Clothes Minded
January 21, 2026 8:51 AM
Fashion is often identified as the world’s biggest promoter of consumerism. While that may always be true, the industry is putting its best Gucci-clad foot forward and developing more ethical habits.
The words “eco-friendly” and “sustainable” aren’t often associated with the fashion industry, but designers big and small are recognizing that the once over-indulgent customer is becoming more and more ecologically aware. And this trend appears to have an even longer shelf life than skinny jeans.
The fashion industry is all about reinventing the old and making it modern. This is why designers love the challenge associated with either using vintage fabrics, scraps from previous designs, or dismantling and reshaping old pieces and creating something completely new.
All of these new habits not only involve recycling, something that fashion has always nurtured, but they reduce waste and energy.
It is easy to assume that cotton, because it comes from a plant, is ethical and “green.” However, cotton contributes 16 percent of global insecticide use, which is more than any other crop in the world.
Organic cotton, bamboo, soy, corn and wood pulp have become the solution for textile manufacturers to this not so eco-friendly material. Natural dyes are also increasing in popularity.
Sweatshop production has been on the fashion radar for years, causing consumers to boycott various brand names under scrutiny.
However, considering only the production of clothing leaves out where the raw textiles originated. Child labour is rampantly used in cotton harvesting; so socially conscious designers are paying attention to every step of the production process.
Jewelry designers and consumers also want to be sure that their diamonds are violence and cruelty-free.
While the world’s most powerful people discussed climate change in Copenhagen last December, the most powerful people in fashion gathered to discuss sustainable fashion.
Senior figures from labels like H&M, Top Shop, Levi Strauss and Gucci listened to lectures and presentations that showed them how to convert once wasteful businesses into more efficient, less polluting and less wasteful practices.
The fashion industry came together and took a huge step towards joining these inevitable trends.
Canadian fashion designers are also doing their part to create eco-chic fashion. While most of them, not so surprisingly, are based in BC, an attainable brand for Eastern Canadians is Preloved, which is sold at Peep Show in downtown Halifax.
If you are traveling throughout the country, look for brands like Paper People Clothing, Elroy Apparel, Nixxi, Lundstrom, Twice Shy, and even Roots if you want to do your part for the planet while stocking your wardrobe.
A few other tips for making your wardrobe an ethical one are to check for Fair Trade certification, search for clothes that are unbleached or dyed with low-impact dyes, purchase clothing without wrinkle-free treatments and make sure the garment does not require dry cleaning.
Of course, one of the best ways to appreciate this trend is to make your own clothing, but make sure you use sustainable fabrics.
If you don’t have the energy or know-how to do that, the easiest way to be an ethical fashionista is to add vintage and second-hand stores to your shopping route.
Fashion has always revolved around recycling and reusing trends, so it is no surprise that the latest trend is about recycling and reusing their base materials.
Critics label this industry with all kinds of ugly words, but what it is really about is the knowledge of what consumers want and fearlessly giving it to them, with the new addition of seriously considering the welfare of our planet.
This is more than can be said for other leading industries. With the influence fashion has, supporting the green movement is now a beautiful thing.