WHAT IS IT?
Environmentally Friendly and Socially Responsible Design
In it's simplest terms, environmentally friendly and socially responsible fashion, often called sustainable fashion, is an approach towards design, material and supply sourcing, and manufacturing that causes little to no harm the environment, while benefitting society, protecting human rights, and minimizing the fashion industry's impact on the world around it.
THE PROBLEM
The Fashion Industry Has A Waste Problem
The fashion industry accounts for 10% of humanity's carbon emissions, is the second largest consumer of water worldwide, accounts for 20% of water pollution, and each year 85% of all textiles produced end up in landfills.
THE SOLUTION
Know Your Clothing
Who made my clothes? What are they made from? Where were they made? Knowledge really is power, and knowing the answers to these questions can help us to know the true costs associated with the things we buy, whether it be monetarily, environmentally, or otherwise.
CONTROVERSIAL
FABRICS
What leathers and furs make the cut?
FABRICS AND TRIMS
Eco-Friendly Fabric Contents
Organic Cotton
Cotton grown and processed without chemicals in ethical facilities. Organic cotton is also biodegradable.
Linen (Flax)
Created from Flax plant fibers, which near Hemp in durability and eco-friendly qualities, Linen tends to be softer than Hemp and is biodegradable but has the downside of wrinkling easily.
Coffee
Compostable and biodegradable fabric made from coffee beans spun into yarn in a low energy conversion process.
Hemp
One of the most eco-friendly fabrics; uses 50%+ less water than other crops, is hearty, and is biodegradable.
Pineapple
Durable fabric created without chemicals using the leaves of pineapple plants. Often has a rougher texture similar to raw linen or is coated with resins to create a (non-biodegradable) leather substitute.
Synthetic Spider Silk
Vegan alternative to silk created in Japan using biotechnology through non-chemical microbial fermentation.
Milk
100% compostable, naturally antibacterial, and hydrophobic fabric made from the casein protein in milk.
Bamboo
Comes in multiple forms; "Bamboo Linen", made from spun plants fibers, or "Bamboo Rayon" created using a chemical process. Though both forms are biodegradable, the latter is harsher on the environment.
Recycled Synthetics
Fabric usually created with a plastic-petroleum base derived from polyester, nylon, spandex, acrylic, single-use water bottles, etc. which is melted down and consolidated into fibers.
Kombucha
Fabric created by drying the live cultures used to make Kombucha into a leather-like fabric.
Lyocell
Biodegradable fabric made from wood pulp converted into fibers using non-toxic cellulosic solvents. Both the chemicals and water used in making this fabric can be used again to continue creating more.
Natural Recycled Fibers
Fabric created using post-industrial or post-consumer cellulosic fabrics that is converted to fibers and usually combined with recycled synthetics to add strength.
ECO-FRIENDLY SOURCING
Fabrics made without using harmful chemicals, in ethical facilities, using conscious production methods to minimize environmental effects and human rights violations.
FABSCRAP
Queen Of Raw
ETSY
ORGANIC
OUR SOURCES:
Leftover fabrics from fashion houses and companies, destined for landfills that is rerouted to be used in the creation of new designs.
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FABSCRAP
Queen Of Raw
ETSY
DEADSTOCK
OUR SOURCES:
Fabrics made using handmade production, shipped using carbon neutral services, shipped in zero-waste packaging, etc., to minimize the product's impact on the world around it.
FABSCRAP
Queen Of Raw
ETSY
LOW IMPACT
OUR SOURCES:
Includes fabrics made using recycled fibers, fabrics rerouted from waste facilities to second hand sourcing facilities, fabrics sourced from old garments, and vintage fabrics.
FABSCRAP
Queen Of Raw
ETSY
RECYCLED
OUR SOURCES:
SUPPLY CHAIN
TRANSPARENCY
In essence, supply chain transparency is an openness surrounding the manufacture of products, from their country of origin, the safety of manufacturing facilities and health of those working them, wages of workers, etc. For some companies complete transparency can be quite difficult to achieve, but the overall idea is that the consumer has access to background information of the products they are purchasing. By taking responsibility for their products and production, this process creates accountability for companies both large and small.