How Ethical Fashion Shapes the Future of Style
We’ve all hear about "ethical fashion" as this word gets thrown around a lot if you've been paying attention to simple living or minimalism. You might also have heard terms like slow fashion, fair trade fashion, and sustainable fashion but what does it actually mean and what are the implications of ‘Ethical Fashion’?
Each definition is different, but they all offer a solution to "fast fashion." Fast fashion means affordable garments swiftly manufactured by mainstream retailers in reaction to current fashion trends.
However, some designers and brands are trying to be better and more environmentally friendly because an increasing number of people are becoming aware of its negative effects. By creating initiatives around recycling, promoting exchanges, and offering rental options. Despite their efforts, the advancement towards reducing the environmental impact of fashion remains relatively modest. That is where ethical fashion comes in.
Ethical Fashion
The current pacing of the fashion industry moves much faster instead of having just a few seasons each year during which it takes longer for clothes to go from being designed to being sold in stores, currently, there are almost “52 seasons” each year, with new clothes coming out each week. WHICH IS CRAZY!
Maintaining the constant demand for fresh clothing each week inevitably comes at the expense of ethical standards. The persistent drive to innovate and reinvent current attire turns away from considerations of quality, environmental impact, and the welfare of labourers involved in the production process, which contradicts the ethical fashion movement. Competitive pressures by consumers are often met by fast fashion industries through the use of cheap labor in developing nations. This kind of pressure developed poor work conditions and heavy labour endured by workers in these regions, with no regard for their health or the protection of nature. Thus, these fast fashion trends make fair trade impossible to achieve.
Ethical fashion integrates principles of fair trade and sustainability that emphasize the fashion industry's social and environmental impact. We focus on treating our employees fairly and minimising environmental damage throughout our production process. Fast fashion's negative impact can be countered by adopting ethical, sustainable, slow, and fair trade fashion.
Why Ethical Fashion Matters?
There are many aspects of the ethical and sustainable fashion movement that need discussion. However, individuals, especially those who are used to the convenience of fast fashion but are unaware of it, must first understand the importance of ethical fashion.
In a capitalist society like ours, the main focus is on the economic impact of spending, usually expressed in monetary terms. While we primarily assess the impact on personal finances and budgets, broader considerations are often overlooked. Nevertheless, the real cost of the product exceeds the nominal price. Every transaction comes with hidden costs, and the true cost of fast fashion is much more than previously realised.
For instance, you could be someone who loves shopping or does it often, but for most of us, having to buy a black shirt again, even though you got one recently, can be annoying. Even if you can quickly get in and out of the store in 15 minutes, that's still time you could have used for something else, plus the time it takes to get there. It might not seem like much, but it adds up over time.
Ethical fashion is important because it's not just about us. It is about the people who make our clothes and understanding the context of different parts of the world and is also about taking care of the planet we share. That’s why, at Mark Baigent, we care about every aspect of fashion, from the materials, workers, and methods, to customers.
Take a look at our collection for, with our ANNEX collection we take another approach to change the way people think about being conservative, the difference between paid and unpaid work, and treating people differently based on their class. Crafted in our fair-trade certified factory in Bali and accredited by the WFTO (https://wfto.com/), each item embodies ethical fashion. This symbolises ethical fashion in a breakpoint to show the beauty of the world of fashion cleverly and beautifully.
Our Cara Dress is an eco-conscious dress that not only prioritizes sustainability but also offers a wide and comfortable fit that can be easily adjusted with neck and back strings, ensuring a customised look for every wearer. It has long sleeves, stretchy cuffs, and a stylish cut-out shape with a drawstring. This makes the dress not only fashionable but also easy to wear and practical, combining ethical fashion in its way.
Join us in supporting ethical fashion and making thoughtful decisions that focus on helping people and the environment. Check out our ANNEX Collection to see how you can express yourself while also making a positive impact.
Let's work together to create a future where being stylish means being sustainable and caring. Start shopping now and join Mark Baigent in the ethical fashion movement.