Finding Ethical & Sustainable Clothing Manufacturing

With so many clothing manufacturers out there, it can be hard to know where to start in finding the ones which most closely align with your values. Environmental awareness is increasing every day, making it no surprise that more and more brands have started to opt for ethical manufacturing.

This type of manufacturing process has become incredibly attractive to customers all over the world, especially as sustainability can help us be kinder to our planet. To find out how you can seek out ethical and sustainable clothing manufacturers, read on for more information.

Our Clothing Industry

Have you thought about the production process of the clothes in your wardrobe? While not given a lot of thought, the clothing industry is actually one of the most damaging industries out there for our ecosystem. A lot of what this industry generates is put into landfill sites, especially because fashion trends change frequently, and poor-quality materials become worn out quickly. If this wasn’t enough, the process of manufacturing could be devastating, with toxic chemicals ending up in rivers and oceans.

Further still, many manufacturers working to produce mass amounts of products often undergo unethical practices such as labor exploitation. Therefore, by buying certain clothes, you are also buying into unethical business values and the polluting of our precious environment.

By knowing that you aren’t contributing to the harmful impact which the clothing industry can have on our ecosystem, you can feel amazing in what you wear while looking stylish too.

How You Can Find Ethical and Sustainable Clothing Manufacturers

With the clothing industry being so destructive to our environment, you should seek out ethical manufacturers who have both your interests and the environment’s interests at heart. Let’s look at some important factors.

• Sustainable materials and non-toxic chemicals: What material a garment is constructed of is probably the most obvious factor to consider when seeking out sustainable manufacturers. Look out for organic and natural fabrics such as organic or regenerative cotton, linen, hemp, silk, and natural lotus. Popular sustainable choices also include semi-synthetic or regenerated fabrics such as soy cashmere, rayon, viscose, and food-waste plastics.
  

• Recycled materials are also a great way to buy into sustainability, reusing a product to extend its life cycle. However, you must be aware of materials used aside from the main fabric – what about a zip, buttons, or fur lining? Ideally, sustainable manufacturers will source every single part of the product ethically. Considering vegan clothing is a good way to avoid any unnecessary cruelty usually associated with faux fur and leather.
  

• Read up on policies: researching a company is a good way to find out if it is sustainable or not. Read up on certification labels, accreditations, and company values. Seeing what ethical reviewers are saying about a brand can also be an efficient indication and even offer some insight into product quality and how genuine it is.

• Double-check the labels: labels concerning sustainability can sometimes be misleading. With so many certification organizations out there, some of these are only around to profit on the eco-trend. Look out for genuine labels such as GOTS, Oeko-Tex, Fair Trade, Better Cotton Initiative, WFTO, and Cradle to Cradle.
  

• Shopping locally: Shopping locally really depends on where you live, but many places have specialized shops based on sustainable clothing. While shopping locally reduces energy consumption in the transportation process; you can also do your bit to help small businesses thrive. Further still, people working in these local shops and farmers' markets are usually more than happy to share insight on how their brand contributes to ethical manufacturing. This will allow you to be educated on where your garments are actually from and how they were produced.

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Key Takeaways

• Incorporate ethical and sustainable clothing practices into your brand strategy to make your business more attractive to environmentally conscious customers.

• Embrace eco-friendly materials and production methods to reduce your brand’s harmful impact on the environment, and feel good about the clothing you wear and sell.

• Choose ethical and sustainable clothing options to align your personal values with your fashion choices, and inspire others to make environmentally conscious decisions as well.

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