The dark side of fashion! Did you know that the fashion industry, which has billions of consumers around the world, is the second largest industry harming our ecosystem?

Sustainability is a concept that has been going around for a while now and many of us have become familiar with it. In summary, it can be defined as meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, which has emerged as a necessity with the knowledge that life resources are limited.

It is known that textile ranks second after the oil industry among the sectors that pollute the world the most. Raw materials, production, delivery to the consumer, use and subsequent processes each cause great damage to the environment. Many of the elements that make fashion products attractive, such as vibrant colors, prints and fabric finishes, contain toxic chemicals. The concept of fast fashion, on the other hand, makes the situation worse. Brands provoke consumers by releasing hundreds of new capsule collections in their stores almost every week, offering more than just necessary. At the same time, there are millions who make money and earn their living off this sector. As such, from producer to consumer, it is of great importance to apply all generally accepted rules of the concept of sustainability in terms of the continuity of the system.

Sustainable Fashion, on the other hand, is a trend that has emerged against the concept of fast fashion in the fashion industry, which aims to change the fashion products and system by defending ecological integrity and social justice. It is an approach that deals not only with the product but also with social, cultural, ecological, and financial systems in which fashion is connected. The concept of sustainable fashion, whose foundations were laid with the environmental movement, is based on the belief that a business model prioritizing social value and welfare can be adopted by the industry.

Let us have a look at how to become more aware of this concept, review our consumption habits, and adopt this valuable and lasting trend in our own lives.

What Can We Do to Have a Sustainable Closet?

We can say that getting rid of the clothes forgotten in the back of your wardrobe is the first step towards a sustainable closet. It is important to determine what pieces you really need and set aside those you have not used in years. Ask yourself when you last wore those pieces and whether you want to wear them again. Thus, you will realize that you actually need fewer pieces than you thought. Moreover, you will see that there are brands that are willing to have these pieces and give discount checks in return, recycling them into new clothes.

• Collect information about the brand you are buying.

• Find out under what conditions the product you will buy is produced.

• Shop brands that embrace sustainable fashion.

• Start buying secondhand products.

• Redesign your old clothes!

Include versatile clothing pieces that you use constantly in your closet. Be especially careful to keep pieces matching with each other. You will not believe how long timeless pieces can be worn. Do not forget to make sure colors are matching as well as their harmony with each other. Switching to a simple and kind of capsule closet will both lighten your spirit and help you shop more decisively.

Even if it is produced according to sustainability principles, do not hesitate to ask yourself: do I really need it?

Even if you still think that you do, you will now shop much more consciously. It is useful to question the sustainability policy of the brand you will purchase and to look at the conditions under which the product is produced.

Once you create your budget, you can add clothes made of various materials to your closet.

So Why Can't Sustainable Fashion Be More Affordable?

Sustainable fashion does not have to cost a fortune, as long as there is enough demand. Brittany Burns, director of strategy and corporate development for the nonprofit Fashion For Good, says “There is a perception that sustainable fashion is expensive. It is not always the case." As innovations become more common, prices get lower and will fall even further. There has to be a change,” she says. In fact, making their products affordable is not always easy for a brand. These sustainable policies ensure that all garment workers, whether in Bangladesh or China, are paid a fair wage and given health insurance, and whether these rules are applied or not is supervised by independent organizations. These products, manufactured only from certified fabrics, may not necessarily be as affordable as ordinary products. For example, the selection of premium materials and lower volumes produced by the brand can result in a higher price tag, yet it remains affordable compared to luxury products that are very difficult to reach, which is insignificant when we consider the damage we cause to the ecosystem.