Ethical fashion is the idea that when it comes to producing clothing, we should aim to make it as kind to the planet and people as possible. This means focusing on the materials used to produce the garment, as well as the labour involved in creating it.

Ethical production involves ensuring that workers are paid fair wages, have safe working conditions and receive proper training and education so they can grow their skills in the industry. It also means using sustainable, ethical fabrics and ensuring that waste from the garment is recycled or reused.

In the fashion industry, this is a crucial step for both consumers and companies. Consumers want to know where their clothes are coming from, and manufacturers can’t afford to ignore the environmental impact of their business.

Often, it is the consumer who will take the lead in changing the fashion world for the better; they have the power to make the brands they buy from change their practices. However, it can be hard to know where to start or what to look for when shopping ethically.

This is because there are many different aspects to the ethical process, from design and production to supply chain and labour. The best way to ensure that your purchase is truly ethical is to read labels and find out where the items are made.

Then, check to see if the brand has any certification logos such as GOTS, Bluesign or PETA. These third-party certifications let you know that the products have been ethically produced and are a great place to start your ethical research.

Aside from these certifications,  Ethical fashion you can also shop for a brand that supports a social cause or aims to preserve a local craft. These types of companies may work with artisans or small-scale farmers to help improve their incomes, and they might support a community project that is important to them, such as providing water to a poor area or reforestation.

Some companies are so dedicated to ethics that they even take it a step further, such as Outland Denim, who aims to not only create quality denim in a responsible manner but also use their profits to equip rescued victims of the sex trade with tools to enable them to thrive post-rescue.

You can also support companies that use upcycled and repurposed materials to create new pieces of clothing, such as Zorali. This eco-conscious brand uses repurposed and vintage fabric to create their garments, and the proceeds from every sale are donated to conservation projects.

Lastly, a growing number of ethical fashion brands are now becoming transparent about their production processes. This is because many consumers are increasingly interested in knowing where their clothes come from and how they are made, and brands that are more open about their ethical practices can often command a higher price tag.

It’s no surprise that ethical fashion has become such a buzzword in the past few years; consumers are beginning to realize that fashion is more than just a trend, and the industry is more than a money making machine. The fashion industry is a huge contributor to environmental and social issues, both locally and globally, and the future of our planet depends on how we respond to the challenges it faces.