Conscious fashion<\/strong> is a catch-all term. It is often used by people to imply \u201csustainability\u201d, \u201cethical\u201d practices or \u201ceco\u201d. Some brands use the name to imply \u201cmindful\u201d and \u201cpurposeful\u201d and in fact even use it as part of the brand name. They don\u2019t always have to be a sustainable fashion brand, though some may be. It is best to check for more information on their website and even contact them to verify if that is something that is of real importance to you.<\/p>\n Slow fashion<\/strong> is the opposite of \u201cfast fashion\u201d. It is a movement started by small independent bards that decided to oppose the cyclical nature of the conventional fashion calendar. Brands that describe themselves as slow fashion\u201d do not design to seasons or release seasonal collections. They create products that are long-lasting in terms of design ethos and style, as well as wearability and quality.<\/p>\n Being a sustainable fashion brand is not a pre-requisite to being part of the slow fashion movement.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n The two are not mutually exclusive and many brands identify themselves in fact as slow fashion, while not being sustainable.<\/p>\n Ethical<\/strong> is one of these words that is widely used and more often than not actually MISused. People often use it to imply a product is perhaps \u201ccruelty-free\u201d or something like \u201cethical leather\u201d or \u201cethical fur\u201d is good and kind to the planet as opposed to the natural, real thing.<\/p>\n Sadly \u2013 this is the wrong way to use this descriptive term. What ethical<\/em><\/strong> in fact should be used for and refer to is how people are treated. It is a terminology that is people related. How are workers treated at their place of work? Are they paid fairly? Are they of legal age? What is the impact factories and working places have on the surrounding community?<\/p>\n Companies that truly care about the ethical treatment of the workers that make their products should be prepared to offer full transparency and disclose figures and evidence that they adhere to their values, make the necessary checks and comply with the principles of being \u201cethical\u201d.<\/p>\n Fairtrade<\/strong> was a hot topic a few short years ago. When properly used, it should refer to the practice f paying a \u201cfair wage\u201d to workers form marginalised communities that contribute to the fashion industry. Such communities, for example, can be the mining communities that mine precious and semi-precious stones. Historically these communities were slave labour operated and exploited.<\/p>\n The term \u201cfair trade\u201d implies that wages must not fall below a market rate.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n It further refers to ethical working conditions and certifications. However, this is easier said than done. If you were to search for a fair trade organisation, you\u2019ll notice various companies that promote the practice. \u00a0Some of the better ones to use and get more information form are as Global Organic Textile Standard<\/a>,\u00a0Cradle to Cradle<\/a>\u00a0or the\u00a0Better Cotton Initiative<\/a>. But \u201cfair trade\u201d should not be confused for \u201cethical\u201d and \u2018sustainable fashion\u201d. It is possible for a brand to be \u201cfair trade\u201d and in fact operate in a manner that is harmful to the environment.<\/p>\n So what is sustainable fashion<\/em><\/strong>? What makes a brand \u201csustainable\u201d?<\/p>\n The term is widespread in not only in fashion but in other industries that manufacture products. It refers to the effect that manufacturing has on the environment and the planet we live in. Sustainability is the practice of creating products by taking resources from the environment we live in and ensuring that, at the end of the product life cycle, the product will return back to the earth without harming it. Sustainable products should always be able to biodegrade. But the reality is that this is still largely work in process and it is hard to ensure this happens Least of all because for a biodegrading process to take place, oxygen is required, and many landfills are so densely packed there is no oxygen flow.<\/p>\n So instead, many fashion brands today refer to themselves as sustainable if they manufacture locally (and save on carbon footprint). If they use sustainable materials made from recycled plastic for example. Or if they have a scheme that encourages customers to bring back old products to be repurposed as opposed to just thrown out. While this is not truly sustainable \u2013 being 100% sustainable is still far off being truly possible and feasible to achieve.<\/p>\n Organic<\/strong> refers to materials usually. They are natural fibres being grown and produced without the use of chemical pesticides in the growing process. One of the biggest environment polluters is cotton. So, as a result, there is a great effort made for organic cotton to be widely produced and easily available to fashion brands.<\/p>\n![\"sustainable-fashion-terminology\"](\"https:\/\/fashioninsiders.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/slow-fashion.jpg\" "\\"sustainable-fashion-terminology\\"")
Slow Fashion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Ethical Fashion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Fairtrade Fashion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Sustainable Fashion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Organic Fashion<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"cruelty-free-ustanable-fashion\"](\"https:\/\/fashioninsiders.co\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Cruelty-free-fashion.jpg\")
<\/h3>\nCruelty-free Fashion<\/strong><\/h3>\n