Sustainable fashion refers to the environmentally beneficial production of clothing. It aims to preserve the ecosystem, reduce pollution substantially, promote recycling techniques, repurpose and reduce consumption and use of natural resources responsibly.
Biodegradable fabrics, recycled materials, buying secondhand, repurposed clothes are all examples of sustainable fashion practices. To be sustainable in the fashion industry, these practices must be implemented at all production stages, from design and manufacturing to packaging and distribution. The use of technological innovations makes it easier both for retailers and consumers to implement these practices.
Concerned with sustainable fashion are growing
According to the Global Fashion Agenda, clothing consumption will increase by 63 percent by 2030. As reported by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, we wear our clothes 40% less than we did ten years ago, and 26% of clothing in the UK is discarded because the owner no longer likes it.
The fast fashion business model encourages excessive consumption and waste, much of which is not made from single-fiber materials and cannot be recycled. It makes buying clothing on the spur of the moment simple and affordable. To stay up with ever-changing trends, consumers are encouraged to alter their clothes on a frequent basis throughout the year. These items are typically treated as disposable, resulting in a large amount of waste.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, more than $500 billion in value is lost each year due to clothing underutilization and a lack of recycling.
What is the impact of technology on the sustainable fashion industry?
Technologies develop a circular business model that has a beneficial environmental effect and fosters recycling, reuse, and refurbishment, and promotes a slow-mode lifestyle, lower consumerism, and more careful procurement.
Fast fashion has a huge environmental impact, both in terms of production and disposal. Clothing manufacturing consumes a lot of energy and resources, and it relies on harmful fabric dyes and other chemicals that pollute fresh water.
The scale of sustainability in fashion mostly depends on advancements in technology and business models. The industry must invest to change. This depends heavily on leadership, environmental purposes, cooperation between industries and authorities, and consumers. According to the Global Fashion Agenda, the implementation of new technology and process upgrades will increase profitability and environmental as well as social performance.
Sustainable fashion prospects
Over the next decade, evolving technology affecting materials, products, and consumer experience will have a massive impact on waste reduction. Companies that care about the environment are already making changes to materials that increase longevity while using fewer natural resources. Here are several sustainable fashion technology implementations that are transforming fashion production and recyclability in order to make it more sustainable.
3D digital sampling
Virtual sampling already provides for a comprehensive, digital assessment that lowers waste both in design and product development. 3D virtual sampling eliminates the need for physical samples, which can save a lot of time and money on rework.
Tommy Hilfiger is currently pursuing the usage of 3D design in all design phases, from sketching to sample to the showroom. If 3D samples totally replace traditional samples during the brainstorming process, companies and designers will be able to be more selective about which parts they want to bring to life, saving time and money.
3D body scanning
Body scanning provides an alternative to the limited information on body sizes and types available. Instead of relying on a proportionate scale, manufacturers can use data from body scans to produce clothing that fits diverse body shapes. This boosts customers’ trust in the products they buy, resulting in more loyal customers for brands and retailers.
Virtual try-on solutions
Consumers can instantly assess how items will fit them thanks to mobile 3D body scanning, which uses thousands of data points to produce a three-dimensional image. Instead of relying on a proportionate scale, companies can use data from body scans to manufacture clothing that fits diverse body shapes.
3DLOOK’s YourFit is the first on the market solution to integrate virtual dressing technology with size and fit recommendations. The solution pioneers already have witnessed a decrease in return rates of up to 48 percent.
Re-commerce
Resale provides the wardrobe-rotating excitement of quick fashion without the guilt or waste, and it is predicted that within ten years, secondhand would outnumber mainstream fast fashion. Upcycling, in turn, involves reusing gently-used fabrics or unsold inventory to create new apparel.
As customers become increasingly concerned about sustainability, resale and consignment sites such as Depop, ThredUp, and Poshmark, which allow people to purchase and sell worn clothing, have grown in popularity.
System of circular fashion
This new textile economy is built on the reuse and recycling of textile items, which are designed, produced, sold, and gathered at scale. Following customer use, these products will be collected and reused, making the system circular. This will lead to higher sustainability and less waste caused by clothing.
Fashion businesses can start being sustainable right now
Fashion and businesses can become more environmentally friendly by implementing special practices and shifting their resources to more environmentally friendly options. Although sustainability does not happen overnight, and we will not give you a completely new business plan, we have described to you some of the steps, ideas, and practices curated from sustainable businesses. Some are simple, while others require more technology and investment, but they all will definitely lead you to better performance.
It is crucial to embrace digital transformation to prevent waste in the fashion industry. As customers become increasingly aware of the environment, key participants in the business are changing from wasteful behavior of the past to technology that contributes to significant changes. Taking advantage of modern 3D technology and digital processing will benefit everyone in the supply chain.
These are just a few examples of how new technology has the potential to change the fashion business in the coming years. However, not only fashion businesses but also purchasers must determine the future. Fast fashion may soon be a thing of the past thanks to our increased awareness, a shift in thinking, and reflective shopping habits, as well as using new technologies and circular processes.