Sustainable Fashion
Nov 13, 2014
Sustainable
Fashion
What Are You Wearing?
• Check the tag: it’s probably not organic
• Regular cotton has a high impact on the environment
• 10% of the world’s pesticides and 23% of the world’s insecticides are used on non-organic cotton
• One cotton t-shirt requires 2000L of water and uses 150g of toxic chemicals.
Organic Cotton Quick Facts
• Organic cotton doesn’t use chemicals, so water run-off is not toxic.
• It takes about one-third of a pound of pesticides and fertilizers to grow enough non-organic cotton for just one T-shirt.
• 25% of the world’s pesticides are used to grow non-organic cotton.
What is it?• Grown using methods that have a
low impact on the environment• Cotton that is good for farmers,
consumersand the environment
• Grown without using synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides
• Used in bathrobes, towels, clothing and stationary.
Other Alternatives• Hemp; can replace most
toxic petrochemical products.
• Bamboo; strong, durable, soft and a highly renewable, biodegradable grass
• Made from the refined pulp of the bamboo plant.
• Wool or corn fiber are other great eco-friendly garments.
Fair-Trade• Guarantees an agreed and stable price for
small-scale cotton farmers in developing countries.
• Poor countries hold 40% of the world’s population, but receive only 3% of the world’s income from trade. Rich countries make up 14% of the world’s population but get 75% of the profit from trade.
Case Study: Uzbekistan
• Two thirds of the world’s cotton is grown in developing countries and the former Soviet Union
• Uzbekistan is the second largest exporter of cotton in the world
How Can You Help?• Recycle your clothing,
purchase used second-hand items.
• Donate your clothing to charities instead of throwing it out.
• Purchase organic cotton, bamboo etc. clothing .
• Buy fair-trade clothing.• SPREAD THE WORD!