Before starting a review of the documentary, I feel it is necessary to give a definition of sustainable fashion and establish a connection between the fashion industry and the environment. As I found out, sustainability in the fashion industry has two main perspectives. From the brand’s point of view, being sustainable means producing clothes that are most considerate for humanity and the environment. As for the consumer, sustainability means thinking if you need that garment before buying and what ethics you support with your purchase (“Understanding sustainable fashion,” n.d). Paris Lees’s documentary on the fashion industry addresses both of these perspectives and helps to understand the problems of the modern fashion industry and consumer behavior.
The Eye-Opening Moments
The documentary has opened my eyes to several issues, which I had not realized before. First of all, I had no idea that the fashion industry is the second-worst polluter of the environment (JayLaw, 2019, 1:10). It was also shocking to realize that the Brits alone spend £30 billion on unused clothes every year (JayLaw, 2019, 2:44). Just imagine all the money and resources spent on useless, redundant goods worldwide. Finally, while there were many other astonishing moments, I was disturbed by the fact that the unaware consumer can fund unethical companies or even indirectly support terrorism by simply buying a new piece of clothing (JayLaw, 2019, 12:44). After watching the documentary, I understood that sustainability in the fashion industry is much more important than I ever thought.
My Opinion On 3 Easy Steps
Paris Lees outlined three easy steps for environmentally conscious consumers at the end of her documentary. I would love to start following them since fashion sustainability appeared to be so vital for our planet. Steps 1 (Don’t love – don’t buy) and 2 (Look at the label) are my priority because they are quite easy to follow and beneficial for the environment, your wardrobe, and even your wallet. As for Step 3 (DIY) —it would take some time and probably training in sewing, so it would be more difficult to follow. However, even a small step in the right direction counts, especially if made by many people.
References
JayLaw. (2019). Is fashion destroying the planet? – Ethical fashion documentary[Video]. YouTube. Web.
Understanding sustainable fashion, and what it means to you (n.d.). Sustainable Fashion Matterz. Web.