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Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion, Chevron Cowl . All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Be entered to Win one of our sizzling spring, summer and fall and season cowls or scarves when you submit a comment on one of our E Magazine posts and complete our survey . Limitations apply* Which one will you choose the scarf or the cowl? Who will it be for? Will you gift it for a special occasion? Share the love with your fellow fashionistas by sharing this post with 3 friends and family members today!

Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion, Chevron Cowl . All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Be entered to Win one of our sizzling spring, summer and fall and season cowls or scarves when you submit a comment on one of our E Magazine posts and complete our survey . Limitations apply* Which one will you choose the scarf or the cowl? Who will it be for? Will you gift it for a special occasion? Share the love with your fellow fashionistas by sharing this post with 3 friends and family members today!

Source: Patently Apple Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Apple's CEO Gil Amelio and other CEO's of that era were still wearing business suits at keynote events. When Steve Jobs came back to Apple and introduced their 'Think Different' ad campaign, he was determined to kill off the stuffy business suit forever in the tech community. He made wearing jeans and sneakers the cool look that has changed the way Silicon Valley keynotes are delivered forever. Apple CEO Tim Cook Apple's current CEO Tim Cook obviously carries on tradition with his Nike shoes, jeans and black T-Shirt. His runners cost a modest $75.Though for keynotes, Cook like to wear a different style of shirt. At times he like to wear Lanvin shoes as noted here. Microsoft's CEO this week at Build 2017 Microsoft's CEO Satya Nadella reportedly wears the French upscale Lanvin Suede runners going for $495. Nadella wore them for the opening keynote at their Build 2017 developer conference earlier this week. Google's CEO Sundar Pichai Google's CEO Sundar Pichai loves his Lanvin shoes as well as does Alphabet's CEO Larry Page. Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg Facebook's CEO also has the Steve Jobs look at keynotes wearing everyday Nike runners. How can you shop sustainably for your home? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.

Source: Olamiie Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Style refers to the specific way in which something is designed or created, while trend refers to a popular or fashionable movement or direction. In the context of fashion or design, style refers to the overall aesthetic of an item or a collection of items. It can be influenced by factors such as the materials used, the colors, the shapes, and the patterns. Style is often associated with a particular designer or brand and can be used to differentiate one product from another. Trend, on the other hand, refers to a popular or fashionable direction that is currently in demand. Trends can be driven by a variety of factors, including cultural influences, celebrity endorsements, and changes in technology. Trends can be short-lived or long-lasting and can apply to a wide range of products, including clothing, accessories, home decor, and more. In summary, style is about the specific design of an item, while trend refers to a popular or fashionable direction. How can you shop sustainably for your home? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.

By Adam Hayes Reviewed by GORDON SCOTT Fact checked by RYAN EICHLER September 16, 2022 Source: Investopedia Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. What Is Fast Fashion? Fast fashion is the term used to describe clothing designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to take advantage of trends. The collections are often based on styles presented at Fashion Week runway shows or worn by celebrities. Fast fashion allows mainstream consumers to purchase the hot new look or the next big thing at an affordable price. Fast fashion became common because of cheaper, speedier manufacturing and shipping methods, an increase in consumers' appetite for up-to-the-minute styles, and the increase in consumer purchasing power—especially among young people—to indulge these instant-gratification desires. Because of all this, fast fashion is challenging the established clothing labels' tradition of introducing new collections and lines on an orderly, seasonal basis. In fact, it's not uncommon for fast-fashion retailers to introduce new products multiple times in one week to stay on trend. KEY TAKEAWAYS Fast fashion describes low-priced but stylish clothing that moves quickly from design to retail stores to meet trends, with new collections being introduced continuously. Innovations in supply chain management among retailers make fast fashion possible. Zara and H&M are two giants in the fast fashion field. Others include UNIQLO, GAP, and Topshop. Fast fashion's benefits are affordable prices and instant gratification for consumers, more profits for companies, and the democratization of stylish clothing. On the downside, fast fashion is also associated with pollution, waste, the promulgation of a "disposable" mentality, low wages, and unsafe workplaces. Understanding Fast Fashion Shopping for clothing was once considered an event. Consumers would save up to buy new clothes at certain times of the year. The style-conscious would get a preview of the styles to come via fashion shows that displayed new collections and clothing lines several months in advance of their appearance in stores. But that began to change in the late 1990s, as shopping became a form of entertainment and discretionary spending on clothing increased. Enter fast fashion—cheap, trendy knock-off garments, mass-produced at low cost, that allowed consumers to feel as though they were wearing the same styles that "walked the runway" or were sported by a sexy entertainer. Fast fashion is made possible by innovations in supply chain management (SCM) among fashion retailers. Its goal is to quickly produce cost-efficient articles of clothing in response to (or anticipation of) fast-shifting consumer demands. The assumption is that consumers want high fashion at a low cost. While the garments are often carelessly made, they're not intended to be worn for years or even multiple times. Fast fashion follows the concept of category management, linking the manufacturer with the consumer in a mutually beneficial relationship. The speed at which fast fashion happens requires this kind of collaboration, as the need to refine and accelerate supply chain processes is paramount. $30.58 billion The size of the fast fashion market in 2021. It's projected to reach $39.84 billion in 2025.1 Fast Fashion Leaders Major players in the fast-fashion market include Zara, H&M Group, UNIQLO, GAP, Forever 21, Topshop, Esprit, Primark, Fashion Nova, and New Look. Many companies are both retailers and manufacturers, though they often outsource the actual production of clothing. In addition, traditional mass-market department stores such as Macy's, J. C. Penney, and Kohl's in the U.S. have all taken a page from the fast-fashion book. For their in-house and proprietary brands, they've shortened design and production times to better compete in the market. Here's a closer look at some of the leaders in fast fashion. Zara Spanish retail chain Zara, the flagship brand of textile giant Inditex, is all but synonymous with fast fashion, serving as an exemplar of how to cut the time between design, production, and delivery. Zara's designers can sketch a garment—the company sells men's, women's, and children's clothing—and have the finished piece appear on store racks in as little as four weeks. It can modify existing items in as little as two weeks. Its secret to this rapid turnover is its ownership of a relatively short supply chain. Over half its factories are closely located to its corporate headquarters in A Coruña, Spain—including countries like Portugal, Turkey, and Morocco. Its fast turnaround time aids another key Zara strategy: to stuff the stores with more goods, offering the consumer an unparalleled amount of choice. It produces 11,000-plus pieces annually, vs. an industry average of 2,000 to 4,000 pieces.2 In 2021, Zara's annual net sales (including those of Zara Home) were €19.6 billion.3 As of mid-2022, it has 1,947 stores across the globe, as well as a strong online operation.4 H&M Founded in 1947, Sweden-based H&M Group (short for Hennes & Mauritz ) is one of the oldest fast-fashion companies. As of 2022, H&M Group operates in 74 countries with over 4,000 stores under its various brands, which, along with H&M, include the slightly more upscale COS and the youth-oriented Monki.5 H&M Group functions like a department store, selling not only clothing for men, women, and children but cosmetics and home furnishings. It is more strictly a retailer: It does not own any factories but instead relies on about 600 independent suppliers for its garments. However, these suppliers are overseen by 16 H&M production offices, using state-of-the-art IT systems to track inventory and communicate with corporate HQ. The factories are based all around Europe, Asia, and Africa.6 Part of H&M's strategy has also been not to offer just knockoffs but original creations via its much-ballyhooed designer collaborations with elite labels like Alexander Wang and Giambattista Vali. In early 2021, for example, it launched a collection designed by Simone Rocha. H&M's annual net sales in 2021 came to SEK 199 billion (about $18.9 billion).7 The traditional clothing-industry model operates seasonally, with the fall fashion week displaying styles for the upcoming spring/summer and the spring fashion week showcasing looks for the following fall/winter; in addition, there are often pre-fall and pre-spring or resort collections too. In contrast to these four seasons, fast-fashion labels produce about 52 “micro-seasons” a year—or one new “collection” a week of clothes meant to be worn immediately instead of months later.8 Advantages and Disadvantages of Fast Fashion The Advantages of Fast Fashion Profitable for manufacturers and retailers : The constant introduction of new products encourages customers to frequent stores more often, which means they end up making more purchases. The retailer does not replenish its stock—instead, it replaces items that sell out with new items. Accordingly, consumers know to purchase an item they like when they see it, no matter the price because it's not likely to be available for long. And because the clothing is cheap (and cheaply made), it's easy to get people back into stores or online to make fresh purchases. Quick to consumers : As for advantages for the consumer, fast fashion has enabled people to get the clothes they want when they want them. Also, it's made clothing more affordable—and not just any clothing, but innovative, imaginative, stylish clothing. Makes clothes affordable : Even those of modest means can constantly buy smart new clothes, indulge in fun or impractical items, and wear something different every day. Democratizes fashion : No longer is the latest look, being "well-dressed," or having a large wardrobe the province of the rich and famous. Everyone can look good. The Disadvantages of Fast Fashion Cheap materials and poor workmanship : Because the clothing is made overseas, fast fashion is also seen as contributing to a decline in the U.S. garment industry, where labor laws and workplace regulations are stronger, and wages are better. If a consumer buys multiple fast fashion garments, cheap as they are, it eventually costs them more than buying a few pricier ones that last longer. Encourages a “throw-away” consumer mentality : That's why it's also called disposable fashion. Many fast fashionistas in their teens and early twenties—the age group the industry targets—admit they only wear their purchases once or twice.9 Bad for the environment : Critics contend that fast fashion contributes to pollution, waste, and planned obsolescence due to its cheap materials and manufacturing methods. The poorly made garments don't age well, but they can't be recycled because they're predominantly (over 60%) made of synthetics. So when they're discarded, they molder in landfills for years.10 Associated with exploitative, abusive labor practices : Manufacturers are generally based in developing countries—and some have been none too stringent in overseeing their sub-contractors nor transparent about their supply chain. That's led to critics charging that fast fashion is built on bad working conditions, poor pay, and other abusive, exploitative practices. Intellectual property theft : Some designers allege that their designs have been illegally duplicated and mass-produced by fast fashion companies. Pros Profitable for manufacturers and retailers Offers fast, efficient delivery Makes clothes affordable Democratizes style and fashion Cons Uses cheap materials, poor workmanship Encourages "throwaway" consumer mentality Bad for the environment Associated with exploitative, abusive labor practices Impact on the Environment and Workers It's argued in some circles that fast fashion is wasteful and harmful to the environment. When accounting for quality of workmanship, materials, cheap labor, rapid turnaround, and low stock for quick sales on the newest fashion items, it's easy to observe that waste can occur. However, the environmental impact is much more severe than a cursory look at the industry reveals. Here's a quick look at some figures:11 The industry uses 93 billion cubic meters of water per year. It takes 3,781 liters of water to make one pair of jeans. Of all the wastewater in the world, 20% is from textile dying and is highly toxic—many countries where clothes are made have reduced or no regulations for wastewater disposal. Microplastic fibers used in clothing make their way to the ocean, amounting to about 500,000 tons—close to 50 billion plastic bottles. Fashion emits more than 10% of global carbon emissions. Economic Impact The apparel industry, in general, has been growing by as much as 8% annually (aside from the blip of the 2020 pandemic year)—and fast fashion leads the apparel industry. It's estimated to grow nearly 7% to $39.84 billion in 2025.1 However, the industry growth is unlikely to be felt by the fast fashion manufacturing industry workers—profits are not returned to the local economies for the work being done. Instead, revenues are recognized in the countries the companies are headquartered in, leaving these local economies to stagnate while others enjoy the fruits of their labor. Worker Impact Fast fashion companies employ thousands in their offices, stores, and factories, making millions in profits yearly. Unfortunately, workers are underpaid, work long hours, and are exposed to harmful chemicals used in the process. Fast Fashion vs. Slow Fashion If fast fashion is getting garments to consumers as quickly as possible, regardless of the impact on workers and the environment, slow fashion is the exact opposite. Slow fashion—a concept first introduced in 2008 by fashion and sustainability consultant Kate Fletcher—uses environmentally-friendly processes and materials through "mindful manufacturing," focusing on quality rather than quantity.12 13 Mindful manufacturing, an idea championed by 3d printing company Stratasys, is the concept of developing more efficient production, sound chemical and solid waste disposal practices, reusable materials, and recycled packaging. How to Avoid Fast Fashion It's difficult to avoid products manfactured by companies that practice fast fashion completely; however, it's not impossible. One of the issues is consumerism and price; many people cannot afford the actual products fast fashion imitates but are still obsessed with the latest fashions. Apart from resisting the urges of consumerism, there are some steps you can take to reduce the impact of your purchases: Investigate the brands you like and see if they use sustainable processes and fair labor practices. You can buy your clothes at secondhand stores, which helps to reduce the amount of garment waste and extends their usage. Additionally, speaking up and advocating against fast fashion and consumerism is one of the best ways to ensure awareness spreads. Most people are unaware of fast fashion's social and environmental impact—only with everyone doing their part to raise awareness will accountability be forced onto the companies making these products. What Is Fast Fashion and Why Is it Important? Fast fashion is getting garments that imitate new styles to market as quickly as possible, regardless of the impact on the environment and people's health. What Are Fast Fashion Examples? Some examples of companies in fast fashion are Stradivarius, Victoria's Secret, Urban Outfitters, Guess, Forever 21, and many other popular brands. Who Benefits From Fast Fashion? Consumers who enjoy the latest fashion with the convenience of low prices benefit, but the primary beneficiaries are investors, owners, and other stakeholders who profit from the practice. The Bottom Line "The benefits of fast fashion are clear: more consumer spending, more profits, and the consumer satisfaction of being able to participate in a trend almost immediately after they see it in magazines or on their favorite celebrities," stated a 2020 article on the GlobalEdge, a Michigan State University business reference site. "However, fast fashion creates a host of issues that make it more problematic than it is beneficial… This industry contributes to climate change, pesticide pollution, and enormous amounts of waste." The exploitation of and danger to workers, promulgated by the need for speed and cost efficiencies, is fast fashion's whole raison d'être.14 The debate around fast fashion, alternatives, and how to proceed will continue as long as people are willing to buy high styles at low prices and ignore the issues the practice creates. How can you shop sustainably for your home? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.

Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion, Chevron Cowl . All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Be entered to Win one of our sizzling spring, summer and fall and season cowls or scarves when you submit a comment on one of our E Magazine posts and complete our survey . Limitations apply* Which one will you choose the scarf or the cowl? Who will it be for? Will you gift it for a special occasion? Share the love with your fellow fashionistas by sharing this post with 3 friends and family members today!

By LIZ DOUPNIK June 4, 2023 Source: The Zeo Report Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Three emerging looks that reflect the growing environmental crisis. There’s news of another catastrophic environmental event almost daily? From record-breaking tornado outbreaks to actual rain in LA, unpredictable weather patterns are the new normal. Recently, these creative talents have stepped out of the storm, extracting inspiration from these occurrences to envision new ways of dressing, uses for unexpected textiles, and comparably climate-change-friendly(ish) production policies to lower their impact. The result? Looks that bring an afternoon thunderstorm in summer. The runways were rife with ideas of how to acclimate and address the quickly evolving climate crisis, of which the fashion industry, particularly fast fashion, is a key contributor. According to the Geneva Environment Network , “Fashion production makes up 10% of humanity’s carbon emissions, dries up water sources, and pollutes rivers and streams.” “One of the least talked-about manifestations is how climate adaptation will drive new types of demand and the subsequent design response to that need. Global climates are changing and the functions we will prioritize in our apparel will continue to change because of that,” explains Lorna Hall , director of fashion intelligence at WGSN , a trend analysis company. Of course, confronting challenges through art sometimes post the most innovative — and revolutionary — works that spark conversations and invoke lasting change. How can you shop sustainably? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.

November 24, 2022 Source: UN Environmental Programme Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. New season, new styles, buy more, buy cheap, move on, throw away: the pollution, waste, and emissions of fast fashion are fueling the triple planetary crisis . The annual Black Friday sales on 25 November are a reminder of the need to rethink what is bought, what is thrown away, and what it costs the planet. Sustainable fashion and circularity in the textiles value chain are possible, yet this century the world’s consumers are buying more clothes and wearing them for less time than ever before, discarding garments as fast as trends shift. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is spearheading an initiative towards a zero waste world . As part of this ambitious outlook, UNEP has partnered with Kenyan spoken word poet Beatrice Kariuki to shed light on high-impact sectors where consumers can make a real difference. “We need circular industries where old looks are made new,” Kariuki says in the video. “Less packaging, more reuse. Threads that last.” The Ellen Macarthur Foundation, a UNEP partner, has estimated that a truckload of abandoned textiles is dumped in landfill or incinerated every second . Meanwhile, it is estimated that people are buying 60 per cent more clothes and wearing them for half as long. Plastic fibres are polluting the oceans, the wastewater, toxic dyes, and the exploitation of underpaid workers . Fast fashion is big business, and while the environmental costs are rising, experts say there is another way: a circular economy for textiles . At this month’s UN Climate Conference ( COP27 ) in Egypt, UNEP and the non-profit Global Fashion Agenda (GFA) held an event on ‘ Circular Systems for a Net Positive Fashion Industry ’, which drew industry leaders to discuss routes towards a circular economy for the industry, with less waste, less pollution, more reuse, and more recycling. Changing the game: Zero waste for climate action Now, UNEP and GFA are spearheading a consultation across the fashion industry to define a path towards becoming net-positive—meaning an industry that gives back more to the world than it takes out. UNEP is also producing a roadmap towards sustainability and circularity in the textile value chain and working on shifting the narrative of the sector, looking at the role of consumption with a guideline to sustainable fashion communication. The fast fashion business model of quick turnover, high volume, cheap prices is under pressure from consumers who are demanding change. They want resilient garments from a sustainable industry, a goal supported by the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion . A prominent example of how the garment industry can embrace the principles of a circular economy is the US outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, winner of a UN Champion of the Earth award in 2019. Patagonia has gone further still, announcing earlier this year that it would transform into a charitable trust with all profits from its US$1.5 billion in annual sales going towards climate change, making the planet its only shareholder. There are many others in the industry also making important changes. How can you shop sustainably for your home? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.

Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion, Chevron Cowl . All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Be entered to Win one of our sizzling spring, summer and fall and season cowls or scarves when you submit a comment on one of our E Magazine posts and complete our survey . Limitations apply* Which one will you choose the scarf or the cowl? Who will it be for? Will you gift it for a special occasion? Share the love with your fellow fashionistas by sharing this post with 3 friends and family members today!

By AUDREY STANTON May 4, 2023 Source: Good on You Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. “Fast fashion” is a buzz phrase but what does this term really mean? And as we continue to encourage the fashion industry to move towards a more sustainable and ethical future, it’s helpful to know what we’re up against. Fast fashion is a design, manufacturing, and marketing method focused on rapidly producing high volumes of clothing. Fast fashion garment production leverages trend replication and low-quality materials (like synthetic fabrics ) in order to bring inexpensive styles to the end consumer. “Fast fashion is harmful to the environment, garment workers, animals, and, ultimately, consumers’ wallets.” These cheaply made, trendy pieces have resulted in an industry-wide movement towards overwhelming amounts of consumption. This results in harmful impacts on the environment, garment workers, animals, and, ultimately, consumers’ wallets. Read below to better understand the fast fashion movement’s history, context, and impact—and check out our list of 35 Sustainable Clothing Brands Betting Against Fast Fashion for ethical alternatives. A Brief History of The Fashion Industry Up until the mid-twentieth century, the fashion industry ran on four seasons a year: fall, winter, spring, and summer. Designers would work many months ahead to plan for each season and predict the styles they believed customers would want. This method, although more methodical than fashion today, took away agency from the wearers. Before fashion became accessible to the masses, it was prescribed to high society, and there were rules to be followed. It wasn’t until the 1960s that a well-timed marketing campaign for paper clothes proved consumers were ready for the fast fashion trend. This resulted in the fashion industry quickening its pace and lowering costs. “Nowadays, fast fashion brands produce about 52 “micro-seasons” a year—or one new “collection” a week leading to massive amounts of consumption and waste.” However, it wasn’t until a few decades later, when fast fashion reached a point of no return. According to the Sunday Style Times, “It particularly came to the fore during the vogue for ‘boho chic’ in the mid-2000s.” Nowadays, fast fashion brands produce about 52 “micro-seasons” a year—or one new “collection” a week. According to author Elizabeth Cline , this started when Zara shifted to bi-weekly deliveries of new merchandise in the early aughts. Since then, it’s been customary for stores to have a towering supply of stock at all times, so brands don’t have to worry about running out of clothes. By replicating streetwear and fashion week trends as they appear in real-time, these companies can create new, desirable styles weekly, if not daily. The brands then have massive amounts of clothing and can ensure that customers never tire of inventory. While brands like H&M, Topshop, and Zara have been the brunt of overproduction complaints, even luxury brands measure growth by increasing production. According to Fast Company , “apparel companies make 53 million tons of clothes into the world annually,” and the amount has surely increased since the article’s original release in 2019. “If the industry keeps up its exponential pace of growth, it is expected to reach 160 million tons by 2050.” Is Fast Fashion Bad? Many people debate what came first: the desire for fresh looks at an alarming rate or the industry’s top players convincing us that we’re behind trends as soon as we see them being worn. It’s hard to say, but there is no doubt that we thirst for the “next best thing” every day of our consumer-driven lives. (“10 Things I Hate About You,” anyone?) Yet, with this increased rate of production and questionable supply chains , corners are inevitably cut. Clothing is made in a rushed manner, and brands are selling severely low-quality merchandise. There isn’t enough time for quality control or to make sure a shirt has the right amount of buttons—not when there is extreme urgency to get clothing to the masses. The fast-fashion manufacturing process leaves a lot to be desired, and pieces are often thrown away after no more than a few wears. The same urgency that throws quality out the window also keeps the costs of these garments incredibly low. Companies like Topshop and Fashion Nova are greatly concerned with their bottom line and are banking on the “ocean of clothing” they churn out for profit. These brands earn millions of dollars while selling pieces cheaply because of the sheer number of items they sell, no matter the cost or markup. And garment workers are undoubtedly being paid well below the minimum wage. In the documentary “ The True Cost ,” author and journalist Lucy Siegle summed it up perfectly: ”Fast fashion isn’t free. Someone, somewhere is paying.” “Fast fashion isn’t free. Someone, somewhere is paying.” Moral lines get blurred, however, when factoring in how much more accessible and size-inclusive fast fashion can be. Ethical fashion advocates have worked hard to unpack this complicated narrative , but the cost and exclusive-sizing are still barriers for many. The Human & Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion All of the elements of fast fashion—trend replication, rapid production, low quality, competitive pricing—have a detrimental impact on the planet and the people involved in garment production. Brands like Boohoo, for example, use toxic chemicals, dangerous dyes, and synthetic fabrics that seep into water supplies, and, each year, 11 million tons of clothing is thrown out in the US alone . These garments—full of lead, pesticides, and countless other chemicals—rarely break down. Instead, they sit in landfills, releasing toxins into the air. Fast fashion’s carbon footprint gives industries like air travel and oil a run for their money. “Many of us are familiar with the news about Nike sweatshops, but they’re just one of the many fast fashion brands violating human rights for the sake of fashion.” In addition to environmental impact, fast fashion affects the health of consumers and garment workers. Harmful chemicals such as benzothiazole —linked to several types of cancer and respiratory illnesses—have been found in apparel on the market today. As our skin is the largest organ of the body, wearing these poorly made clothes can be dangerous to our health. This danger only increases in factories, towns, and homes where fast fashion is made. For example, according to the Environmental Health Journal , conventional textile dyeing often releases “heavy metals and other toxicants that can adversely impact the health of animals in addition to nearby residents” into local water systems. The health of garment workers is always in jeopardy through exposure to these chemicals. And that doesn’t even take into account the long hours, unfair wages, lack of resources, and even physical abuse. Many of us are familiar with the news about Nike sweatshops , but they’re just one of the many fast fashion brands violating human rights for the sake of fashion. The people who make our clothes are underpaid, underfed, and pushed to their limits because there are few other options. Instead, we can proactively support garment workers and fight for better conditions and wages. Qualities of Fast Fashion Brands Here’s how you can spot fast fashion brands when shopping online or in-store: Look for rapid production, are new styles launching every week? Look for trend replication, are styles from a particular brand cheaply made versions of trends from recent fashion shows? Look for low-quality materials, are fabrics synthetic and garments poorly constructed, made only to last a few wears? Look where manufacturing is taking place, is production happening where workers receive below living wages? Look for competitive pricing, is new stock released every few days and then discounted steeply when it doesn’t sell? The Rise of Slow Fashion “It’s encouraging to know that there are brands, communities, and individuals out there fighting for the planet and the safety of garment workers.” Although the fashion industry as a whole is guilty of committing many crimes against people and the environment, it is most evident when it comes to fast fashion. Society’s obsession with consumerism may make it hard to quit, but better options are out there. Slow fashion offers an alternative, with mindful manufacturing (sometimes including vertically integrated and in-house production ), fair labor rights, natural materials, and lasting garments. It’s encouraging to know that there are brands, communities, and individuals out there fighting for the planet and the safety of garment workers. By buying garments from responsible brands , speaking up for social responsibility and accountability, and going through secondhand shops , we can ensure agency and that we’re advocating for the environment and others. Learn about fast fashion’s sustainable alternative, slow fashion How can you shop sustainably for your home? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.

By Achim Berg , Anna Granskog , Libbi Lee , and Karl-Hendrik Magnus August 26, 2020 Source: Wallet Genius Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. As the need to address climate change becomes more urgent, industry sectors are working to reduce their carbon emissions. Fashion makes a sizeable contribution to climate change. McKinsey research shows that the sector was responsible for some 2.1 billion metric tons of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions in 2018, about 4 percent of the global total. To set that in context, the fashion industry emits about the same quantity of GHGs per year as the entire economies of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom combined. Despite efforts to reduce emissions, the industry is on a trajectory that will exceed the 1.5-degree pathway to mitigate climate change set out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and ratified in the 2015 Paris agreement. To reach this pathway, fashion would need to cut its GHG emissions to 1.1 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030. But our growth calculations, adjusted to take into account the likely impact of COVID-19, show that the industry is set to overshoot its target by almost twofold, with emissions of 2.1 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent in 2030, unless it adopts additional abatement actions. Encouraging sustainable consumer behavior. The adoption of a more conscious approach to fashion consumption, changes in consumer behavior during use and reuse, and the introduction by brands of radically new business models could contribute 347 million metric tons of emission abatement in 2030. The main levers in this effort are an increase in circular business models promoting garment rental, resale, repair, and refurbishment; a reduction in washing and drying; and an increase in recycling and collection to reduce landfill waste and move the industry toward an operating model based on closed-loop recycling. Policy makers and investors also have important parts to play in these efforts. Governments and regulators should promote sustainable practices and conscious consumption, and provide incentives to support decarbonization measures with high abatement potential. Investors can make their contribution by encouraging decarbonization initiatives, emission transparency, and sustainability-focused innovation among the companies in their portfolios. Stepping up Accelerating emission abatement through the actions identified in our analysis calls for bold commitments from stakeholders across the value chain. These commitments need to be supported by equally bold actions, greater transparency, increased collaboration, and joint investment. After 2030, the challenge becomes still greater. To stay on the 1.5-degree pathway, fashion will need to go beyond the accelerated abatement envisaged in our analysis and deploy all its ingenuity and creativity to decouple value creation from volume growth. How can you shop sustainably for your home? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.

Source: Fashion Revolution Photo Source: Shidonna Raven Fashion. Copyright. All Rights Reserved. We are facing a climate crisis, and the effects are already being felt all across the world. From unprecedented heatwaves to deadly flash floods, rising sea levels to biodiversity loss, it is clear that climate change is not a future threat, but a present reality. The fashion industry has a devastating impact on the planet, and the most vulnerable workers in the fashion system are often at disproportionate risk of experiencing these impacts first-hand. Throughout the entire fashion supply chain, natural resources are extracted, habitats are exploited, toxic emissions are produced, water is polluted and waste is carelessly dumped. Fashion Revolution is now calling on brands, retailers, producers, policymakers, educators, designers, students, journalists and citizens to fight back. We know that this issue can feel overwhelming and upsetting. That is why it’s more important than ever that we come together as a community to take action. As individuals, we cannot solve the climate crisis alone, but we have the power to support each other in this global movement and make a positive difference. How does fashion impact the climate? According to Fashion on Climate , the fashion industry contributes approximately 2.1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions in a single year, equivalent to 4% of all global emissions. This staggering figure is comparable to the annual GHG emissions of France, Germany and the United Kingdom combined. These estimates are based on data from 2018, but the industry is expected to continue to grow in the future. This means that if our efforts to reduce fashion’s impact are not rapidly accelerated within the next 10 years, emissions are predicted to rise to 2.7 billion tonnes a year by 2030. The colossal carbon impact of clothing happens at every stage of the fashion supply chain and product life cycle, but 70% of fashion’s emissions originate from upstream activities such as raw material production and processing. Despite this, most major brands still fail to take basic steps towards environmental due diligence at their supplier sites. Generally speaking, dyeing and finishing, yarn preparation, and fibre production tend to be the most carbon-intensive phases. These processes are massively underrated by fashion brands, who mostly only account for the emissions from their own operations, like transport and retail. Fashion’s impact on the climate crisis is not just about carbon emissions, but water, chemicals, deforestation, textile waste, microplastics and more. As our 2021 Fashion Transparency Index found, the world’s largest brands and retailers talk a lot about their sustainability efforts, but there remains a lack of transparency on actions and outcomes across key environmental indicators. If brands don’t measure and disclose their data throughout all operations, we cannot hold them accountable to their climate targets. The entire fashion industry needs to be bolder and more transparent about what they’re doing to address the scale of the global climate challenge, especially when it comes to environmental impacts in the supply chain and the consequences of unsustainable production and consumption. Environmental data collection is standard practice in many industries and, given the social and environmental ramifications of the climate crisis, this is an urgent issue for the global fashion industry considering its significant impacts on the planet. Brands cannot demonstrably reduce their environmental impacts if they do not track and share this data to enable better understanding among all stakeholders and the public on what work is being done and where more effort is needed. Ultimately, we need to see tougher legislation internationally that mandates transparency and environmental due diligence , so that brands have no choice but to take action on conserving and restoring the environment throughout their supply chain. Climate justice and social justice are interconnected, as climate change will continue to have devastating socioeconomic impacts on people across the world. We believe that human rights and the rights of nature must be addressed in tandem, and for the fashion industry, this means radically transforming the dominant narrative of overproduction and overconsumption, and the business model built on exploitation, extraction and waste. We know the science. We have the solutions. The time is now for climate action . We cannot continue to extract dwindling resources from an already stressed natural world, pollute our land and our oceans, fall far short of climate change targets and dump our waste on the shoulders of countries we have culturally depleted. Nor can we continue to allow big business to profit whilst supply chain workers struggle to live in dignity. As fashion lovers, fashion consumers and most importantly, global citizens, it’s time to come together to slow down the fashion system and prioritise real sustainability for generations to come. How can you shop sustainably? How can this impact the environment positively? Why? Share your comments with the community and this post with 3 of your family and friends.