This Health Crisis Is a Wake-Up For Fashion Industry

By Adrienne Lee — COVID-19 is teaching the human race that life can be short. It’s important to not only protect and sustain the environment that we take for granted but to also protect and treat other humans will the same respect that we all want to receive. Coronavirus can open the eyes of the whole fashion community to the sustainable fashion industry through the same mentality.

Is Fast Fashion A Thing Of The Past?

Fast fashion cannot be sustained with the planet’s resources. Big-name brands such as H&M, Zara, and more produce their clothing in unhealthy working environments. The volume of clothes being shipped across the world increases pollution while also using low-quality fabrics that can be toxic towards both the workers and consumers.

The New York Times wrote an article about the harms of fast fashion stating that more than 60 percent of fabrics are now synthetic and therefore cannot decay. Workers in third world countries are working in unsafe work environments increase the risk of health issues and injuries.

Most brands and their brand consumers however, don’t feel the need to transition into sustainable fashion because they don’t feel the consequences of such types of fashion.

However, we are all feeling the consequences of COVID-19, being quarantined in our homes and forced to work in exposed environments or having our incomes paused. If we don’t enjoy these consequences, the environment and fast fashion factory workers should not have to endure these harmful consequences of the fast fashion industry either.

Sustainable Brands Are Part Of the Future

Companies who have already begun to engage in sustainable fashion (zero-waste, handmade, local or ethical…) are the ones who will ultimately have the most advantage in this time of crisis in regards to a long term stance in the fashion industry. Brands that Wear the Future works with, such as Alterre BY, Host and Var, and All by B have been participating in these actions for years.

Alterre NY giving 5% of its profits to a human trafficking survivor charity, Host and Var using recycled vegan fabrics, and All by B designing and making all her products by hand are just a few of many companies.
The era of sustainable fashion is on the rise due to worsening environmental conditions and the increased consciousness of risky working environments. Now is the perfect time to increase self-awareness of these calling changes.

Online Consumers Are At A Record High

There is now a highway of opportunities online - and while retailers and fashion designers are not fully grasping the idea of online shopping, the current health crisis is showing us that people who are keeping their jobs and staying in, want to indulge themselves to feel a sense of control.

Additionally, big-name brands are currently vulnerable to COVID-19 due to many of their products being manufactured in China. For those looking to online shop, now is the time to look into sustainable fashion brands that produce their own merchandise with a focus on ethical and quality products.

Wear the Future just opened the first contactless online showroom focused on sustainable and innovative brands!