Step back in time with a responsible mind.
There’s no getting away from the topic of fast fashion and sustainability in modern lifestyles. The way we shop for clothing has changed dramatically in the past few decades. According to the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, the average consumer buys approximately 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago.
This staggering figure is primarily due to fashion’s accessibility and, more significantly, ‘fast fashion’. However, this demand and supply model is increasingly shifting the balance of environmental, societal and economic issues across the world and negatively impacting the planet and the people who make them.
One of the significant issues in the fashion industry is the increasing waste created from unused clothing. WRAP UK estimated around £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill each year, and due to the fabrics used, it takes many hundreds of years to biodegrade. This figure is also just a drop in the ocean compared to the 134 million tons of textiles estimated to be discarded a year by 2030.
Alongside excessive waste, the people who make clothing are also negatively impacted by the industry and increasing demand. Most apparel sold in the UK is made in countries such as India, Bangladesh and China. Unfortunately, garment workers in these countries may experience poor working conditions, no fundamental human rights and extremely low pay. These industry issues were highlighted for the world to see in 2013, after the largest industrial incident in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Due to poor construction and unsafe working conditions, the Rana Plaza building collapsed, making it one of the most significant industrial disasters in history.
Since this incident, the industry has started to move towards a better future for garment workers. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. More recently, the pandemic highlighted many clothing brands refusing to pay for orders from overseas factories and taking no responsibility for the people in the supply chain.
Our recent collaboration is with a female-led factory in India that provides small quantity collections made in sustainable fabrics. The owners share our values and are approved by the government for fair and ethical practices.
Fast fashion contributes to the degradation of the planet resources. You might be surprised to hear that materials and dyes used to make clothing also contribute to depleting natural resources and putting harmful waste back into the environment. Garments are also made from synthetic fibres such as polyester, nylon and acrylic, which takes hundreds of years to biodegrade. The process of making clothing is energy-intensive and also affects local communities and their way of life.
In 2018, reporter Stacey Dooley showed us the impact of fast fashion with the Aral Sea’s disappearance in Kazakhstan. This inland sea was once home to marine life but is now a vast desert due to the diversion of rivers and streams to keep cotton fields supplied. To put it in perspective, an area the size of the country Ireland disappeared in the space of 40 years. With the above issues a prevalent indicator the industry needs to make changes; at Weekend Doll, we are also doing our best to reduce our impact on people and the planet.
We are continually looking to source sustainable materials for our designs, and our new partnership brings FSC-certified viscose to our collections.
FSC-certified viscose is a type of rayon fibre created from natural resources such as wood and agricultural products. The materials are from managed woodlands and plantations to avoid the need for further deforestation to make clothing.
Using dead fabric that would ordinarily go to landfill is another way we are creating new clothing. This circular method reduces the amount that goes to waste. We are also working with UK manufacturers to reduce the carbon footprint of clothing and improve the sourcing of good-quality UK materials.
Slowing fashion down is a challenging step but a necessary one. We believe that transparency is key to achieving this, plus learning new ways to work towards a positive future
Currently, we use recycled mailing bags and are committed to sourcing more sustainable packaging options moving forward.
At Weekend Doll, we design vintage-inspired clothing in London and embrace a slow approach to fashion. Our collections strive to not only make you feel fabulous but also provide capsule pieces for your wardrobe that last years, not seasons.
Our Ethos: To bring sustainability and affordability in line to meet the needs of our customers.
Here at Weekend Doll, we are always looking to make our processes and clothing options more sustainable. Take a look at some of our current plans
We see the industry’s current fast-fashion culture as a significant issue that affects ethical and environmental practices. At present, we use naturally degradable fabric or existing stocks of material to reduce water consumption for our limited-run collections.
We’re also looking at ways to improve sustainability within our supply chain, including our own-brand clothing production.
Weekend Doll also believes in ethical clothing production methods and works hard to partner with suppliers that share our beliefs. This year, we’ll be working towards building stronger relationships with our supply chain to deliver fair-trade, ethical and sustainable practices at every stage of production.
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