CREATIVITY AND SUSTAINABLE FASHION

One of the key ways to move towards a more sustainable fashion industry is to change our mindset and focus on our creativity. This can be done on a consumer level – that is, using creativity when it comes to purchasing decisions; as well as on an industry level – where companies look for creative ways to develop new fabrics to create more sustainable clothing.

THE FACTS

Today, clothes are often seen as disposable items, pieces that we wear only a few times before we throw them away. At KEEPER Denim we wanted to share some facts that we believe are important to keep in mind:

• Today, consumers buy five times more clothing than they did back in 1980.
• Globally, consumers purchase 80 billion pieces of clothing per year.
• The global population will be approx. 10 billion by the year 2050 and by this time, global production of clothing will increase by 81%.
• Currently, the fashion industry accounts for 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of industrial water pollution.
• 20 years ago, most fashion brands produced a total of two collections per year, however today that has increased to an average of 24 collections for year.

CREATIVE CONSUMERS

Although these large numbers and facts might seem overwhelming, we can all make small changes that can have a big impact. One of these changes is to use our creativity when it comes to our wardrobe. This is something I try to do and I’m sure it is something we can all do a little more.

Here are our top 3 reasons for why using our creativity will help us create a more sustainable wardrobe:

• It encourages us to use our problem-solving skills when it comes to putting together looks from the items we already have in our wardrobe.
• You begin to look at each piece differently and start to focus more on the details such as the colour, texture, or silhouette of a piece.
• You are more likely to try something new, maybe experiment with different looks that you haven’t explored before that may not be the ‘in’ look of the season, but it will be a timeless look that you can wear for many years to come.

CREATIVE BRANDS

There are many brands around the world using new and innovative ways to reduce their impact on the earth. One of the ways they are doing this is through the development of new fibres, such as fibre created from recycled plastic waste, organic cotton or leather alternatives made from plants rather than animal skins. These developments are a positive sign for the future!

I hope you enjoyed reading this KEEPER Denim post on the importance of the connection between creativity and creating a more sustainable fashion industry.