Sustainable Style: Making Ethical Fashion Choices in the USA

Introduction

We live in a society that values speed and convenience above all else. This is true for fashion as well. The term "fast fashion" was coined to describe the trend of mass-produced clothing that's available at affordable prices, and it can be found everywhere from Target to H&M to Zara. There's an undeniable thrill in finding something new, trendy and budget-friendly—but there's also something undeniably harmful about the fast fashion industry that far too many of us don't acknowledge: the environmental impact of our clothingchoices.

Fast Fashion

Fast fashion is a term that describes the industry of cheap clothing. It's a reaction to the slow fashion movement, which focuses on high-quality, well-made garments that last for years. Fast fashion companies produce their clothes quickly and cheaply in order to keep prices low and sell them at affordable prices.

The problem with this method? It's not sustainable or ethical--and it doesn't have to be! We can choose fast-fashion brands that value sustainability over profit margins; these brands typically use eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester instead of chemically treated fabrics like polyester.

They also tend to offer more sizes than most other retailers do--typically ranging from 0 through 24W rather than just 0 through 14W--meaning there's more variety available for those who need plus-size clothing options but don't want them made out of plastic bottles or wool sweaters sewn together by child laborers in sweatshops overseas.

The sustainable fashion movement is still catching on, but it's gaining traction as more people become aware of the environmental impact their clothing choices have. An increasing number of brands are offering eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fast fashion, and with any luck, this trend will continue to grow as consumers demand better options for themselves and their planet. The fashion industry is notoriously wasteful, and that includes the fast-fashion brands that have popped up over the past few decades. These companies churn out cheap clothes with little regard for how they're made or where they're produced, often relying on low-wage laborers in developing countries to meet demand.

Learn the Lingo

·        Fast fashion refers to the practice of producing and selling clothing in an extremely fast manner. It usually involves mass production, which is bad for both the environment and human health.

·        The environmental impacts of fast fashion include more waste being produced than necessary, because many items are made with cheap materials that can't last very long before they need to be replaced. This leads to more pollution as well as harmful chemicals being released into our water supply when these items go into landfills or incinerators (which also produces toxic smoke).

·        The health impacts of fast fashion include poor working conditions for factory workers who often don't receive fair wages or adequate healthcare benefits from their employers; unsafe conditions inside factories that cause injuries like burns; exposure to dangerous chemicals during manufacturing processes; exposure during transportation due to poor quality packaging materials used by manufacturers who don't care about protecting their workers' safety.

Cruelty Free

Sure, you can look for the cruelty-free bunny logo on products. But if you're like me and don't have time to scrutinize every product label, it's helpful to know that some brands are cruelty free across their entire line or at least make commitments to be vegan only by 2020. So here's what you need to know:

·        If a brand is 100% vegan (meaning they do not test on animals), then it's safe to assume their products are also 100% vegan--and therefore cruelty free! This is true of companies like Urban Decay, Kat Von D Beauty and Too Faced Cosmetics (among others).

·        Not all brands claim they're 100% vegan though; some choose not to use animal ingredients but do test on animals when required by law (such as in Asia). In this case, you should definitely check out their policy first before purchasing anything from them because while they may not test on animals themselves--it could still happen elsewhere during production since there are no universal regulations governing these matters yet worldwide.

Sustainable Fabrics

When you think of sustainable fabrics, the first thing that comes to mind might be organic cotton. But there are many other options out there for those who want to make their clothing choices more ethical and earth-friendly. Here are some other sustainable fabrics:

·        Bamboo - Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that's been used in China for centuries as fabric material; it has recently become popular here in the US as well. It's great because it requires little water or pesticides and grows quickly enough that farmers can harvest multiple crops per year--meaning more bamboo can be planted each season than any other textile crop!

·        Wool - Sheep wool comes from sheep raised on pasture land instead of feedlots (which often have poor conditions). Sheep's naturally occurring lanolin keeps them warm without needing additional chemicals such as dyes or waterproofing agents like Gore-Tex® brand membranes do when used on synthetics.

·        Wool also insulates better than synthetic materials at lower temperatures than synthetics do while still being breathable enough not cause overheating problems when temperatures rise above 80 degrees Fahrenheit/26 Celsius degrees during summer months (which means fewer clothes changes needed before going outside). Wool is also very resilient and durable. It can be washed and dried many times without losing its shape or shrinkage, while synthetic materials often lose their ability to insulate when wet. Wool fibres are also naturally flame retardant, which makes it safer than synthetics in the event of a fire.

Takeaway:

As a consumer, it's important to know what you are buying. As the fashion industry evolves, there are more options for sustainable clothing manufacturers and sportswear manufacturers. But it can be confusing to navigate these terms and determine what makes an item sustainable or ethical.

To help with this process, here is a quick breakdown of some common terms:

·        Sustainable fashion is often referred to as slow fashion or eco-friendly clothing. It refers to any garment made from natural materials like cotton or wool that have not been chemically treated. These fabrics are often locally sourced so they don't require transportation costs before reaching consumers' closets (which saves energy). Additionally, many pieces are handcrafted by small artisans who use traditional techniques passed down through generations--meaning no machines were used during production processes!

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you to understand the many issues facing ethical fashion. There are so many ways to make your wardrobe more sustainable and ethical, but it all comes down to knowing what you want from your clothes. Are they purely functional? Or do they need to be trendy as well? If so, then maybe it's worth investing in some long-lasting pieces that will last through seasons without needing constant replacement.