In the Know
Thus far, I have given you an introduction into the relationship between sustainability and the fashion industry. From sustainable fashion champions like Stella McCartney to a look into the recent commitments by the fashion industry for a more sustainable future, we have dipped our toes into this deepening pool of progress. Before we go much further, though, I think it’d be beneficial to create a dictionary of sorts to help us better parse through all the sustainability lingo. While we all have a basic understanding of sustainability and its intention to protect the environment, many terms and phrases are frequently used that we may not fully understand; thereby hindering our efforts to truly learn about the relationship between sustainability and the fashion industry. Without further ado...
In the Know:
Your Go-To Sustainable Fashion Dictionary
Biodegradable [bahy-oh-di-grey-duh-buh l]
Biodegradable describes products that can break down naturally and without any negative impact on the environment. Within the fashion industry, this most commonly refers to non-synthetic fabrics such as organic cotton, silk, and hemp (those without dyes and finishing chemicals) (Snowden, 2019).
Carbon Neutral [kahr-buh n noo-truhl]
Carbon refers to all the various greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – that increase the temperature of the earth’s surface thereby effecting climate change. Therefore, a company striving to be carbon neutral means they aim to eliminate all carbon emissions from their production process.
Circular Fashion [sur-kyuh-ler fash-uhn]
Circular fashion refers to clothes that are “designed, produced and sold to design out waste and pollution, keep the product and the materials that constitute it in use (while maintaining their quality), and to dispose of it in a way that regenerates the natural systems” (Rauturier, 2019, para. 12).
Cruelty-Free [kroo-uhl-tee free]
Cruelty-free means that no animals were tested on in the testing of ingredients or the overall production process. It also means that no animals were harmed or killed anywhere in the world in order to produce the product. These items typically garner a heart symbol (Snowden, 2019).
Ethical Fashion [eth-i-kuhl fash-uhn]
Ethical fashion is an umbrella term – it encompasses fashion design, production, retail and purchasing. It is understood to “indicate an active approach to creating goods that positively impact the environment and the lives of those making them, reducing poverty through non-exploitative (fair pay, good conditions) employment” (Snowden, 2019, para. 17).
Fast Fashion [fast fash-uhn]
Fast Fashion is a term derived from “Fast Food.” It is used to describe clothes that are produced quickly and inexpensively in order to accommodate rapidly changing fashion trends inspired by seasonal runway looks. Generally associated with overproduction, low retail prices and a negative environmental impact.
Sustainable Fashion [suh-stey-nuh-buh l fash-uhn]
Sustainable fashion refers to a more environmentally-conscious approach to designing, manufacturing and consuming clothing. It focuses on extending the overall life cycle of clothing and its materials (Rauturier, 2019).
Transparency [trans-pair-uh n-see]
Transparency is the practice of openly sharing information about how, where and by whom products are made; publishing all information relevant to the product’s production process.
Vegan Fashion [vee-guh n fash-uhn]
Vegan fashion means that “no animal testing nor animal-derived fabrics such as leather, fur or exotic skins are included in products and collection” (Snowden, 2019, para. 36).
Now that we have defined these terms, we can begin to further understand the relationship between sustainability and fashion. At this point, you may ask yourself, “why in the world do I need to learn these terms?” I will tell you why! If you don’t understand the meaning behind these terms that are essential to the sustainability conversation, then you cannot ask more questions, you cannot learn more, you cannot dive deeper! A common vocabulary matters! Don’t get me wrong, there are still so many terms to be familiar with, but, don’t worry, we will continue to build up our dictionary as we go along!
Bye for now,
McGee