What is sustainable fashion and why is it important?

Did you know that the fashion industry?is?considered?one of most polluting industry in the world? Luckily, more and more fashion producers and consumers are starting to do their part to halt the industry’s environmentally and socially?harmful?practices?by?shifting towards?more sustainable materials, less resource-intensive ways of manufacturing and more responsible choices.?

So, what exactly is sustainable fashion and why does it matter? If you are a fan or follower of our footwear brands (Ipanema, Grendha, Rider, Zaxy, Azaleia, and Cartago), you might have seen our strong claim that we are a sustainable fashion brand and we have been calling for support on sustainability for a while now.

By google definition, sustainable fashion is a way in which brands create clothing or accessories that not only reduces the impact on the environment but is also mindful of the people who work to produce the products. Put simply, it is fashion that is ethically made and environmentally friendly.

All this sounds simple, however, being sustainable means more overheads, which in turn reduces profit margins.

For the industry to become sustainable, consumers must be willing to pay more to help make the change, or at the very least, stop buying from brands that have no regard for the environment.

This change in the zeitgeist looks like it’s beginning to happen, as younger,?more eco-conscious consumers?become more influential in marketing demographics.

The rise of inflation, weakening of currencies, world pandemics, and global issues are however also influencing the way the market behaves. The global crisis, whether it is an economic recession, a pandemic, or a climate emergency, can have a significant impact on consumer choices when it comes to sustainability.

For example, here in the Philippines, due to economic hardship, consumers are more likely to prioritize cost over sustainability. This means that they may, more likely to buy cheaper, less environmentally friendly products, as they feel that they cannot afford to pay for sustainable options.

During a pandemic, consumers may become more aware of the health and environmental impacts of their choices. This could lead to a greater demand for sustainable products that are healthier and more eco-friendly.

A global crisis such as a climate emergency can increase public awareness about the importance of sustainability. Consumers may become more conscious of their choices and may choose products that are more sustainable as a way to reduce their impact on the environment. These global crises can also disrupt supply chains, causing shortages of certain products. This could lead to consumers being more willing to try alternative, sustainable products that are available, as they may not have a choice.

The impact of a global crisis on consumer choices will depend on the specifics of the crisis and the individual consumer’s circumstances. However, it is more likely that more and more consumers will continue to consider sustainability as they become socially aware, and they become sufficiently informed of the impact to the environment of the choices they make.

Examples of sustainable fashion

Brands can break their sustainable practices down into four areas.

Ethical Fashion:?This covers production, working conditions and Fair-Trade practices. Ethical fashion is a moralistic stance a company takes to ensure no human beings or animals are hurt due to their manufacturing practices.

Circular Fashion:?This is an off shoot of the circular economy, and advocates that all materials and products in society are used and circulated among people for as long as possible, in an environmentally safe, effective and fair manner. This encompasses things like recycling, upcycling, and thrifting.

Slow Fashion:?Slow fashion is the antithesis of Fast Fashion, taking a long-term view and considering the whole product lifecycle. This includes sharing or renting clothes as well as the quality of garments to help them last longer and thus reduce the need to buy new ones.

Conscious Fashion:?This is more of a message to get across to consumers, explaining and encouraging them to buy eco-friendly products and get behind the green fashion movement.

Why sustainable fashion is important?

The fashion industry is very harmful to our planet. Second to oil, the industry is one of the world’s largest polluters, responsible for 20% of global industrial water pollution.

It comes as a surprise to many that most clothes are actually made out of plastic, creating a?microplastic disaster?in the making. Thousands of harmful chemicals are used in the textile mills around the world, which are dangerous to both the environment and the people working with them, and the time has come for a global change in the industry. That change must come in the form of sustainable fashion.

We strongly believe that a greener, more environmentally friendly business practice is not only important for the planet, but also for a business’ future success.

As the fashion industry moves towards sustainability, there are a lot of big changes ahead for businesses, changes we can help with.

A commitment to sustainability shouldn’t just be buzzwords and vague slogans, which is why we are 100% committed to renewable, ethical, and eco-friendly practices.

With decades of experience in the industry, we work together with our clients, manufacturers, and distributors to ensure a fair and sustainable practice for everyone.

What makes our brands sustainable?

Our brands are Brazilian footwear brands that have made sustainability a key part of their mission. Here are some of the factors that make our brands sustainable:

1.????Use of recycled materials: Ipanema, Grendha, Rider, Zaxy, Azaleia, and Cartago use 100% recycled plastic called, “Flexpand” to make its sandals and slippers, which helps to reduce waste and minimize the brands’ environmental impact.

2.????Ethical manufacturing: Our products are manufactured in Brazil, where the principal owns local factories to ensure fair labor practices and good working conditions.

3.????Commitment to transparency: Our brands are transparent about their sustainability practices and provides information about its use of recycled materials and its efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

4.????Design for longevity: Our brands are designed to be durable and long-lasting, reducing the need for frequent replacement and contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry.

5.????Circular economy initiatives: The brands are committed to implementing circular economy initiatives, such as take-back programs and product recycling, to reduce waste and extend the lifecycle of its products.

Overall, our commitment to using recycled materials, ethical manufacturing, transparency, design for longevity, and circular economy initiatives are working to reduce our environmental impact and promote more responsible practices in the industry.