5 Ways to Know if an Online Fashion Brand is Sustainable

With a lot of greenwashing taking place within the fashion industry, it has come to be tough for consumers to know what's genuine and what's not. There is a lot taking place that many brands don't want us to see. The environmental effect of clothes is massive and growing year after year. As more fashion brands turn green and the fashion revolution grows in popularity, "sustainable fashion India" is increasingly heard. People are beginning to care greatly about how their garments have been made, and now no longer simply about the cost and style of the garments they buy.

But what exactly does that mean? And how do you know if a fashion brand is sustainable? One thing’s for sure: it’s not easy. For starters, how clothes are made includes everything from how the fabric was grown, how the textile workers are treated and paid, their safety and carbon footprint are key pointers to know if they fall under sustainable clothing brands. 

To help make it easier, here are 5 ways to distinguish sustainable clothing brands.  

1. Read the brands overview 

Sustainable fashion India is all about following code of ethics, why it's an ethical company, how it's made, where it's made, how it's procured, and what the fabric is. The process needs to be transparent.

2. Check for Certifications

Certifications on a brand's website display they have gone an extra mile to be identified in the ethical community. These certifications are granted if they meet certain criteria. Falling under Sustainable fashion India, they agree to random audits which guarantees that the business enterprise is heading in the right direction and maintaining ethical practices. 

3. Study the materials

The textiles used by sustainable clothing brands should be made from recyclable, renewable materials like linen, hemp, Tencel or silk, unless they’re made from vintage, upcycled or waste fabrics. Not to neglect leather. No matter where it comes from, killing the animals, skinning them and tanning and dyeing their skin, takes much strength and resources. The same is for fur. And obviously, the use of animal products for fashion doesn’t in any manner make sustainable fashion India.

4. Take packaging and delivery into account

Brands that care about the environment find eco-friendly alternatives across all steps. For example: Do they use plastic packaging that will take forever to decompose or biodegradable alternatives? Do they use electric vehicles for delivery? These little steps go a long way in being a part of sustainable fashion India. 

5. Look further than the obvious

Besides the obvious, there are other things to consider. For example, daily business operations. Whether they use a green energy supplier or own their solar panels or if they recycle water from the office to aquatic plants. Using recyclable, recycled or less packaging, offsetting carbon emissions and other green practices helps distinguish sustainable clothing brands.

Fashion brands and retailers are initiating changes to become sustainable clothing brands and follow ethical business models. But still there is a long way to go to reach the set targets. Change needs to happen faster. In the meantime, use these suggestions to shop. 

Knowledge is power. Now that you know how to tell if a brand falls under sustainable fashion India, let’s make the right choice and communicate. It's time to "vote with your wallet" and let unsustainable brands know what you think of their practices. Sustainable clothing brands can set new standards. But it's up to us, the consumers, to make that happen.