Clothes , like any other object, have their life cycle. We generally use them until we give them away or when we throw them away, either because they don't fit, they faded, they broke, or due to other factors. However, garments can be given a new meaning with which we can extend their useful life and of course contribute to the environment through textile recycling . But what does it consist of? At Comertex we explain it to you.
What is it about?
In recent years we have witnessed how the fashion industry has become more widespread, today we buy much more clothes , according to a study by the World Resources Institute (WRI) it is estimated that we currently buy 60% more clothes than in the year 2000 and this has been largely motivated by the emergence of new trends such as fast fashion in which renowned fashion houses have even launched collections every week.
In 2017, the forum for sustainability in fashion Global Fashion Agenda and the American consultancy The Boston Consulting Group published a report in which they estimate that in 2015 the fashion industry was responsible for the production of 92 million tons of waste, This is partly motivated by fast fashion. According to Greenpeace, the equivalent of a full truckload of clothing, that is, 2.6 tons, is burned or thrown away every second.
Due to the industry panorama and how every day consumers are more concerned about the individual impact of their consumption habits, fashion companies have begun to turn towards sustainability that seeks to reduce the carbon footprint generated and also motivate Let's be more conscious with the clothes we wear and consider giving the garments a second chance, because regardless of the massive textile production , each garment has its life cycle.
What actions have been taken?
There are more and more initiatives designed to benefit the environment and, above all, people concerned about reducing their daily impact, especially in the world of fashion. But it must be recognized that there are things that could be eliminated or replaced to reduce pollution. Although the textile industry pollutes, we cannot do without clothing, there is no way to eliminate this input anywhere in the world, but there are alternatives with which we can be more friendly to the planet and that is what resignification consists of.
Fashion houses have begun to return to the Spring Summer Autumn Winter seasons in order to minimize the impact of the hyper production of collections in such a short time, which is what fast fashion consists of, and they have also begun to use fabrics and materials. that are friendlier to the planet such as organic cotton, silk, linen, hemp, bamboo, nettle, ecological wool, among others.
Sustainable fashion not only reaches there, it has also begun to use recycled materials for the manufacture of garments and accessories in large collections, on the other hand, trends such as Slow Fashion have emerged, which consists of the commitment of companies to offer long-lasting garments. duration and great resistance. The constant emergence of local markets where you can sell second-hand clothing in perfect condition has also been identified.
Upcycling
All the alternatives mentioned above have contributed to making fashion a more eco-friendly industry, and of these there is one type of clothing that is here to stay and that is Upcycling.
Upcycling, also called supra-recycling or creative recycling , consists of reusing and improving what you already have. This technique is characterized by being very experimental, since we can transform any garment into whatever we want, and even make a garment with fabrics that are not entirely common but that can be given a second wind.
In general, they can be materials such as metals, wood, plastics and acrylics, even textiles or threads ; everything that works for us to build new pieces. Currently, we can find jackets made from furniture fabric, pants intentionally bleached with chlorine, jackets that can be turned into vests , pants into skirts , the imagination has no limits.
Resignify fashion
Designers and fashion houses have increasingly been moving towards Upcycling in their garments, as is the case of Balenciaga , which in its Spring Summer collection
We could see items like a coat made of leather cords; Gabriela Hearst, whose spring summer 2021 collection has had 60% recycled materials, even artists like Rosalía have shown their support for upcycling using garments made with recycled materials, as have Emma Watson and Miley Cyrus.
Every day there are more consumers aware of what they want to use in their garments, there are even initiatives that help promote upcycling in small and medium-sized clothing manufacturers, such as Comertex , which with its Saber Tejido line has launched an Upcycling clothing kit. which consists of a skirt that can be transformed into a shawl whose fabrics are leftover scraps from production.
Likewise, spaces such as La Tela tiene Talento have emerged in which fashion fans and experts can submit their proposals aimed at sustainable fashion through this manufacturing technique . In the previous edition, proposals such as a jacket made of furniture fabrics stand out, a fanny pack made with candy wrappers and a jacket that can be transformed into a vest and 3 shopping bags.
In summary, fashion, despite its environmental impact, can become an agent of change that benefits us all. There are more and more people concerned about how their habits affect the planet and are looking for ways to minimize these impacts. Fashion has always been a communication channel with which it has come to impact the general public and through these positive initiatives we have been able to understand the concept of redefining what we use and letting our creativity fly we give garments and fabrics a second chance.
At Comertex you find the best in fabrics to create resistant and durable garments so you can present your collections to the world. Receive personalized advice through our WhatsApp at 314-41130-65 or see our catalog at www.comertex.co