Ethical/Eco-fashion is not about wearing recycled cans anymore!

Eco-fashion, sustainable sourcing, ethical manufacturing – we’ve heard these buzz words here and there more than before. Greenies have animal activists to thank for taking the lead in creating awareness to brands, manufacturers, and consumers that fashion and style should not be at the expense of furry creatures or scaly reptiles. Now this cause has extended beyond animals and is now closer to heart, threatening the survival of mankind.

The fashion world has learnt its lesson since. Designer brands have taken the lead to introduce and market organic and environmentally-friendly products as early as the mid-2000s. Unfortunately, it needed a lot more than just a social conscience to look past those baggy hemp trousers, shapeless sack dresses, and t-shirts that look torn out of an old jotter book.

Eco-fashion has come a long way, going beyond using recycled materials and coconut husks to much coveted designs that we find at boutiques (examples in picture below). Moreover, consumers are becoming increasingly aware of and engaged with social issues. We now hear 'green is the new black'. Green-themed fashion runways (recent London and New York Fashion Weeks), auctions , and parties are in. Celebrities, designers, and brands are lobbying for this ethical cause too. Emma Watson is not only the co-designer of Pure Threads (a collaboration with Alberta Ferretti), but also the creative advisor for fair-trade fashion pioneer, People Tree. This Spring, H&M has also launched an eco-friendly, all-white Conscious Collection.

So what does all these mean to us? Does supporting a 'green' brand alone make us ethical by default? What more can we do beyond buying green brands and products? Watch this space to find out how you can be part of this green wave too!