miami needs circular fashion now
We all know manufacturing new clothes is bad for the environment.
But who knows when the fashion industry will address this issue?
As fashion consumers, we don’t have to wait for clothing manufacturers to take action.
We can make wardrobe choices right now that can save coastal cities like Miami from rising sea levels.
Circular fashion brands make it easy.
What is circular fashion?
Circular fashion is a movement that aims to minimize the environmental impact of our everyday fashion choices.
The term "circular" comes from the concept of a circular economy, an alternative to the traditional linear economy (take, make, dispose).
In a circular economy, resources are used (and reused) for as long as possible.
Waste is minimized by:
1. Reuse, Recycling, and Upcycling: Circular fashion reduces the demand for new raw materials by keeping textiles in use. This includes creating new garments from recycled materials, repurposing old clothing into new designs, or encouraging consumers to buy second-hand clothing.
2. Zero Waste Strategies: Some circular fashion models aim for closed-loop systems, where product components are recycled or reused. This reduces waste and ensures that materials are continually cycled through production.
3. Extended Product Lifespans: Creating high-quality, durable garments designed to last reduces the need for frequent replacements and, in turn, lowers overall consumption.
4. Biodegradable Materials: Circular fashion brands use innovative and sustainable materials, such as recycled fibers, organic cotton, and biodegradable fabrics, to create new garments. These materials often have a lower environmental footprint than conventional ones.
5. Consumer Education: Educating consumers about sustainable practices, such as proper care for clothing, repair, and recycling, helps foster a culture of responsible consumption.
6. Community Engagement: Circular fashion practices can contribute to the regeneration of local economies by supporting repair, resale, and recycling businesses. This decentralized approach can create jobs and encourage a more sustainable fashion ecosystem.
The circular fashion movement seeks to create a more resilient fashion industry. In the process, it also helps support local businesses and designers.
The overall effect makes a powerful statement about how to embrace being stylish without turning a blind eye to climate change.
Miami needs circular fashion now more than ever.
If we don’t make drastic changes in the way we live today, we will be the last generation to call this place home.
Coastal cities like Miami will be the first to disappear as sea levels rise.
Given that, you’d think we would be the first major city to promote sustainable living.
And yet Miami remains a symbol of consumerism and escapism for the tourists who support our local economy.
The good news is that many of our local artists, activists, civil servants, and business people are working hard to change that.
But how do we make an impact as individuals living in Miami?
Using paper straws and reusing shopping bags isn’t enough.
Shopping as a form of activism.
What incentive do fast fashion brands have to make their manufacturing practices more sustainable?
Manufacturing clothes is a massive contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and dwindling natural resources. It causes an industrial wave that devastates the environment.
Inflation and other economic factors have been increasing our cost of living. So, many of us have less of a budget for clothing than we did in the past.
That’s why fast fashion is so hard to quit. They offer an extremely low price point for clothing and accessories.
But it comes at a very high cost to the planet.
This is a quick fix to looking cute this weekend that comes at the expense of our beautiful city.
We don't need as many new pieces of clothing as we buy, but we do need to update our wardrobes occasionally.
And that does mean acquiring new garments.
Making your wardrobe more sustainable doesn't mean changing the way you dress.
We’ve already made enough garments to clothe generations.
Many of these clothes sit in closets, storage units, warehouses, and shops.
We don't need to manufacture so many new clothes.
We just need to bring more of the clothes we’ve already made into circulation.
Fashion resale does just that.
It has gained momentum in the past few years and shows no signs of stopping.
This is a great way to find styles you already wear with less environmental impact.
It's also cheaper than buying retail for the same quality garments.
Plus, since you’re buying quality garments, they will last longer than a fast fashion purchase.
Support local artists and sustainable fashion designers.
Who better to help save Miami than our own local artists and fashion designers?
We are at the epicenter of an existential crisis for homo sapiens.
What we do over the next few years will determine the future existence of our city.
Circular fashion promotes mindful consumption while also supporting creativity and emerging local artists.
For example, when you buy an upcycle, you’re breathing new life into forgotten garments and discarded fabric remnants.
Just as importantly, you’re helping the designer support their creative career.
Many upcyclers and streetwear designers have seen their designs emulated by popular fashion brands.
Supporting local circular fashion brands allows you to become part of the popularization of new styles and trends that aren’t available in stores… yet.
Don’t let Mugatu win.
The plot of the iconic 2001 film Zoolander centers around male model Derek Zoolander being duped into assassinating the Prime Minister of Malaysia by Mugatu, an evil fashion designer.
Mugatu thought that killing the Prime Minister of Malaysia would allow his fashion brand to continue to benefit from low-cost labor for garment production.
Luckily, Zoolander snapped out of it just in time to save the day.
But instead of building a “Center for Kids Who Can't Read Good and Wanna Learn to Do Other Stuff Good Too”, he should have started a circular fashion brand.
That way, he would have continued the fight against fashion villains like Mugatu.
If a brand is risking people’s lives to manufacture a garment, it comes at too high a cost.
Circular fashion doesn't just mean buying used clothes.
It also means supporting fashion brands that are extending product life cycles.
That means they're manufacturing garments that will be around for a very long time.
And since they need to be replaced less, it reduces the future need for similar garments.
If we support brands like Patagonia, that are adopting sustainable fashion practices, the fashion industry will be forced to move in that direction.
Circularity is the future.
Supporting circular fashion is activism on a small but impactful scale.
It’s about aligning your style with your desire to do something good for the environment.
The sacrifices are minimal. The value proposition is great.
We get cool clothes without destroying the planet.