The fashion industry has come under increasing scrutiny over the past few years, and with a shocking 350,000 tonnes of wearable clothing ending up in landfill each year, it’s no wonder that questions have been raised about the sustainability of fast fashion. But up until earlier this year, it seems that these questions had not yet been directed at those leading the industry. And that’s why we were pleased to see crucial discussions taking place at London Fashion Week back in February.
In collaboration with sustainable luxury brand Mother of Pearl and the British Fashion Council, the BBC organised a series of talks at London Fashion Week, covering topics from circularity to technology and brand awareness. Alongside this, the BBC plan to release a short film exposing the damaging effects of fast fashion on the planet.
After the success of both the Blue Planet and Blue Earth series, the BBC hope to use their platform to spark public discussions on the subject. Explaining the motive behind the project, the BBC say that the ‘partnership is to promote a more positive, sustainable approach to fashion and raise awareness of the environmental issues that surround the industry.’ Read the full description here.
Last but certainly not least, the BBC and Mother of Pearl have together launched a capsule evening-wear collection, the design of which is inspired by nature. The aim of this collection is to demonstrate how improvements in technology used in the production line can help to alleviate some of the pressure of the industry on the planet. Not only does the collection claim to use sustainable production methods, it also uses 100% GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified silk. It will be available to purchase exclusively on Net-a-Porter in June.
In the meantime, we’ve compiled our top tips of things you can do today to make a difference:
- Choose quality: when shopping, be sure to make informed choices. Choose brands which are environmentally and ethically aware. Whilst this may cost you a little more upfront, purchasing quality garments will save you money later as these will generally last longer.
- Buy less: whilst it may seem obvious, reducing our consumption really is the best way to ultimately reduce the amount of clothes sent to landfill. Without the fast demand for fashion, the industry would have no choice but to slow down production.
- Recycle, repair, and repurpose: fallen out of love with a garment? Let somebody else enjoy it by donating it to charity. Found a tear in your favourite jeans? Consider repairing the damage instead of replacing the entire item. Want the latest trend? Check out charity or vintage shops (you’ll be surprised at how quickly fashion trends circulate!), or alter your pre-existing wardrobe.
Want to learn more? You can watch the BBC’s short video on the subject here.
