Sustainable Clothing: What Does It Actually Mean?
The natural resources are responsible for the ecological balance we enjoy. Anything that we use, if it is somehow contributing in maintaining the ecological balance is called sustainability. For instance, if a certain cloth is called sustainable then from the process of farming and its raw material to the actual finished product must be environment-friendly and should not create an imbalance in the existence of human as well as plant life.
Can Organic Clothing Mean Sustainable?
No, not really. Organic means natural. Clothing that's made out of natural fibers such as cotton can be termed as organic clothing but not sustainable. According to the Organic Trade Association, cotton plantation consumes 25% of the world's total insecticides and more than 10% of pesticides and herbicides. So a typical cotton tee is responsible for polluting the field with a ⅓ pound of the chemicals. If we talk about water consumption, cotton literally is drying out the countries who are the major producers of cotton. So when the cultivation of cotton is not managing the ethnicity of the land and disturbing the ecological role of water, how can it be called sustainable? It can be just called natural!
What Are The Criteria For Being Sustainable?
To own a tag of sustainable, the fabric should be safe for humans and the environment in all the stages of its production. From cultivation to its final shape, there shouldn't be any harm to an extent that it threatens the existence of any living species.
Another factor which decides the sustainability score of a fabric is its reusability. How well the fabric turns out to be after its recycling so that the resources used in producing it don't get dumped completely.
Then comes the lifespan of the fabric. Sustainable fabrics should last more than the other fabrics. For instance, clothing made out of hemp lasts much more than cotton clothes do which makes the former a considerable fiber for sustainability.
Hemp- An Ultimate Pick For Sustainable Fabrics
Yes, the marijuana wear that people are talking about beats all the other fabrics in sustainability. Because of its physical appearance, tall and thin, it grows close to each other and the leaves don't let room for any of the weeds to grow or any other kind of life for that matter. This rules out the use of herbicides, pesticides, and insecticides making it sustainable for preserving the sanctity of the land.
Moreover, the amount of water it needs is four times less than what cotton needs which points towards its water-saving role. Another reason why it's the most sustainable fabric. Also, the amount of hemp produced in an acre is twice the amount of cotton produced on the same land. Hemp scores here as well!
Then What's The Issue?
Well, the issue is hemp cultivation is not legal in all the states. The stoner clothing brands are either importing the hemp or the fabric to make the final products here. And the ones who are willing to advocate its production are tailoring weed strain t-shirts and terps t-shirts so that more and more people care to at least explore and vote in for change.