Top Brands Embrace Sustainable Fashion

What is sustainable fashion and why should it concern you? Sustainable fashion is a movement that top brands and corporations are embracing to protect humans and animals from exploitation, conserve natural resources and minimize waste. Regardless of your personal style preference, you can take part in this movement by methodically choosing responsible brands such as Dolce & Gabbana that reflect this trend away from fast fashion and toward sustainable, ethical production. You can also educate yourself on sustainable garment care practices so that you further the movement at home.

 

Dolce & Gabbana Avoids Fur

While wearing fur used to be a symbol of high style and prestige, the trend is now a reflection of unethical and out-of-touch consumers. Dolce & Gabbana is a classic, international fashion trendsetter that has moved away from fur and is focusing on sustainable fabrics. Dolce & Gabbana’s code of ethics focuses on integrity and the brand sees incorporating fur into its products as going against that code.

Some brands go so far as to label themselves vegan or cruelty-free. These brands wish to call attention to the harmful nature of industrial animal farming and animal exploitation. Such brands utilize leather alternatives made from plants, fruits or mushrooms. Some may argue that the production of these alternatives consumes more energy than utilizing more traditional materials. However, for those wanting goods that are manufactured without any use of animal products, vegan materials are preferred.

 

Sustainable Fashion is Slow Fashion

Cheap fashion is costly to consumers and the environment. Buying cheap clothing fills waste bins and dumpsters to overflowing with barely-worn garments. The practice of purchasing cheap clothing means consumers are repeatedly purchasing low-end pieces that quickly stretch out, rip, tear and disintegrate. This puts them back in line quickly to purchase new, cheaply-made clothes. This practice equals manipulative exploitation of low-income consumers by unethical, irresponsible manufacturers.

Purchasing from ethical and mindful brands may cost more initially, but will benefit consumers in the long run with high-quality pieces that last a lifetime. Again, Dolce & Gabbana exemplifies the philosophy of slow fashion by methodically producing sustainable clothing pieces that outlast the fleeting whims of trendsetters and remain fashionable for years. Purchasing from classic brands ensures that you will be wearing the piece for years and minimizing your waste impact on the environment.

 

Sustainable Fashion Requires Education

Many of us don’t think about the water, energy and detergent consumed in each load of laundry. All we want is to get the mindless chore complete as soon as possible and fold the clothes away to await future use. However, over-cleaning our clothing is a colossal waste of resources and can have an incredibly negative impact on our environment.

By purchasing high-quality and ethically-produced garments, we not only support sustainability-conscious companies, but also reduce the need for excess energy consumption in the cleaning process. Quality fashion withstands daily use better and can be maintained with less washing than cheaper clothes. Consumers need to educate themselves on sustainable fabrics that hold up to multiple uses between laundering.

In addition, consumers may reassess their laundry practices and re-think how often a garment really needs to be washed. Jeans, for example, consume an enormous amount of energy to produce, and washing them between each use multiplies this consumption exponentially. In fact, jeans don’t need to be washed that often at all. In the absence of obnoxious stains, wearing jeans three to four times between each washing should be acceptable to most consumers.

For consumers that wish to source ethically-manufactured clothing with a minimal environmental impact, brands and fabrics are available to suit any preference. Dolce & Gabbana offers clients an array of clothing lines that are produced by a company with a solid code of ethics regarding how it treats humans and animals. Fashion buyers need to do their research. They need to find the brands that reflect their philosophy on the treatment of others and their desire to minimize their impact on the environment. Style is a personal choice as is the philosophy behind clothing consumption, care and use. Don’t be afraid to show your commitment to sustainability and ethics with your choice of clothing brands and fabrics. That may be one of the most public and obvious ways to show your beliefs to the world.