The 5 Benefits of Choosing Sustainable Clothing in Singapore

Did you know that the fast fashion industry is responsible for as much as 10% of annual global carbon dioxide emissions? That’s about 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere every year!

As the average consumer becomes aware of the long-term damaging effects of fast fashion on the planet, many are starting to look for more ethical and sustainable alternatives that can keep their environmental footprints as minimal as possible.

And today, we’re here to share why switching to eco-friendly, sustainable clothing in Singapore is the right decision for you and the planet!

What is sustainable clothing?

Sustainable clothing refers to garments manufactured with ethically farmed and sustainable fabrics such as Pima cotton, organic cotton, and hemp, among others.

The primary goal of sustainable clothing is to produce comfortable, trendy, and stylish clothing with minimal environmental footprint – and this goes beyond the type of fabric used.

It also encompasses the wages and working conditions of garment workers, the packaging and shipping materials, as well as how the products go from factories to retail stores to customers’ homes.

As a response to the growing demand for clean, sustainable clothing in Singapore, many brands have been popping up over the last few years, including Something to Hold, Our Barehands, Lily and Lou, and Wray Crafted, to name a few.

 It’s no surprise that a $10 shirt would fall apart after just a few months and washes, but this isn’t the case for sustainable clothing in Singapore!

Sustainable clothes are made from higher quality, more durable cotton, which means you get more use out of them. Some may be arguably more expensive than an average fast-fashion piece, but they’re more affordable in the long run because they tend to last longer.

A cheap shirt may last you a few months to a maximum of a year, but a higher-quality shirt made from sustainable fabrics may last you a decade if cared for properly.

Another essential part of the sustainable clothing business model is providing proper living wages and safe working conditions to farmers and factory workers.

The truth is, the only reason why you’re able to purchase from fast-fashion brands at such low prices is that cotton farmers and garment workers aren’t properly compensated for their hard work. There are also no existing laws and rules that protect their rights and well-being.

This is why sustainable clothing brands only work with farms and factories that compensate their workers with livable wages and provide them with safe working conditions that don’t put their health at risk.

According to a 2015 study, an astonishing 97% of what goes into making new garments are new materials, with only 3% being recycled materials. That’s about more than 98 million tonnes of natural and energetic resources wasted every year.

The great thing about sustainable clothing is that it’s committed to producing high-quality clothes with as little natural resources and as much care for the environment.

Most clothing brands use organic and recycled fibres, which don’t require as much water because they aren’t treated with pesticides and chemicals.

It’s common knowledge that how fast-fashion clothes are made leaves permanent damage to the environment, specifically our waters. It affects the water we drink, the water we clean ourselves with, and the water that produces our food.

Sustainable clothing isn’t guilty of this. There are no hazardous pesticides and pesticides involved in its supply chain, so fewer toxic chemicals and microplastics end up in our oceans and rivers.

Additionally, fewer chemicals in farming cotton means stronger and healthier soils, which helps purify water and reduce flooding.

 It’s not hard to fall into the trap of fashion consumerism when you’re overwhelmed with choices, mainly by fast-fashion brands who come up with new styles almost every month.

When you become aware of the dark side of the fast fashion industry, you become more motivated to make more sustainable and eco-friendly decisions.

Ask yourself if you really need to spend money on that trendy fast-fashion piece when you have a few pairs of clothes you probably haven’t worn in a few months.