Sustainable and Ethical Streetwear
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- Issue Time
- Mar 29,2023
Summary
With the growing trend towards sustainability, streetwear brands are also showing us that you can express yourself through streetwear style while making eco-friendly decisions.
For many, clothing is more than just putting on clothes. It represents a mode of expression and, for many, an association with a particular ideology. Since clothes are a necessity and people are constantly discovering their own style, the fashion industry continues to thrive.
However, the continued production of clothing comes at the expense of the environment. Sustainable alternatives are starting to emerge as concerns mount over the fashion industry's environmental impact. When you think of sustainable fashion, images of hemp fabrics and earth tones probably come to mind. However, streetwear brands are now showing us that you can express yourself through streetwear style while making eco-friendly decisions.
The Rise of Street Style
The roots of streetwear as we know it today can be traced back to the 70s to 90s. A style of clothing that included casual wear emerged during this period. Not only that but this clothing style was born out of scenes like Los Angeles surf skate culture and New York hip-hop fashion.
Taken as a whole, this trend has become prominent in the fashion game because it not only comes from the surfer vibe scene but also incorporates a unique surf skate culture, giving it a laid-back casual vibe. The style also takes inspiration from Japanese street fashion.
As streetwear labels continue to pop up, they're infusing influences like punk, heavy metal, and new wave. Whether it's the end of surf skate culture or the edgy punk trend, streetwear is instantly recognizable. Urban chic styles often feature pieces like hoodies, T-shirts, slacks, face masks, and sneakers.
Is Streetwear Sustainable?
Over the years, the style has become more mainstream, which means more production. So, are these streetwear brands focusing on their negative or positive impact on the environment? While streetwear is often strongly associated with social issues, environmental issues are not always at the forefront.
Due to this trend to produce various staple pieces, the industry often uses materials such as nylon and polyester. These materials are not environmentally friendly and therefore have a negative impact on the planet. The environmental impact is exacerbated by fears of overproduction to meet growing consumer demand. Also, since street fashion tends to rely on trends rather than timeless designs, this leads to more consumption.
As awareness of sustainable production grows, streetwear companies are stepping up their game. Gone are the days when you think of sustainable clothing brands, you only think of drab colors.
Sustainable streetwear labels are on the rise. These sustainable clothing brands feature sustainable fabrics like organic cotton, support fair trade suppliers, and use organic and recycled materials. So whether you're a streetwear pro or just starting to embrace the fashion trend, you can embrace sustainable streetwear. You no longer have to sacrifice your ideal fashion sense when shopping from ethical brands.
The Place of Sustainable Fashion in Today's World
The fashion industry is a huge market—after all, we all need clothing in our everyday lives. We all buy into this big market in one way or another. Whether it's shopping at second-hand online thrift stores, buying from fast fashion companies, or embracing sustainable fashion companies.
As insignificant as it may seem in your path, clothing has a big impact on the grand scheme of things. From the extraction of materials to production and distribution, various touchpoints have their impact.
What really makes a difference and ensures you minimize your carbon footprint is being conscious about finding a sustainable fashion brand to shop with. With growing concern about the state of our world, sustainable clothing has emerged.
What to Look for When Shopping for Sustainable Streetwear
Sustainable Material
The types of materials used by sustainable companies often communicate their commitment to sustainability. Traditionally, streetwear brands have primarily used synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester when making their garments. However, the rise of sustainable streetwear brands also indicates the use of sustainable materials.
Look out for sustainable organic fabrics like organic cotton, hemp, and linen. Many brands also use recycled fabrics, such as recycled cotton and cashmere, which are all-natural materials. And more innovative products replace petroleum-produced synthetics with materials such as recycled polyester for more sustainable clothing.
Environmentally Friendly Manufacturing
The production process matters because some methods have a larger carbon footprint than others. A truly ethical brand will be transparent about its sustainable processes.
Zero or Low Waste Packaging
In addition to clothing, the comprehensive sustainability plan also considers packaging waste. Keep an eye out for any brands that use biodegradable or recyclable packaging materials.
In Conclusion
Street fashion is growing in popularity and has gained a loyal following. This alone gives it enormous influence across the industry and the opportunity to point out ways to improve sustainable practices.
Concerned about fashion's impact on the planet, many streetwear brands are prioritizing sustainability. This allows streetwear enthusiasts to continue using their clothes to express themselves while reducing their environmental impact.
The above has introduced the benefits and importance of sustainable streetwear, if you are looking for sustainable streetwear, please contact us.
RAINBOWTOUCHES is a professional custom streetwear manufacturer with 15 years of experience. It mainly produces and sells casual men's wear, streetwear, and sportswear with brand characteristics such as leisure, avant-garde, comfort, and fashion. We take the customer first and quality as our culture as our business principles. We have always attached great importance to every customer, taking producing and designing exquisite products as our basic and core goal.