Materials

There is an array of eco-friendly materials at the disposal of clothing manufacturers both large and small. Preliminary focuses tend towards using organic materials that lessen or remove the usage of harmful chemicals, solvents, dyes and treatment processes. Using recycled materials, whether partially or fully, is also starting to be utilised by most fashion companies as well. ‘Rapid renewables’ like bamboo are starting to become a notable replacement for cotton garments. It grows faster, doesn’t require pesticides, absorbs 5x more CO2 than equivalent hardwood trees, and requires less laundry care.

Design

Fusing environmentally conscious design and production approaches can help to create a corporate identity that will increase in salience as environmental issues become more pressing. By creating and marketing designs that have increased durability, improved functionality and less resource-intensive production processes, companies can de-risk their development from the pitfalls of fast fashion and acquire new customers through an emphasis on quality and eco-consciousness. Examples of this could be ensuring all outsourced materials and design elements are fully recycled or utilising natural dyes that are less likely to fade and facilitate the disposal Most importantly, communicating the intent behind designs will help consumers to adapt their thinking towards more long-term purchasing.

Water

Clothing manufacturing processes are infamous for their water usage. Although strides have been made in using more sustainable materials and production methods to reduce water consumption, the real focus for companies is to develop processes for recycling their wastewater back into the production process. New York-based brand DL91961 is a leading example for the fashion industry, having recycled 98% of their wastewater, 892.5 million gallons to be exact, in 2019. With Waste2Fresh’s approach of catalytic degradation and selective separation and extraction techniques, it represents a key change in transforming and upscaling solutions to this issue by creating a closed loop cluster and ensuring a near zero discharge. As an EU-funded project, Waste2Fresh aims to increase resource and water efficiency by 30% compared to state-of-the-art, across textile and energy intensive operations around the globe.

Logistics

It is also the responsibility of clothing companies to make sure that they utilise efficient and sustainable supply chains and logistics in order to reduce the environmental impact of the products they make. This can include sourcing materials within the country of production or using the least damaging mode of transportation to get there. When shipping to the consumer, ensuring that your packaging is recycled and optimised for space, whilst also using a carbon-neutral delivery partner will help to ensure a holistic approach in de-risking your development. Danish fashion house ‘Bestseller’ has recently partnered with a carbon-neutral shipping company using biofuel with the aim to work towards becoming climate positive. Whether by ocean, rail or lorry, there are numerous logistics providers who have adapted to this model to accommodate the demands of the fashion industry.

Cradle to Grave

As highlighted, the full lifecycle of a garment needs to be considered even after it has been sold onto the consumer. Whether offering lifetime repair warranties or buyback schemes in order to recycle/upcycle old clothes into new seasons, promoting post-purchase routes to environmental friendliness will not only help to improve your company image but also help to reinforce positive consumer behaviours. Even ensuring detailed care instructions are given with each product in order to maximise their full potential lifespan can help to reduce the rapid turnover of clothing. Patagonia exemplifies this approach in its dedicated approach to longevity, having repaired 56,000 garments this season and produced 64% of their fabrics from recycled materials.

Environmentally Supported

These five areas show the multi-faceted considerations that clothing manufacturers need to undertake in environmentally supporting their business and de-risking the development of future products. It also underlines the importance of the relationship between the corporation and consumer, and how clear communication can help the other to reinforce positive patterns of behaviour and uphold modern standards and approaches within the world of textiles and clothing.

Smart Manufacturing Solutions - Smart Manufacturing. We are one of the best Sustainable Clothing Manufacturer and Supplier from Bangladesh. Garments Group is an ethical clothing manufacturer that uses sustainable practices and materials to make high-quality, affordable fashion. Select sustainable materials such as Natural fibres such as cotton and bamboo have a lower environmental impact than synthetic fibres such as spandax and polyester. Select inks and dyes that are non-toxic, natural or vegetable-based. Sustainability in textiles implies consuming green clothing. For this, one has to rely on specific brands using fabrics from recycled materials or innovative natural fibers. At times, we may have heard to avoid certain types of cotton or wool and instead choose fibers such as lyocell or linen. The objective of sustainable fashion is to make consumers aware of the use and production of clothing, complying with criteria of environmental and social sustainability.
“The future of fashion will see us moving away from using new fabrics to focus more on upcycled materials that will minimize our carbon footprint and reduce waste. The use of dead stock will hopefully become more of the norm, ensuring that our clothing remains in circulation rather than ending up in a landfill.”