufactures processes that do not harm the environment. 

Here are a list of fast fashion brands: 

Some brands might try to deceive you in the way they market themselves. A lot of the times brands will say they are an ethical and sustainable brand when they aren’t disclosing how they manufacture; this is called greenwashing. 

I hope this gave you a bit of insight on how large this problem truly is in the fashion industry. Sharing facts on this issue is important because we are all guilty of supporting these brands and giving them the business they need to continue functioning. Next week you’ll gain a bit more knowledge on different ways to be sustainable, enjoy!

By Carolina Magana 

[colormegreenblog]

Shop Sustainable

It is important that we get our readers to shop more sustainable and acknowledge the importance of doing so. I will be covering some brands that encourage sustainable fashion for people who want to switch to more sustainable options.

Converse is a popular brand that has launched a sustainable collection called the “Renew Collection”. Using recycled materials, they thrive for less waste by repurposing their products.

https://www.converse.com/shop/renew-collection

A popular sustainable brand among women is Reformation, it started as a vintage clothing store but as they expanded they started making their own products. This brand is known for renewing its materials and being waste-neutral.

https://www.thereformation.com/categories/all-clothing

As for men, Outerknown has a variety of sustainable men’s clothing including swim trunks made with 100% recycled fibers from recycled fishing nets.

https://www.outerknown.com/

For all accessory needs, shop at Luna & Rose for jewelry made from recycled sterling silver. Shop for trendy bags on Hozen, a vegan eco-friendly brand that uses biodegradable materials.

https://lunaandrose.co/

https://hozencollection.com/

For more brands and detailed options, check out this well-organized list of sustainable brands to shop by the New York Post. Next week we will go over the dangers of fast fashion.

-Susana Montoya