The Polemic of 'Green Fashion'

Through my research into sustainable textile design I tend to sometimes come across statements which trouble me. The very concept of 'green' as a reference to environmental issues could indeed form another argument, but when placed next to fashion it makes it even more troublesome.

For even just to look at the dictionary definition of fashion we discover that it is a 'a popular or the latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behaviour' (oxforddictionaries.com). So in this sense fashion is inherently transitional. The very concept of fashion poses a problem for me. As long as we have changing trends we will also have the clothes that we already own which are démodé, which in most cases are destined for the rubbish bin. Even though fashion does work in cycles with the same things coming back into fashion, consider how many people would actually hold onto them in a society where clothes are so cheap and easy to replace.

For me the phrase 'green fashion' presents environmentally conscious designs as just a fad. A concept that is considered, bought into, then disregarded in the same way as a fashion trend.

I see sustainable and environmentally responsible designs as having to completely disregard the whole fashion system. As it stands it moves far to fast to ever be considered environmentally sound.

For me sustainability is about a slow and more meaningful approach to design. Its about buying quality objects which will last a long time, or buying second hand with a view to carry on a legacy.