Welcome to a new era in the world of fashion – it’s the age of eco-friendly, socially conscious clothing and accessories! And in an era dominated by fast fashion, in which we see new styles released frequently but buy them at fast-fashion price points, it’s important to stop and think of our consumption in the realm of clothing and accessories from a global, environmental and social perspective. In the first of a few upcoming articles on the topic, today we’re focusing on the world of green bags: how is this movement taking off as it were? What’s it like to use eco-friendly bags, and which ones are the most sustainable in terms of their materials and socially responsible production processes? And more importantly, how can you and I use them in our daily lives? Eco-friendly bags are here and they’re beautiful, comfortable and stylish! Let’s first look at what’s going on with this movement in the world of accessories.
The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment
Fast fashion relies on a model of speed: make quickly, sell quickly, and consume quickly, resulting in an annual tonnage of waste. From the enormous amount of water and energy used in production and transportation, to greenhouse gases emitted during manufacturing and distribution, the environmental impact of fast fashion is enormous.
Furthermore, the rapid pace of trends pushes ever more garments into landfills as clothing is sent to the recycling bin after as few as one or two wears. Many of the textiles entering the marketplace as ‘fast fashion’ are made from synthetic materials, which decompose over hundreds of years.
Along with the speed with which it is produced, fast fashion production is often notoriously unethical with respect to labour practices. Workers in countries with low standards of living are paid meagre wages, often in conditions that are unsafe and exploitative. Along with human rights abuses, fast fashion has consequences for the Earth’s environment.
Moreover, as consumers become increasingly conscious about such concerns, demand for sustainable alternatives made with ethical production guideliness and green raw materials also continues to grow.
The Growing Demand for Sustainable Fashion
As worldwide consumers are getting increasingly aware of environmental problems we can find that the demand for eco-fashion is growing. People are more mindful of their personal impact on the earth and prefer their wardrobe to be filled with minimal harm to the environment.
Sustainable fashion is not a trend that will fade but part of a growing trend towards responsible consumption. Consumers seek ways in which both their personal footprint and the companies that they buy from are making a true effort towards transparent and sustainable practices.
As a result of such shifts, attentive consumers are becoming more inquisitive about how products are made and what they are made of. As a consequence, many brands now feel compelled to reimagine their internal processes.
From clothing to accessories, sustainability is weaving its way through the consumer product trend landscape, and its green threads are slowly turning into a textile tapestry as demand and supply of items that reflect one’s values grows. Sustainable fashion is on the rise. It might be mainstream already.
What Makes a Bag Eco-Friendly?
There are several important factors for Eco friendly bags, which are different from Non Eco friendly bag. The main difference is from the materials that are used. Usually various types natural fibre are used to make Eco friendly bag. These natural fibre include organic cotton, recycled plastic, plant fibre and so on.
In addition to its design or materials, what else makes a bag green? Often, a company will minimise water usage or reduce waste from the manufacturing of these bags or even use recycled materials in its main factory. Another thing that companies tend to do, is use renewable energy as a source of electricity in their factories (e.g., wind, solar or hydroelectricity). Hence, eco-friendly items not only help the planet by making it easier to reuse, but also by making manufacturing processes more sustainable.
Furthermore, eco-friendly bags are often more durable and don’t need to be replaced as often as plastic bags. Thus, this variaty of bags helps the environment by not requiring a constant stream of new purchases. My purchase of an eco-friendly bag was an investment, so it ended up saving me money over time.
Materials Used in Eco-Friendly Bags
As well as the style and the convenience of the bag, sustainability is another important aspect of eco-friendly bags. Mostly the materials are recycled or upcycled. In this way you use less materials that are being wasted and consequently fewer new resources will be used. One of the biggest materials being used for eco-friendly bags is organic cotton. Organic cotton does not use any kind of harmful pesticides or artificial fertilizers.
Some brands are now making trendy and ethical bags using piña (pineapple leaf fibre) like Piñatex, recycled ocean plastic or even cork: the bark of the cork tree, a sustainable material that resists water and is both soft and versatile.
You can make a statement not only with what you wear, but how you wear it. Opting for bags, shoes and accessories made with materials that are both kinder to the planet and empower you to make a difference and reduce your environmental footprint.
Brands Leading the Way in Sustainable Bags
For the sake a sustainable fashion, some corporations committed in producing trendy handbags which, aside from their trendy look implements eco friendly resources and production methodology with less carbon footprint.
This brand, for example, which calls itself ‘Matt & Nat’ (a combination of words and literal references to materials) sells vegan leather bags made from recycled materials. The company, which acknowledges that its ‘responsibility lies in constantly seeking sustainable and ethical manufacturing and materials’, has attracted ethical shoppers to its luxury purses and wallets.
Stella McCartney is another popular sustainable brand, specialising in luxury bags. Its innovative, animal-free materials are all made from high-quality, cruelty-free fabrics. The quality speaks for itself and McCartney sets the benchmark for other luxury brands looking towards greener-friendly business practices.
Patagonia, too, has joined the efforts, shipping out long-lasting nylon and polyester backpacks and duffels spun from recycled nylon and polyester; their supply line is knitted with fair labour all the way to the seams.
How to Incorporate Eco-Friendly Bags into Your Wardrobe
Be sure to take eco-fashion to your handbag too – there’s a wide range of eco-friendly and fashionable bags for sale these days. Forgo a leather handbag altogether in favour of a shoulder bag or clutch bag made of organic cotton or recycled plastic, for example.
A versatile tote bag or laptop backpack made from recycled plastics certainly fits into your wardrobe and makes it easy to address a wide range of needs and outfits – as well as your desire to live your values. A crossbody bag or clutch made from upcycled materials provides another option, infusing abandoned textiles into a useful object and decreasing waste in fashion.
Spruce up the garment with a pair of signature accessories like a bamboo handle bag or a vegan leather purse: statement-making designs that’ll give your outfit charm and style, while sitting in an eco-ethical symbiosis that’s friendly to clothing manufacturing and the health of your closet. Eco-friendly bags have not only gained popularity but also grabbed the attention of the eco-fashion industry. You will now find shapely bags and flattering purses entirely made from recycled materials. Aside from this, they are also manufactured in a manner that will cultivate your eco-consciousness by reducing fabric wastage while manufacturing the bags. In conclusion, there are many ways you can also contribute to environmental conservation through your fashion sense. Adopting the eco-friendly mantra of dress and shop cautiously can go a long way in saving the planet and its well-being. All you need to focus on are your accessories, which in this case, will serve the purpose!
Conclusion: Making a Positive Impact Through Sustainable Fashion
If you use eco bags you are stylish and fashionable, but most importantly, you contribute to a green and cleaner earth. Sustainable fashion is the new trend for shopping items that is leading people to make more responsible choices, seeing that we all must contribute to reduce our own ecological footprint. Brands and common people are changing their shopping habits.
Adopting eco-friendly bags is a small step. But as you have seen, you can make a significant impact – by putting your money where the heart is (votes for Lavie!) or by adding these bags to your wardrobe for good (more votes for On!).
Therefore, the next time you go out to a shop to buy a new bag, ensure that you purchase an eco bag. We can all make a difference by supporting sustainable fashion by simply choosing eco-friendly bags. Eco bags have the power to be more than just an accessory. They can be a symbol and a statement of our adoration to protect our planet for the future generations.
