Sustainable fashion goals in 2022 might seem unachievable due to the industry’s inability to set the standard and stick with it. Below are some of the sustainable fashion trends to look out for this year.
Introduction
The fashion industry has been championing sustainability for over a decade with very little success due to issues such as greenwashing. Consumers have begun to reject the claims made by the industry following the climate crisis and the decrease in natural resources. The industry is attempting to act responsibly to prevent loss of revenue, but profit is the least of their worries.
Sustainable fashion goals should be set for the benefit of our planet and future generations. The rejection of fast fashion by consumers is a clear indication of a crisis that needs to be resolved promptly. The industry’s greenhouse gas emissions are currently at 10% of total global emissions. The greenhouse gas emissions are expected to reach a high of 2.7 billion tonnes per year by 2030 if left unattended.
Corporations are responsible for their manufacturing scales and answering to how they achieve their sustainable development goals. The time for writing convincing policies on sustainable development goals is long gone, it is time to act. The fashion industry’s issues are clear for all to see meaning that fixing them is only a matter of commitment. The fashion business can change to ensure that consumers can enjoy fashion without harming the environment.
Below we look at a few sustainable fashion trends that could help reduce the industry’s waste stream in 2022.
Secondhand Buying
The secondhand market is expected to thrive in the future. The growth of this business depends on consumers and their awareness of the fashion industry’s waste stream. Manufacturers are also responsible for ensuring that their creative processes adopt circular business models. Clothes are also being designed for lifespan and resale value.
Secondhand buying saves money and reduces the quantity of natural resources and energy consumed. It also helps consumers come to terms with their own waste stream contributions and forces them to set better fashion goals.
What about sustainable sizing?
The fashion industry has a long history of lack of inclusivity. Clothes were always made to fit runway models while excluding fuller-figured individuals. In 2022, however, representation is no longer an option because we all matter. Clothes should be designed to fit all consumers regardless of their size, body shape, or style.
Sustainable fashion goals should include brands focusing on making clothes that can be changed to fit any personality or size without creating waste. Size should not determine whether or not someone can wear a particular item of clothing. Every consumer should have the freedom to go shopping and find a variety of clothes in their size to accommodate their personality.
Recycled materials
Recycled materials are becoming increasingly popular since regular people have taken up the responsibility of cleaning up their communities. Excess waste is being fished out of water sources and landfills to make new materials for garment and shoe production.
Plastic is particularly useful for the shoe-making industry. Traditional plastic recycling involves melting the plastics and processing them into new products by way of injection molding.
Entrepreneurs like Seb Matheson have identified a gap in the market by using plastic waste to make sustainable footwear. Reefer, a natural sneaker brand, whose shoes are made from cork, hemp, and rPET fabrics made from waste plastic bottles is among South Africa’s most sustainable shoe brands.
Brands that use environmentally safe methods to create new products are the best to follow for setting sustainable fashion goals. These brands are aware of the problems of manufacturing during the time of the climate crisis and they are coming up with solutions.
Setting goals is easy
The main objective of goal setting is to achieve favorable outcomes. In the era of sustainable development goals, we aim to gain back our planet from fossil fuel ruin. The above solutions are mere suggestions for a global waste-free fashion industry, but much more can be done.
Secondhand buying is a great way to transform our wardrobes without contributing to fast fashion patterns and wasting valuable natural resources. This goal is worth setting to save money and the planet all in one conscious decision.
Inclusive sizing and design depend on the manufacturer and designer. The brands that are including all sizes and shapes in their catalogs are worth mentioning and championing. The main goal here should be for consumers to know which brands designed for people to wear their clothes and not just to reach their fast-producing quota.
Shoes are difficult to choose from because they are so versatile. However, with brands like reefer, choosing footwear is easier than before. It should be easier to choose brands that consider the environment in their design and business models.
Sustainable fashion goals in 2022 are easier to set because unlike before we now have options. To choose fast fashion consciously should be considered a character flaw because now that we know better, we should choose better.
