The appeal of big fast fashion chains offering super cheap clothing for children can be hard to turn down. With kids growing so quickly, it’s easy to find outfits that didn’t break the bank, and kept kids on trend. I totally get it; with three kids who are growing rapidly, it can be tough!
But ethical and sustainable fashion doesn’t have to be a dream! With more and more sustainable fashion brands for kids, let’s talk about the benefits of shopping for ethical kids fashion.
Mainstream Fashion Brands Often Contain Harmful Chemicals
Did you know that more than 8,000 harmful chemicals are used to produce and manufacture clothing that is mass produced?! Most often, these chemicals are found in the initial stages of productions - crop growth and fiber production. Pesticides are used while growing crop, such as cotton; other common fibers, such as nylon and polyester, are produced using petrochemicals.
To take fibers and make fabric, there are numerous processes involved from scouring to bleaching and dyeing. Each require large amounts of chemicals.
Ethical fashion brands will provide information regarding the source of their materials, how they’re produced and how their materials and products are treated.
Natural Fibers Are Degradeable
Synthetic fibers can take up to 200 years to decompose. Natural fibers, such as cotton, will breakdown at the end of their lifetime naturally, or biodegrade. Opting for natural biodegradable fibers helps with waste management which is already at extremes.
Let’s Be Green for Our Kids and Their Future
What will Earth and our lives look like in 20, 30 years? The environmental impact of producing conventional fabrics, applying non-eco dyes and using harmful finishing chemicals ultimately gets swallowed up by our oceans and air.
UNEP research shows:
1) Every year, the fashion industry uses 93 billion cubic metres of water – enough to meet the consumption needs of five million people.
2) Around 20% of wastewater worldwide comes from fabric dyeing and treatment.
3) Of the total fibre input used for clothing, 87% is incinerated or disposed of in a landfill.
4) The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions.
5) Every year, we dump half a million tons of plastic microfibers into the ocean, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.
Mother Earth looks after our children, so let’s together look after her.
It’s More Kid-Friendly
By opting for more natural fibers, ethical brands are using fabrics and materials that are naturally moisture-wicking, antibacterial and hypoallergenic.
People Behind The Clothes Matter
We’re quick to forget the many hands that touch our clothes before we do: agricultural or cultivation workers, textile weavers and manufacturers, fabric retailers and wholesalers, clothing manufacturers (like Solid Kids Co!). By purchasing eco-friendlier clothing, you’re helping to ensure those people behind the clothes are not exposed to toxic chemicals.