If left behind in a sustainable manner, your old T-shirt can actually be your true imprint for your next kith and kin. You didn’t get it yet, did you? Well, upcycling, which is the first step towards achieving sustainable fashion, is what we all should aim to achieve now!
Sustainable fashion is a way in which brands create clothing that not only reduces the impact on the environment but is also mindful of the people who work to produce the garments. Put simply, it is fashion that is ethically made and environmentally friendly.
In today’s times, our planet is endangered owing to the adoption of hazardous chemicals and harmful and detrimental technologies in all processes. In such a situation, not only Mother Nature but also the entire human species is at risk of extinction, thanks to our own feats.
Thus, it is extremely important to find out and work around new methods to adopt fashion in a more sustainable, environmentally friendly way. That is the order of the new world we are working towards currently.
What is sustainable fashion?
Sustainable fashion refers to products, processes, and activities aimed at achieving a carbon-neutral fashion industry that is also built on social justice, animal welfare, and ecological integrity. In short, giving equal respect and weightage to all elements of nature, with the higher purpose being to address much more than fashion textile needs or products
Fast Fashion
Fast fashion, a popular practice that also refers to the production of goods at an unethical, speedy level, is one of the current trends touted to have a negative impact on the environment. Thus, sustainable fashion aims to do away with the disadvantages of such practices while at the same time trying to achieve the perfect balance between style and usage and giving due consideration to all elements related to fashion.
Sustainable clothing
This refers to fabrics derived from eco-friendly resources such as sustainably grown fibre crops and recycled materials.
Under the accordance of sustainability, recycled or sustainable clothing upholds the principle of the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle, also acknowledging the 3 legs of sustainability, aka economics, ecology, and social equity. Thus, with less usage of water, reduced toxic waste, reduced usage of pesticides, and improved air quality, sustainable clothing is the practice we need to target and figure out means and methods to do the same. The first step towards achieving such sustainable fashion is upcycling.
UPCYCLING: WHAT IT MEANS
Upcycling fashion is the process of taking discarded or used clothing or textiles and repurposing them into new, wearable items. Not to be confused with upgradation, this is a method wherein, after taking the previous piece of textile or cloth, it is refurbished/reinvented in such a manner that not only does it last longer, but it also comes across as a fresher take on the previous, updated in vitality but sustainable as far as its life cycle is concerned. This approach to fashion is a sustainable alternative to traditional fast fashion, which often involves the mass production of cheap, disposable clothing that is worn only a few times before being discarded.
BENEFITS OF UPCYCLING
One of the main benefits of upcycling is that it reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. Upcycling allows used clothing to be given a new life, rather than being thrown away.
Another benefit is that it can be a creative and expressive form of self-expression. Many people who upcycle clothing enjoy the challenge of finding new ways to wear or repurpose older items, and the process can be a fun and fulfilling hobby.
There are many different ways to upcycle clothing, from simple projects like cutting and fraying an old pair of jeans to create a new pair of shorts to more complex tasks like turning a vintage tablecloth into a one-of-a-kind dress. This basically also indicates that you change the vitality and vogue of the product or clothing in question, revamp it partially or completely, and present it in a form that has a better uptake than the previous version and is also much more sustainable than its previous counterpart.
Upcycling: A Bigger Game
Upcycling can also be done on a larger scale by fashion designers, brands, and retailers. They can repurpose existing materials in their design process or launch a collection of upcycling clothing, like repurposing old denim, recycled polyester, or vintage textiles, to reduce their environmental impact and appeal to eco-conscious consumers.
Overall, upcycling is a valuable approach to fashion that can help reduce waste, be creative, and ultimately make a positive impact on the environment.
Poised for a more significant cause, upcycling is the only means we need to resort to, as a herd that is struggling to make the habitat we are in more sustainable, offering ourselves a better, more inhabitable planet, by adopting procedures that are in tandem with keeping Mother Nature safe and preserving her endowments in a reliable manner.