What Does Ethical Fashion Mean?

Sustainability and ethics are no longer buzzwords in the fashion world — they are now core values for many brands. Navigating the complex world of ethical fashion can be daunting.

We'll explore the ethical fashion definition, the impact of your choices, and how to make informed decisions.

Let’s get started!

What is Ethical Fashion?

Ethical fashion encompasses many practices that prioritize people and the planet over profit. It involves:

• Making conscious choices throughout the entire production process
• Ensuring fair wages, safe working conditions for garment workers, 
• Minimizing environmental impact (which is why it is also referred to as 'eco fashion') and 
• Promoting transparency in the supply chain.
  

Ethical fashion is sometimes called 'slow fashion', as it starkly contrasts fast fashion, a business model driven by low prices, rapid production, and disposable trends. Fast fashion often relies on cheap labor, harmful chemicals, and excessive resource consumption. While fast fashion prioritizes speed and profit, ethical fashion focuses on longevity, quality, and social responsibility.

Sustainable Fashion vs. Ethical Fashion

"Sustainable fashion" and "ethical fashion" are often used interchangeably but focus on different aspects of the fashion industry.

Sustainable fashion prioritizes the environmental impact of clothing production. It encompasses a broad range of practices aimed at minimizing resource consumption, waste, and pollution. 

This includes using eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or recycled polyester, employing energy-efficient production processes, and reducing water usage in dyeing and finishing. 

Sustainable fashion also focuses on extending the lifespan of garments through design, repair, and recycling to minimize waste. 

Ethical fashion, on the other hand, emphasizes the human aspect of the fashion industry. It involves ensuring fair labor practices, safe working conditions, and living wages for all workers involved in the production process, from the farmers cultivating raw materials to the factory workers and retail staff. 

Ethical fashion brands also prioritize transparency in their supply chains, allowing consumers to trace the journey of their clothing from farm to closet. Additionally, ethical fashion often includes commitments to animal welfare, avoiding animal-derived materials, or ensuring the humane treatment of animals in their production.

Current Ethical Issues in the Fashion Industry

The global fashion industry, while glamorous on the surface, is marred by several pressing ethical issues:

Textile Workers are Exploited

The fashion industry has a long-standing history of exploiting workers, particularly those in developing countries. Garment workers often endure grueling working conditions, earning poverty wages while working excessive hours.

These workers are frequently denied fundamental rights such as sick leave, maternity benefits, and freedom of association. Additionally, forced labor and human trafficking are severe issues affecting countless individuals within the industry.

The Industry Negatively Affects the Environment

Producing textiles requires vast amounts of water, energy, and chemicals, which pollute water bodies and the air. Cotton cultivation, a primary material in clothing, is often associated with pesticide use and soil depletion. 

Synthetic fibers, like polyester and nylon, are derived from fossil fuels and contribute to plastic pollution. Furthermore, the fashion industry generates immense waste, with landfills overflowing with discarded clothing. Dyeing fabrics releases harmful chemicals into water systems, causing long-term damage to ecosystems.

Textile Production Encourage Animal Cruelty

When producing leather, fur, wool, and other animal-based products, animals are often subjected to inhumane conditions. For instance, the leather industry involves processes that can cause significant animal suffering, such as overcrowding, castration, and tail docking. 

The fur industry is also notorious for its inhumane practices, including trapping and electrocution. Additionally, wool production often involves 'mulesing', a painful procedure performed on sheep.

The Fast Fashion Trend

The fast fashion model has exacerbated numerous ethical and environmental issues. It constantly creates new trends and encourages consumers to buy more clothes than they need, leading to excessive waste.

This overconsumption places immense pressure on the supply chain, from raw material production to garment disposal. The rapid pace of production often compromises quality, resulting in clothing that quickly becomes unwearable and ends up in landfills.

Why Do We Need to Focus on Ethical Fashion?

A shift towards ethical fashion is needed to create a more sustainable and equitable future. Here's why:

For Better Labor Practices For Textile Workers

Securing fair wages and safe working conditions and eliminating forced and child labor are fundamental to ethical fashion. Beyond these essential factors, ethical fashion brands must also prioritize worker well-being by offering benefits such as healthcare, maternity leave, and opportunities for professional development. 

To Protect the Environment

Ethical fashion brands must adopt sustainable practices throughout their supply chain to mitigate environmental issues. It includes minimizing water usage in production processes, reducing reliance on harmful chemicals, and promoting the use of organic or recycled materials. 

To Minimize Animal Cruelty

Ethical fashion brands must prioritize cruelty-free alternatives such as vegan leather, faux fur, and wool substitutes. For those brands that continue to use animal-derived materials, it is imperative to ensure that animals are treated humanely throughout the supply chain.

Transparency and Accountability

Ethical fashion brands must prioritize open communication about their supply chains, production processes, and labor practices. Sharing information about where and how their products are made empowers consumers to make informed choices. 

Consumer Awareness and Demand

Movements like Fashion Revolution and Sustainable Fashion Forum have been mobilizing for years for awareness of a more ethical fashion industry. Consumer awareness has also grown rapidly as more people learned about the industry's issues, and thus, demand for ethical products increases. By supporting ethical fashion brands, consumers send a powerful message to the industry that responsible practices are valued. 

Long-Term Sustainability

Ethical fashion involves building resilient supply chains prioritizing fair labor practices, environmental protection, and animal welfare. It also necessitates investing in research and development to find innovative solutions to industry challenges.

What Makes a Fashion Brand to be Ethical?

An ethical fashion brand prioritizes people and the planet over profit. Here are some key factors that distinguish ethical brands:

They are Durable and are High-Quality

Ethical fashion brands emphasize quality over quantity. Their ethical practices focus on creating well-made products designed to last, reducing the need for constant consumption and waste. By investing in durable materials and craftsmanship, these brands promote a more sustainable approach to fashion.

They are Transparent

Ethical brands are committed to openness and accountability. They provide detailed information about their supply chain, including where materials are sourced, where products are manufactured, and the working conditions of their employees. This transparency allows consumers to make informed decisions and holds brands accountable for their practices.

They Have Fair Labor Practices

Ethical fashion brands prioritize the well-being of their workers. They ensure fair wages, safe working conditions, and benefits for employees. These brands often go beyond compliance with labor laws by implementing ethical codes of conduct and conducting regular audits to verify working conditions.

They are Environmental Responsible

Ethical fashion brands strive to minimize their ecological footprint. They use sustainable materials, such as organic cotton or recycled polyester, and adopt eco-friendly production processes. These brands also focus on reducing waste, water consumption, and energy use throughout their supply chain.

They Support Animal Welfare

Ethical fashion brands prioritize the humane treatment of animals. They avoid using animal-derived materials like leather, fur, and wool or ensure that these materials are sourced ethically. Some brands also support organizations working to protect animal rights.

Examples of Ethically-Source Textiles

Ethical fashion places a strong emphasis on the materials used in clothing production. Here are some examples of ethically sourced textiles and how they compare to traditional alternatives:

Cotton

• Traditional Cotton: Often grown using harmful pesticides and fertilizers, consuming vast amounts of water and contributing to soil degradation.
• Organic Cotton: Cultivated without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, or genetically modified organisms. It conserves water, improves soil health, and reduces the impact on biodiversity.

Polyester

• Traditional Polyester: Derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and contributes to plastic pollution.
• Recycled Polyester: Made from plastic waste, such as discarded water bottles, reducing the demand for virgin polyester and diverting waste from landfills.

Wool

• Traditional Wool: Often sourced from sheep raised in intensive farming conditions, involving practices like mulesing and harsh shearing.
• Ethical Wool: Comes from sheep raised in humane conditions, without harmful practices, and certified by organizations like the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS).

Leather

• Traditional Leather: Often sourced from animals raised in intensive farming conditions, with potential animal welfare issues.
• Vegan Leather: Made from plant-based materials like pineapple leaves, cork, or mushrooms, providing a cruelty-free and sustainable alternative.

Silk

• Traditional Silk: Involves killing silkworms to obtain silk, raising ethical concerns.
• Peace Silk: Produced without harming silkworms, allowing them to live out their natural lifespan.

Final Thoughts

When you choose support ethical and sustainable fashion brands that prioritize people, the planet, and transparency, you contribute to a more sustainable and equitable fashion industry. 

Let us know how you can make a difference by supporting Rizz Living, in promoting a sustainable lifestyle for American women.