The Case for Sustainable Fashion & Living

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The honest thing is, while spending years in India, ‘sustainability’ as a topic to me was pretty much a #firstworldproblem. And now having just lived in a country obsessed with it, I also know that if people lived like Indians (on an average), we would not even need the whole earth. As Americans (in terms of consumption) we would probably need 5 earths. This statement is very telling.

However, when we think it through, 70% people in India live in villages. 8% have internet access and maybe much less than 1% read blogs, far lesser write them. The point being, if you’re reading this, or writing online and exercising your fashion expressions (in whichever way), you’re privileged. Additionally, your consumption patterns definitely do not mirror that average Indian who would probably make no case for sustainability at all.

I’ve been writing on a small blog for a decade now. But I choose to write this post on a fashion blog. Mainly because it’s a lot more relevant.

Why sustainable fashion and living?

As a concept sustainability takes care of three aspects- what is called the triple bottom line. This includes: social, environmental, and economic aspects. This means sustainable living should ensure that none of the 3 factors are ‘hurt’. Sustainable fashion should ensure that there’s no child labour, safety standards are maintained in factories, people are given wages that are not discriminatory, natural environment is not abused and plenty such things. While these may seem very obvious, this is exactly what people in ready-made garment factories in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and many other countries are subject to. 9 year old children are doing backbreaking work in unhygienic and unsafe conditions for over 12 hours a day. A building collapse in Bangladesh killed over 1000 people in 2013. And these are not isolated incidents. This seems to be the way of life there. Most (if not all) big and small fashion brands seem to be manufacturing under these conditions because it is cheaper. Majority workers in these fashion factories (or sweatshops) are women and many children seem to be working there too. And though the video only talked about Bangaldesh, India isn’t far behind.

What can I do for sustainable fashion and living?

Before writing this post, I was going to only highlight the problems thinking, it’s important to build ‘awareness’. But that only gets so far. I decided to think through what anyone (me included) could potentially do about it. Here are things that I feel are indeed in our control as fashion consumers and people who care (if you don’t, see that video again and work on your empathy quotient, please). I asked myself these questions:

• How much am I collecting? Think through consumption patterns: One of the key reasons why the factories are in dire conditions is because of a phenomenon called ‘fast fashion’. It creates what academics call a ‘bullwhip’ affect amplifying demand uncertainties. In order to ‘keep contracts’ the factory owners then play on cost. Reducing costs means poor contracts and poor conditions (social and environmental). The reason I mentioned this was that I see so many people say how much they ‘need’ that new outfit and create drama in life around it. Did you ever read Graham Hill’s ‘living with less’ story? He makes sustainable living a fashion statement!
• Why am I collecting? The raison d’être: Do you like being fashionable and well put together or do you just like hoarding? Maybe it’s helpful to know the whys of happiness. Changes perspectives at times, and also, your bank balance will thank you.
• Where am I collecting from? Some labels are sustainable: Not sure how many of you have ever bought from Patagonia, but look up their footprint chronicles. It’s amazing the details they show about their own supply chain and something other brands could potentially do as well. If it is transparent, there’s a lesser likelihood of them not taking care of the workers at the bottom end right? ASOS even has a ‘green room’. Maybe you’re spending a hundred rupees more on a piece, but think about it, is that small amount going to matter in the end? Besides, if more people support these ‘sustainable labels’ likelihood is the prices will come down in the long run.

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I am not going to be apologetic about a ‘heavy’ post. I hope it didn’t sound like I were too preachy. My sole intent was to share the questions in my head with a community of people who could make a difference, by at first, asking themselves these few questions.


Author: Upasna She is currently living in Germany, her third land. She blogs about urban culture and how people alter with digital for a decade. You can reach her at Twitter.