What is sustainable fashion?

It's a good question and there isn't one simple answer. This section will help introduce you to some areas of sustainability you might want to consider when developing your ideas for a new fashion business.


Fairtrade certified cotton

The Fairtrade mark is an independent consumer label that guarantees an agreed and stable price for small-scale cotton farmers in developing countries.


Organic

Organic fashion means clothing made with minimal use of chemicals. Much of today’s clothing is made from synthetic materials created using petrochemicals, which are harsh environmental pollutants.


Recycled

It is estimated that we throw away nearly one million tonnes of clothing per year, most of which goes to landfill. If the ever-increasing amounts of landfill concern you, you might want to think about using recycled materials for your fashion range.


Animal friendly

More and more designers are choosing not to use animal skins in their collections. Stella McCartney has turned her vegetarian principles into a mantra for her design, creating only animal friendly collections.


Innovative textiles

Textiles go way beyond cotton and wool and while man made fibres often get a bad press in the sustainability stakes there are many innovative and forward thinking fabric manufacturers