Sustainably Alternative

Have you noticed the recent increase in the amount of organic cotton garments sold in retail stores?

New innovative techniques and processes are being created and implemented in the textile industry to help with the rapidly declining state of the planet. While it is important that sustainable fibers and textiles are produced, that is not the only option. In order to make a real difference, the production process and life cycle of the garment must be sustainable.

Some of the alternatives to designing textile products with sustainability in mind include new dyeing techniques, organic cotton and wool, Poly(lactic acid), and fiber traceability through the supply chain. According to Charlene Ducas from Textile Exchange, there is a new dyeing method that involves using fluid state CO₂. This method was developed by DyeCoo Textile Systems as a way to reduce the amount of water used and polluted during textile production. A more developed and popular alternative is the use of Organic fibers such as organic cotton and wool. According to the Materials Diversity chapter of Sustainable Fashion and Textiles: Design Journeys, organic cotton is produced using methods that reduce the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers, and growth regulators. Organic textiles are also great because they usually involve Fair Trade practices such as giving premiums to farmers for their products. My favorite alternative is the use of Poly(lactic acid) in textile production.  According to the Materials Diversity article, PLA is a thermoplastic polyester made from 100% renewable resources, such as corn. It is my favorite alternative because the product is biodegradable unlike many synthetic materials. Finally, Charlene Ducas mentions the importance of fiber traceability in the supply chain because it allows retailers and consumers to understand how their garments or textiles were produced.

When designing textile products, it is important that a retailer or manufacturer understands the impact their product has on the environment. In order to be more sustainable, they should consider focusing on factors such as water use, chemical use and durability. If a manufacturer were to focus on just these three things, they could greatly reduce the impact they have. Durability is especially important because it means the customer will get more use out of the product and there will be less waste. Reduced chemical use means that the amount of pollution will decrease and workers will not be working with such hazardous materials. Also, according to the Materials Diversity article, 50% of the total cost of cotton production comes from pesticides. Informing manufacturers about this will encourage them to not use pesticides, or reduce the amount used, because they will be able to save money.

As a consumer, I know that I would take great pride in purchasing a garment that was made using sustainable practices. The increase in retailers offering organic cotton merchandise shows that consumers are interested in buying sustainable fashions. Though, because some of these alternatives are new, some consumers might be discouraged. For example, the use of CO₂ to create PLA might freak some consumers out while more adventurous consumers will enjoy the innovative production process and be willing to try it out.