There’s a sliding scale when it comes to textiles. Organic cotton is better than regular cotton, but growing either requires a lot of water. Alternatives like hemp and flax are fast-growing and less thirsty. Viscose is great as it’s made from renewable wood pulp, but if processed cheaply can be environmentally toxic. Deadstock - leftover fabric from garment manufacturing - is brilliant. I only buy natural fibres because they’re biodegradable - polyester isn’t. It’s great to recycle plastic bottles, but garments made from them aren’t biodegradable either. Remember, even if you donate old clothes, they’ll end up in landfill one day.
20 of your most pressing sustainable style questions answered
Eco-conscious dressing is higher than ever on the fashion agenda. But where to begin? And how to get it right?
21 April 2021 • 5:00am
The sustainable crowd - brands that are becoming more eco-friendly
What does ‘sustainable’ actually mean?
There is no formal industry definition for the word ‘sustainable’. While it suggests environmental awareness, it has become so widely and carelessly used, even Stella McCartney admitted in a Telegraph interview last year, “I barely know what sustainability means anymore.” More telling is other language a brand might use to describe its sourcing and manufacturing, such as carbon neutral, renewable or recycled - these speak to specific practices and indicate that it isn’t ‘greenwashing’ (marketing bluster that sounds eco but doesn’t promise any actual action).