H&M
H&M launched Conscious Collection in 2011, with items made from organic linen, cotton, and silk along with recycled silver and nylon fibre, taken from fishnets. The collection also boasted its use of bionic yarn, which is created from shoreline plastics and can be used to create anything from T-shirts to evening gowns. Although just 26 per cent of H&M’s products are made from organic sources, they are still the largest buyer of organic cotton in the world. Additionally, recycling boxes are set up in stores across the globe, where people can bring in their old garments, regardless of brand or its state. That means everything from old shirts to sheets are welcome. The clothing is given over to company I:CO which re-uses old garments to sell second-hand or recycle. Since the boxes' arrival in 2013, H&M has collected 17,771 tonnes of textiles, which amounts to 89 million T-shirts.Levi’s
Knowing a single pair of jeans requires 2,000 gallons of water, Levi's created WaterZara
Zara’s parent company Inditex introduced its campaign Closing the Loop in 2016. Like H&M's recycling boxes, customers can drop off their old items and give them a second life. The company also aims to avoid sending anything to the landfill and to reduce carbon emissions by 15 per cent in 2020. Other companies who have committed to becoming more sustainable by 2020 include:- Adidas
- ASOS
- Eileen Fisher
- Target
- Reformation
What You Can Do
Devoting yourself to an entirely eco-friendly closet is certainly no easy feat, but there are steps you can take:- Buy local: That way, you'll know exactly where your garments are coming from
- Purchase staple pieces: Avoid fast fashion and buy versatile items you know will last a long time. Wear it more often and pair it with different outfits to create new looks every day
- Buy second-hand: You know what they say - one man's trash is another man's treasure. Chances are you'll find an item you will love in a second-hand shop. Alternatively, gather your friends and host a clothing-swap
- Repair your old items: Fixing a loose button, a ripped seam, or patching up an item is not as hard as you may think. Try fixing it first or find new ways to re-vamp it.
- Look for Eco-friendly brands: going green in their clothing processMore and more brands are so try looking for the labels that present that.
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