SUSTAINABLE MYTH BUSTING

At KEEPER Denim, we are busting some of the common sustainable fashion myths! When it comes to sustainable fashion, the journey involves a lot of learning as you go, so like we have said before you don’t need to be perfect. You can still make a positive impact by changing some of your habits as you discover new things on your journey to sustainability.

See below for the top 5 common sustainable fashion myths that are out there today:

MYTH 1: YOU MUST THROW OUT ALL OF YOUR FAST FASHION

The key to any sustainable wardrobe is making the most of the clothes you already own. It's when it comes to purchasing new items of clothing that you start to ask the important questions like - where was it made? Who made it? and What is it made from? So, you can ensure you make ethical and sustainable purchases going forward.

MYTH 2: HIGH FASHION IS MORE SUSTAINABLE 

There is a common misconception that when it comes to luxury fashion, the high price tag is associated with sustainable practices, however this is not the case. In many cases, high fashion labels use unsustainable manufacturing processes to produce their products. That is not to say that there are no high fashion labels making waves in the sustainability space - Stella McCartney has been an advocate for sustainable vegan fabrics and practices for many years.

MYTH 3: HIGH FASHION IS MORE ETHICAL THAN FAST FASHION

It may come as a surprise to you, but in some cases, premium labels have their products manufactured at the same factories as fast fashion labels. These factories are often in the developing world where the garment workers may not have any rights, safe working conditions, or receive a living wage. A higher price tag is no guarantee that the garment workers who produced a piece of clothing were paid a fair wage, because the cost of labour only makes up a small amount of the total production costs.

MYTH 4: DONATING CLOTHES TO OP-SHOPS IS SUSTAINABLE

Approximately only 5% of the clothes that are donated to op-shops in Australia, go on the shop floor as they are not in good condition. Instead, they often end up in landfill or are shipped off to third world countries where they are sold at low prices and consequently destroy local industry. That is not to say you shouldn’t donate to op-shops – if you make sure the clothes you donate are in good condition then they can still be re-used by someone in need.

MYTH 5: IF A BRAND SAYS THAT THEY'RE SUSTAINABLE, THEN THEY ARE

It would be much easier of this was the case, however greenwashing is used a lot within the fashion industry. Greenwashing is when companies provide misleading information to consumers about their products, suggesting they are more environmentally friendly than they really are. Instead, it’s important you do your research into a brand and how their products are made. Consider the transparency of their supply chain and whether they have any certifications to formalise their commitment to producing ethical and sustainable clothing.

We hope you found this KEEPER Denim post on busting the top 5 common sustainable fashion myths insightful and one you can refer to when it comes to sustainable fashion.