The Shapes, Sizes, and Price Tags of Sustainable Fashion
Participating in the sustainable fashion movement, although highly commendable, is sometimes easier said than done. It is simple for those who are financially stable to condemn fast fashion and recommend that individuals boycott unethical brands. For some consumers, however, fast fashion is the only type of attire that aligns with their lifestyles. Many sustainable brands avoid depleting the earth’s resources, but they instead deplete our wallets. Since sustainability in the fashion industry is a relatively novel concept. It is sometimes difficult to find every shape, size, and gender represented as well. Is there a way for sustainable fashion to be more accessible for all shapes, sizes, and price ranges?
Sustainable fashion is not always accessible for all types of consumers due to the wider institutional structures that are at play, such as environmental injustices. An environmental injustice is an inequity imposed on individuals in relation to their surrounding environment. Oftentimes these injustices have to do with the orientation of certain low-income communities nearby polluting factories and industrial buildings. The notion of an environmental injustice can also apply to the fashion industry. Many low-income communities do not have elaborate shopping centers with stores that may offer sustainable options. Additionally, sustainable alternatives to traditional or fast fashion can be on the pricier side. This is due to the fact that in order to process and create clothing in a greener way, more money must be expended on materials and the manufacturing process. Some brands are able to sell clothes at such low prices because they cut corners by paying factory workers insignificant compensation or by depending on child labor. Sustainable brands do not use these toxic shortcuts, so the price of clothing they sell usually reflects that.
Ethical materials can also tend to be harder and therefore more costly, to obtain. These materials, which are often plant based, require sustainable farming methods as opposed to cheaper synthetic materials. The farmers and cultivators of these resources must also be paid fairly, so all of this must be accounted for when pricing sustainable clothing.
Sizing within the world of sustainable fashion has not always been fully inclusive either. It has been concluded that only around a quarter of the sustainable products on the market currently carry “above average” size options. When sustainable fashion options started hitting the market, many of them did not include sizes beyond extra-large. This excludes an entire portion of the population from having the option to opt into greener fashion. Things are beginning to look up though, as sustainable fashion has proven to be more than a fad, but a way in which we can all collectively work towards diminishing our ecological footprints. Many companies are changing their business models and incorporating more acceptable practices. Further, with the shift in attitudes toward body positivity in the United States, consumers are starting to see more size ranges and options available from eco-friendly retailers.
As ethical and sustainable fashion begins to overtake fast fashion, many new, praiseworthy brands are rising in notoriety. These featured brands are diverse in their sizes, gender, and race representation, and their items won’t cost an entire paycheck. Examples include:
Unspun Denim, which is a denim company that aims to create little-to-no production waste. These jeans are actually completely customizable; you can choose the exact dimensions, wash, and style for your jeans.
Where to Buy: https://fave.co/3povdhY
Girlfriend Collective, which has a wide array of sustainable workout and athleisure clothing spanning from sizes 2XS to 6XL.
Where to Buy: https://fave.co/2ZPLC6w
Wear Proclaim, which creates intimates for everyone. This brand not only uses recycled materials, but also creates bodysuits and undergarments in a range of neutral colors, so as to steer away from the preconceived notion that the color “nude” is just one designated, fair shade, and to match many different skin tones.
Where to Buy: https://fave.co/3xcrcks
FFORA, which creates consciously made accessories that can attach to wheelchairs. These products are trendy, sturdy, and allow all individuals to show off their style.
Where to Buy: https://fave.co/3xKfvlf
If sustainable garments still seem too far out of your reach, there are some other crafty ways in which one can work towards lessening their environmental impact. Upcycling old clothing is an enjoyable activity and does not require excessive funding. Thrift shopping is another way to fuel your shopping needs without feeling too remorseful about the cost. It can be really rewarding to thrift a new item knowing that it is 100 percent unique and one of a kind. Clothing swapping events can also make for a leisurely “shopping” experience. Getting some friends together and trading your old items for some new ones is an innovative way to recycle clothing and to enjoy yourself at the same time. Although even some admirably conscious brands still have a bit of work to do, we seem to be on the right track. The future of sustainable fashion is incredibly bright, as long as that future accounts for all individuals and provides equal access to all types of consumers.
Article by Kayla Curtis-Evans, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Destina Marotta, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
