{ Coffee is always a good idea }
I hope you’re having a lovely, sunny weekend. Spring has certainly arrived in London. And since I’m not there to enjoy it, as I’ll be in Denmark all weekend, I’m hoping for some sunshine here as well. Something that really caught my attention in this week’s sustainability news is the initiatives by some of the big fast fashion companies’ foundations. Can a company’s profitable work and their charity work really continue being so paradoxical?
H&M wants all their materials to be from more sustainable sources by 2030. Their cotton strategy and recycling collection programme are definitely steps in the right direction. But their businessmodel is still incredible resource intensive. Should we instead focus on questioning our consumer behaviors? Do we really need that much stuff? Do we really need something new so often?
Speaking of H&M. H&M Foundation donates millions for child refugee education, but the company H&M still have problems with sweatshops. This debate is constant when large companies do anything sustainability related. However, I do think this article has a point.
C&A Foundation is launching a Fashion for Good centre in Amsterdam. “It aims to inform a new way of thinking and at the same time nurture and embed innovations that can bring crucial change. This kind of transformation can only be done with others, so today we are calling for brands, manufacturers, funders and innovators to join us and work together to realise our shared vision [… ] There are ‘Five Goods’ in particular that Fashion for Good wants to focus on and improve: materials, economy, energy, water and lives.”
Another positive note from C&A; they will launch the first ever t-shirt certified to the Cradle to Cradle Gold standard in June 2017. They are expecting to sell around 500.000 pieces retailing at around € 7-9.
Many initiatives to upcycle fast fashion are in the making. One initiative is working to separate cellulose and synthetic fibers by dissolving the cellulosic fiber and spinning it into a stronger material than viscose, instead of shredding it. However, not knowing what went into the garments in the first place might be a problem. Transparency is key if we’re ever going to solve the problem of clothes going to landfill.
Is ethical clothing expensive? I’m no longer having this debate with myself. To me, buying cheap is just not worth it. And along the same lines; Looking good can be extremely bad for the planet.
Patagonia is one of my favourite companies. Although I don’t own a single Patagonia garment, I love their ethos and how they are working to change the industry. Their latest initiative is a full line of fair trade certified bikinis and board shorts.
