Nowadays, the word “organic” is being thrown around a lot in
the latest fashion world. An
increasing number of brands are labeling their clothing lines and products as
“Green”, “Eco-friendly” or “Sustainable”. Which is a great thing. Fashionable organic clothing is rapidly
growing in its reach and demand in the market.
The term “green” or “sustainable” could mean a lot of
different things. It could mean the source of clothing, which are organically
grown raw materials that use no harmful pesticides and chemicals. “Sustainable”
could also point to the manpower sustainability during the processing, where
the minimum wage and right working conditions are provided to the workforce. It
could also mean using recycled products to make new clothing material. Whatever
be the interpretation of the word, the intention is to make fashion not only
desirable to the consumers but also minimize the exploitation of the natural
environment and manpower.
Though the concept of bringing about sustainability in the
fashion industry had been introduced as early as the 90s, it is only in the
recent times, that the trend has seen a massive growth. The fact that the
impact of fashion on our environment must not be detrimental has been a late
realization. In recent times, environmental degradation has only risen to near
dangerous amounts. And the consequences are being seen on a daily basis with
the depletion of resources, the rising pollution and smog in mega cities and
frequent floods.
It was therefore, imperative for the fashion industry to
work collectively towards bringing about a positive change by doing their bit
in saving the environment. A lot of research is being done on the usage of
fabrics and the processing methods to come up with innovative concepts of
sustainable fashion. Since, the fashion industry is a major consumer of natural
resources right from the conceptualization of designs to the final product in
stores, it becomes an additional responsibility on the part of the industry to for
see the impact of their actions on the natural environment.
It is also important to note that with the advent of social
networking, it has now become fairly easier to educate the mass consumer base
about the benefits of going organic in their fashion statements. Social media
channels have a huge role to play as a channel to advocate sustainability in
fashion.
The coming years are hard for our environment but with
positive initiatives being taken around, we can assure ourselves to be hopeful
about a better future ahead.
