The Sustainable Fashion Glossary

Welcome to the world of sustainable fashion! In this comprehensive glossary, we explore key terms and definitions that shape the industry’s commitment to environmental and social responsibility. From upcycling to fair trade, each term below will deepen your understanding of the practices driving sustainable fashion forward. You’ll gain appreciation for the creativity behind the products you wear and the positive impact they can have on the world around us. So buckle up, and let’s dive into the exciting, rapidly evolving world of sustainable fashion!

Biodegradable

Biodegradable means a material can be broken down by natural processes (such as microbes, sunlight, water, etc.) into non-toxic components. In principle, almost everything will eventually break down given enough time – even metals like lead will corrode into tiny pieces. However, for sustainability we usually reserve “biodegradable” to describe items that decompose relatively quickly (typically within a year or less) under natural conditions. For example, many plant-based materials and papers can biodegrade within months, whereas conventional plastics can take hundreds of years or more to break down. Because plastic may persist for centuries in landfills or oceans, it’s considered non-biodegradable in an eco-conscious context. Ideally, sustainable products use materials that are not only biodegradable but also compostable – meaning they break down quickly into nutrient-rich compost that can feed the soil. We expect truly sustainable brands to use biodegradable or compostable packaging whenever possible, reducing long-term waste.

Carbon Neutral

A carbon neutral process is one that, on balance, adds no net carbon dioxide (CO₂) to the atmosphere. In practice, this means the process removes as much carbon as it emits. Achieving carbon neutrality typically involves two strategies: first, reducing your direct carbon emissions as much as possible (through energy efficiency, renewable energy, etc.), and second, engaging in carbon offsetting to compensate for any remaining emissions. Even though no industrial activity is 100% free of carbon impact, companies can come close by offsetting what they emit. There are certifications for organizations to be recognized as carbon neutral once they demonstrate this balance. For example, a fashion brand might reduce emissions in its supply chain and then purchase carbon offsets (like funding tree planting or clean energy) to offset the rest, resulting in a net-zero carbon footprint. Being carbon neutral is a significant goal in sustainability, especially as industries worldwide aim for “net zero” emissions by mid-century to combat climate change.

Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting is the practice of undertaking activities (or funding projects) that remove CO₂ from the atmosphere or prevent new emissions, as a way to compensate for your own carbon emissions elsewhere. You may have noticed many brands offer to plant trees or invest in renewable energy projects – these are common forms of carbon offsetting. For example, if a clothing company can’t immediately eliminate all emissions from production and shipping, it might pay for a reforestation project that absorbs an equivalent amount of CO₂. As those trees grow, they inhale and lock away carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, thus “offsetting” the brand’s emissions.

While offsetting can help balance the scales, it has critics. One concern is that it can become a “get out of jail free” card for polluters– in other words, wealthier companies (or individuals) can simply pay for offsets instead of actually reducing their own emissions. This means offsetting is often easier for the rich than the poor, and without careful regulation it might just transfer the burden. There’s also variability in quality: some offset projects don’t deliver the promised carbon reductions or might take decades to pay off. Because of these issues, experts suggest that carbon offsetting should not be an excuse to avoid direct cuts in emissions. Instead, it should be used after all possible in-house reductions have been made, and offsets should be transparently chosen for proven effectiveness. In summary, carbon offsetting can be a useful tool on the path to sustainability, but it works best alongside aggressive efforts to actually lower emissions at the source.

Circular Fashion

Circular fashion is the ultimate extension of sustainable fashion – it envisions a system where everything in the lifecycle of a garment gets reused, recycled, or regenerated rather than wasted. In a circular fashion model, there is no concept of throwing clothes “away” to a landfill (no “cradle to grave”); instead, materials flow in a continuous loop (“cradle to cradle”). This means your clothes, when they eventually reach the end of their (hopefully long) useful life, can be returned to the fashion supply chain to make new products or to restore natural resources.

Key principles of circular fashion include designing durable, quality garments, using recyclable or biodegradable materials, and having plans for take-back, repair, or upcycling. For example, a circular brand might create a jacket from organic cotton and recycled polyester, then offer a program to take the jacket back when it’s worn out and recycle those fibers into new textiles. In a truly circular system, nothing is disposable – even the scraps and by-products can feed into new production or help regenerate ecosystems.

This fashion revolution toward circularity has launched only recently, but many experts believe that eventually every brand’s supply chain will need to adopt circular principles to remain viable and responsible. Organizations like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation have been actively promoting circular economy concepts in fashion, and some forward-thinking brands are already designing collections with end-of-life in mind. The goal is a renewable fashion system where style and trends continue, but waste and pollution are designed out of the process.

Cruelty-Free

Cruelty-free refers to products that are made without causing harm or suffering to animals. In the context of fashion and beauty, this term often implies that no animal testing was done for cosmetics and no animals were harmed in producing the item. For example, a cruelty-free makeup line would indicate its ingredients or final products were not tested on animals. In fashion, a “cruelty-free” leather belt might mean the leather was sourced from animals treated humanely (with good animal welfare) before being turned into leather – though it’s worth noting that killing an animal for leather inherently involves taking its life, so many people would not consider any animal leather truly cruelty-free.

Importantly, cruelty-free is related to but not the same as vegan. Vegan means absolutely no animal-derived ingredients (or use of animals) at all. A product can be cruelty-free without being vegan. For instance, a lipstick could be cruelty-free (not tested on animals) but not vegan if it contains beeswax. Conversely, a leather alternative made from mushroom or pineapple fibers would be vegan, and also cruelty-free by virtue of not involving animals at all. When you see a cruelty-free label, it’s assuring you that no animal testing or obvious animal cruelty was involved, but you might still need to check the ingredients or materials to see if it’s fully vegan. Many ethical consumers look for certification logos like the Leaping Bunny or PETA’s cruelty-free certification to know if a product meets these standards.

Diversity (Inclusivity)

In the fashion world, diversity and inclusivity refer to representing all people in the industry – regardless of body shape, size, skin color, ethnicity, gender identity, age, or ability. It’s a push to celebrate differences and ensure that everyone who buys or wears fashion can see themselves reflected. This can manifest in many ways: brands using models of different body types and racial backgrounds in their advertising, designers creating adaptive clothing for people with disabilities, or companies offering a broader size range that fits real bodies rather than a single “ideal” standard.

True inclusivity also extends behind the scenes: it means having diverse representation in management and employees, not just in ad campaigns. The idea is that a variety of perspectives in design and decision-making leads to more creative, accessible fashion. When fashion is inclusive, it sends a powerful message that style is for everyone. For example, the rise of plus-size models on runways and older models in advertising challenges the old narrow beauty normsfashion.sustainability-directory.comfashion.sustainability-directory.com. Major brands have started to feature people of different ethnicities and genders to reflect the real world and make more customers feel seen and valued.

Embracing diversity isn’t just a moral choice – it’s also good for business and sustainability. A more inclusive fashion industry discourages the toxic idea that we all have to look one specific way to be “fashionable,” which in turn can reduce wasteful consumption driven by insecurityfashion.sustainability-directory.com. It fosters innovation (think new styles, cuts, and solutions that serve different needs) and builds loyalty with consumers who appreciate seeing authentic representation. In short, diversity and inclusivity make fashion richer, more creative, and fairer for all.

Ethical Fashion

Ethical fashion is an approach to designing, producing, and distributing clothing that is guided by what is morally right. It overlaps with sustainable fashion but places extra emphasis on the human and animal ethics involved in the process. This means an ethical fashion brand considers the impact of its decisions on workers, communities, animals, and the environment – and strives to do “the right thing,” even when laws don’t require it.

For example, consider the use of animal skins (leather, fur, etc.) in fashion. From a pure sustainability standpoint, using leather from animals raised responsibly could be considered sustainable (it’s durable and natural, and if it’s a by-product of the meat industry, it maximizes resource use). However, from an ethical standpoint, some would argue we don’t need to kill animals for fashion at all in an age of excellent plant-based or lab-grown alternatives. An ethical fashion philosophy might therefore choose to avoid leather or fur entirely, even if they could be sourced “sustainably,” because avoiding harm to animals is seen as the morally better choice. In the same way, ethical fashion tends to favor what’s fair and kind in all situations – opting for fair trade labor, paying living wages, using eco-friendly materials, and generally prioritizing people and the planet over maximizing profit.

It’s easy to use “ethical fashion” and “sustainable fashion” interchangeably (and many practices, like reducing pollution, are both ethical and sustainable), but ethical fashion often explicitly highlights the social dimension: treating workers well, supporting artisan communities, avoiding exploitative practices, and also covering things like animal welfare and even broader issues of cultural respect. As one guide puts it, ethical fashion calls out everything from living wages and safe working conditions to animal welfare and even vegan principles.

In practice, if a brand is ethical, it will be transparent about how its products are made and will go beyond the minimum legal requirements to ensure dignity and rights for everyone involved (and for animals). It’s about doing the right thing, not just the profitable thing. (For a deeper dive into this topic, check out our ethical fashion guide for more information.)

Fair Trade

Fair trade is a movement and a set of principles aimed at ensuring that the farmers, artisans, and workers who produce goods (whether coffee or cotton shirts) are paid fairly and treated well. In fashion, fair trade most often comes up in the context of cotton farming or artisan-made textiles and accessories. When you see a Fair Trade Certified label on a garment, it means the company adhered to Fairtrade standards for fair prices and ethical treatment of the producers.

Key aspects of fair trade include: payment of a fair price (one that covers the cost of sustainable production and living needs), no exploitative labor (like child labor or forced labor), safe working conditions, and giving workers or producers a voice in the process. Fair trade also often involves community development – for instance, a fair trade cooperative might use extra funds to build a school or improve local healthcare.

Fairtrade International (and its affiliates around the world) set the standards and certify organizations. If a clothing brand says it follows fair trade principles, it seeks to ensure that workers at all stages – from the cotton fields to the sewing factories – have decent working conditions, the right to organize, and a wage they can live on. Fair trade is fundamentally about equity: it’s a response to the fact that many goods in global supply chains are made by people in developing countries who historically have been underpaid and overworked. By supporting fair trade fashion, consumers help redirect more of the value of the product to the people who actually make it, not just to the brand or middlemen.

(Look for official Fair Trade Certified labels or check if brands mention partnerships with organizations like Fairtrade International or the World Fair Trade Organization. Those indicate genuine compliance with these principles.)

Fashion Supply Chain

The fashion supply chain refers to all the steps and stakeholders involved in making a garment and getting it to you, the consumer. It’s often global and can be quite complex – truly a “thread” that connects cotton fields and oil refineries to your favorite boutique or website. Understanding the supply chain is crucial in sustainability because each step has its own environmental and social impacts.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of a typical fashion supply chain, from cradle to grave (or ideally cradle to cradle, if it’s circular fashion):

1. Raw Material Production: The process begins with raw materials. This could be natural fibers like cotton growing on a farm or wool from sheep, semi-synthetic fibers like rayon from wood pulp, or synthetic fibers like polyester which start as petroleum (oil) in a refinery.
2. Material Processing: The raw fibers or materials then get processed. Cotton is spun into yarn; oil is turned into plastic pellets and then extruded into polyester fibers; leather might be tanned from animal hides. This stage often involves significant resource use (water, chemicals, energy).
3. Textile Manufacturing: The yarns are woven or knitted into fabrics, or in the case of leather and other materials, prepared for cutting. Multiple materials might be produced separately (e.g., fabric for the shirt, elastic for waistbands, buttons or zippers, etc.).
4. Garment Production: In factories (often in developing countries), fabrics are cut and sewn into finished clothes. There can be many people involved – designers, pattern makers, cutters, sewers, quality checkers – possibly spread across different facilities for different components. This step is labor-intensive and is where issues like sweatshop conditions or child labor can arise if not managed ethically.
5. Transportation (Logistics): The finished garments are shipped (by truck, ship, or air) from factories to distribution centers and then to retail stores or directly to consumers. Fashion has a huge global logistics network – for example, a T-shirt might be made in Bangladesh, shipped by boat to a U.S. port, then trucked to a warehouse and finally to a store in your city.
6. Marketing & Retail: The clothes are marketed, displayed, and sold to consumers – either in physical stores or through e-commerce. This stage includes all the packaging (which ideally should be recyclable or biodegradable) and advertising that goes along with selling fashion.
7. Use & End-of-Life: Once you, the consumer, buy the garment, its “supply chain” journey continues. You wear it and eventually might wash it dozens of times (water and energy impact). Finally, when you no longer want the item, what happens? It could be donated for reuse, sent to a recycler or upcycler, or unfortunately, thrown away to landfill or incineration (the “grave”). Sustainable fashion encourages extending this lifecycle – through secondhand markets, rentals, or take-back programs – to keep the item in circulation longer and then recycle it at the end.

Every link in this chain has opportunities to be more sustainable and ethical. For instance, using organic cotton reduces chemical use at the raw material stage, choosing factories with fair labor practices addresses ethics in garment production, using ships instead of air freight can cut transportation emissions, and offering recycling for old clothes tackles the end-of-life stage. Some sustainable brands now even design their supply chain to be circular – for example, buy-back or take-back programs where they collect old customers’ clothing to recycle or upcycle, closing the loop. (You might have seen brands that offer a discount if you bring in your used clothes for recycling – that’s the supply chain extending into post-consumer phases.)

In short, the fashion supply chain is a long journey from raw resource to finished product to post-consumer waste. To be truly sustainable, we have to consider each step’s impact on people and the planet. (For more on this complex topic, you can learn more about supply chains in sustainable fashion on our site or other resources that break down the process in detail.)

Fast Fashion

Fast fashion refers to a business model in the mainstream fashion industry that prioritizes rapid design, production, and turnover of extremely cheap clothing. Fast fashion brands aim to capture trends as quickly as possible and get new styles onto store racks (and online) every week – sometimes producing new micro-collections multiple times in a single week. The result is an abundance of low-priced, low-quality garments and an encouragement for consumers to buy, wear briefly, and then discard and buy more.

Fast fashion is essentially the antithesis of sustainable fashion. To achieve such quick turnaround and rock-bottom prices, fast fashion companies often rely on: cheap synthetic materials (like polyester made from petrochemicals), very low-cost labor in countries with lax labor laws (leading to underpaid workers in unsafe conditions), and mass production that ignores environmental pollution. Clothes are typically not made to last – they might fall apart or go out of style within a season, pushing you to purchase new items frequently.

Examples of well-known fast fashion retailers include brands like Zara, H&M, Shein, Forever 21, and their peers, which have proliferated globally. A hallmark of fast fashion is that it has 52 “micro-seasons” a year or even more – basically a constant churn of new clothes. In exchange for this constant variety and low cost, the industry generates huge amounts of waste and pollution. It’s estimated the fashion industry (driven largely by fast fashion’s overproduction) contributes 8–10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and produces millions of tons of textile waste each year.

From a social standpoint, fast fashion’s demand for ever-cheaper production has been linked to terrible working conditions. The Rana Plaza disaster (see that entry below) is a somber example of what can go wrong in the pursuit of cheap clothing.

Sustainable fashion advocates strongly encourage avoiding fast fashion brands. Instead, choose alternatives like quality garments from ethical brands, secondhand and vintage clothes, or even just fewer, better clothes. Slow fashion (see below) is the counter-movement that emphasizes quality over quantity. By moving away from fast fashion’s cycle of disposability, we can reduce waste, lighten the load on the planet, and support better practices for workers.

Greenwashing

Greenwashing is a marketing practice where a company misleads consumers about how environmentally friendly their products or processes really are. The term greenwashing implies a sort of “false coat of green paint” – i.e. making something appear sustainable and eco-conscious through advertising, while the reality doesn’t match up. Unfortunately, the fashion industry – being so adept at branding – is rife with greenwashing.

Examples of greenwashing in fashion include: a brand launching a one-off “Conscious Collection” with a small percentage of organic cotton and heavily promoting it, even though the majority of their business is unsustainable. Or a company might use words like “eco-friendly,” “green,” or “sustainable” very loosely, without providing data or certification to back it up. Sometimes, brands highlight a minor improvement (like recycled packaging) to distract from much bigger issues (like paying poverty wages or using toxic dyes).

True sustainable fashion brands welcome questions and transparency: they will show you their processes, list their materials, disclose their factories, and have third-party certifications. They are usually candid about the challenges and continuous improvements. In contrast, greenwashing efforts tend to be vague or secretive – lots of feel-good imagery of leaves and water, but not much substance when you look closer.

A classic sign of greenwashing is when a huge fast fashion retailer advertises an “eco line” but won’t answer “Who made my clothes?” or give any proof of fair labor or significant environmental impact reduction. Greenwashing is considered a big problem because it can trick well-intentioned customers into supporting the status quo thinking they’re making a difference, and it allows companies to avoid real change by spending more on PR than on actual sustainability. Regulators have started to crack down on deceptive sustainability claims in advertising (for example, some ads have been banned in the UK and other countries for greenwashing). As a consumer, the best defense is to stay informed and look for specific, verifiable information – don’t be swayed only by buzzwords or one green product in a sea of otherwise unsustainable practices.

In short, greenwashing is opaque and ugly. Always dig a little deeper. If a brand is truly doing the work, they’ll usually have detailed reports, certifications (like GOTS, Fair Trade, etc.), and will be transparent about their supply chain. If not, their “green” claims might just be a marketing strategy.

Living Wages

A living wage is the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs and have a decent standard of living for themselves and their family. This includes things like food, clean water, shelter, clothing, healthcare, transportation, education, and a bit of savings or discretionary income. The concept of a living wage goes beyond the legal minimum wage in many countries, which often is far below what a worker actually needs to live on.

In the context of fashion, this is a major ethical issue. Many garments are made in countries where the legal minimum wage for factory workers is just a fraction of what we would consider a living wage. For instance, in some apparel-producing countries, the minimum wage might only cover 1/4 to 1/3 of the cost of basic necessities for a month. This means workers are effectively trapped in poverty, despite working full-time (or more) making clothes.

A living wage standard would ensure that the people stitching our clothes can afford to feed themselves and their families, have decent housing, and not have to work excessive hours just to survive. It also means being able to perhaps save a little or afford small comforts – essentially, to have a life outside of constant work.

Campaigns by groups like the Clean Clothes Campaign and Fashion Revolution often highlight the gap between what garment workers are paid and what a living wage would be. Some progressive brands explicitly commit to paying living wages in their supply chain, though verifying this can be complex. One challenge is that living costs vary by region, so a living wage in Dhaka, Bangladesh is different from one in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. However, it’s generally calculable by looking at local costs of living.

From a consumer perspective, when you support brands that pay living wages (even if their products cost a bit more), you’re directly contributing to better lives for the makers of your clothes. It’s one of the most powerful ways fashion can drive positive change – by lifting millions of workers out of poverty and empowering them. Always remember: someone is paying the price for a $5 t-shirt – if it’s not you at the register, it’s likely the worker who was underpaid to make it.

Microfibers and Microplastics

Microfibers and microplastics refer to extremely small particles of plastic (usually less than 5 millimeters in size) that pollute the environment. In fashion, the concern is primarily with microfibers shed from synthetic textiles. When we wash clothes made from materials like polyester, nylon, acrylic, or other plastic-based fibers, tiny strands of these plastics break off and go down the drain.

It’s startling, but a single load of laundry can release millions of microfibers into the wastewaterehn.org. Wastewater treatment plants catch some, but not all, and the rest often end up in rivers, oceans, and even in the food chain. These microplastic fibers have been found everywhere from Arctic ice to the stomachs of fish and shellfish. They do not biodegrade – instead, they persist in the environment indefinitely, accumulating as more washing loads send more fibers out.

Over time, sunlight and waves break plastic into smaller and smaller pieces (micro and even nano-plastics), but they never truly “go away.” This is harmful in several ways: marine animals ingest microplastics, which can lead to physical harm or starvation (their stomachs fill with indigestible plastic). Chemicals can also adsorb onto microplastics, meaning these particles can carry toxins. Additionally, there’s emerging evidence that humans are ingesting microplastics (through seafood, water, even sea salt) and breathing them in, which could have health implications (studies have found microplastic in human blood and lungs, raising concerns about inflammation or other effects.

Microfibers specifically from clothing are estimated to be a significant source of ocean plastic pollution – in fact, after the abrasion of car tires on roads, garment washing is one of the top contributors of microplastics to the ocean. One study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimated around 2 million tons of plastic microfibers enter the ocean each year.

What can be done? On the individual level, washing clothes less frequently, using front-loading washing machines (they cause less friction than top-loaders), and using filters or special laundry bags (like the Guppyfriend washing bag or in-machine filters) can reduce microfiber release. On the industry level, there’s a push to innovate fabrics that shed less, and even legislation (for example, some jurisdictions are considering requiring microfiber filters on new washing machines). Choosing natural fibers (cotton, wool, etc.) can also help, since those fibers biodegrade and don’t persist as pollution (though they have other impacts to manage).

Overall, microfibers and microplastics remind us that even invisible pollution from our clothing is a big problem. Sustainable fashion involves thinking about not just making and selling clothes, but what happens when we wash and wear them too. Reducing synthetic fiber use, or improving its lifecycle, is part of the challenge ahead.

Minimalism

In a lifestyle and fashion context, minimalism means intentionally owning and buying less stuff, focusing on quality over quantity and on items that truly add value to your life. A minimalist approach to fashion often manifests as a capsule wardrobe – a small collection of versatile, timeless pieces that can mix and match for various occasions, allowing you to be well-dressed with fewer clothes. The mantra is “buy less, choose well, make it last.”

Minimalism in fashion has been popularized in recent years by figures like Marie Kondo (with her KonMari method of decluttering and keeping only items that “spark joy”) and by a broader movement of people seeking simplicity in an age of overconsumption. For example, rather than buying 10 cheap trendy shirts that might go out of style, a minimalist might invest in 2 or 3 high-quality classic shirts that they can wear for years. This not only reduces clutter and decision fatigue in the closet but also is inherently sustainable – fewer resources used, less waste generated.

Adopting minimalism doesn’t mean you never buy anything new; it means you buy more mindfully. You might opt for neutral colors or classic cuts that won’t feel dated by next season, and you’ll likely prioritize ethically made, sustainable pieces since you plan to keep them long term. The benefits to you include a simpler, calmer wardrobe (often people feel they’ve “found their style” better through minimalism) and savings in the long run. Environmentally, minimalism helps by reducing demand for the constant production that fast fashion thrives on.

Minimalism dovetails nicely with sustainable fashion principles. It encourages us to break the habit of treating clothing as disposable. It challenges the fashion industry’s push for endless consumption. And it puts the emphasis back on personal style and functionality rather than chasing every new trend.

If you’re interested in trying minimalist fashion, you might start with something like Project 333 (wear just 33 items for 3 months) or simply do a wardrobe audit to identify the pieces you truly love and actually wear. Many find that a pared-down wardrobe of great pieces is more satisfying than a closet bursting with items that still leave you saying “I have nothing to wear.” (You can learn how to become minimalist with your wardrobe on this site – check out our guide on how to build a minimalist wardrobe for tips and inspiration.)

Organic (e.g., Organic Cotton, Organic Textiles)

Organic in fashion refers to natural fibers that are grown without the use of most synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, herbicides, or synthetic fertilizers, and produced following certain environmental and often social standards. The term originally comes from organic agriculture (like organic food), and it’s been extended to fibers like organic cotton, organic linen (flax), organic hemp, etc.

To legally label a fiber like cotton as “organic” in many countries, it needs to meet specific standards throughout its cultivation and initial processing. For example, organic cotton is grown without genetically modified seeds and without toxic pesticides – instead, farmers use natural techniques like crop rotation, beneficial insects, and composting to manage pests and soil fertility. This is healthier for the environment (less soil and water contamination) and for farm workers (no exposure to hazardous chemicals).

However, in the fashion industry, unlike food, using the term “organic” on a garment isn’t as tightly regulated by law in every country. This is why certification systems are very important. The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is the leading certification for organic fibers and textiles. If you see a garment labeled as GOTS-certified, it means not only was the fiber grown organically, but the processing (spinning, dyeing, manufacturing) also met strict criteria for environmental impact and even has some social standards. GOTS ensures, for instance, that harmful dyes and finishes aren’t used and that factories treat their wastewater, etc. In short, GOTS is a trustworthy badge for organic clothing.

Similarly, there’s a Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS) for organic latex (used in some mattresses, shoes, etc.), which ensures the rubber content is from certified organic rubber trees and that certain chemical and social criteria are met in processing.

One tricky point: Some brands might claim “made with organic cotton” but only a percentage is actually organic, or they might not be certified. If you care about true organic standards, look for explicit certifications (like GOTS) or do a bit of research on the brand’s sourcing. Also, remember organic doesn’t automatically mean sustainable in every aspect – for instance, organic cotton still uses a lot of water in farming, and if it’s shipped around the world or dyed with toxic chemicals, there are other issues. But generally, organic is considered a positive element because it avoids the most toxic agricultural inputs and often comes with better farm management practices.

As a consumer, when you choose organic textiles, you are supporting agricultural methods that are better for the Earth’s soil and water, and often better for farmers (some of whom get higher prices for organic crops). You’re also reducing the chemical load in your own life – organic clothes won’t have pesticide residues and often have fewer harmful finishing chemicals.

In summary: “Organic” fashion items use fibers grown in harmony with nature, without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, and preferably verified by trusted standards. It’s a step beyond just natural fibers – it’s natural and more responsibly grown fibers. Just be sure to look for that certification or additional info, because the term “organic” can sometimes be misused by marketers if not checked.

Rana Plaza: Fashion Industry Horror

Rana Plaza refers to a devastating industrial disaster that occurred on April 24, 2013, and it is often cited as the worst tragedy in the history of the fashion industry. Rana Plaza was a building in Dhaka, Bangladesh that housed several garment factories producing clothes for numerous Western brands. The building was poorly constructed and overcrowded. Despite visible cracks and signs of danger, workers were reportedly pressured to continue working. On that April morning, the entire eight-story building collapsed in about 90 seconds, crushing those inside.

The human cost was staggering: the collapse killed 1,134 people and injured around 2,500 more. Most of the victims were young women – garment workers who had been sewing the very clothes that ended up on store shelves in Europe, North America, and elsewhere. This wasn’t a natural disaster; it was a preventable tragedy caused by extreme negligence and the drive for cheap, fast fashion. Had basic building safety and worker rights been respected (things that are a given in the domestic factories of the Western brands), this would never have happened.

The Rana Plaza disaster was a turning point for many around the world. It pulled back the curtain on the true cost of $5 t-shirts and “disposable” fashion. Consumers who had never thought about who makes their clothes were suddenly confronted with images of piles of rubble and stories of pregnant women, mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters who died making our cheap clothes. The slogan “Who made my clothes?” gained traction as people realized how opaque and unjust the fashion supply chain could be.

In the wake of Rana Plaza, there was an outcry for change. This led to the creation of Fashion Revolution Week, an annual event each April (around the anniversary of the disaster) organized by the non-profit Fashion Revolution. During Fashion Revolution Week, people around the world ask brands #WhoMadeMyClothes on social media, and brands are encouraged to be transparent about their supply chains. The movement also urges for greater accountability and safety in factories. Beyond activism, Rana Plaza spurred tangible initiatives: for example, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh was a legally binding agreement between brands and trade unions to inspect and improve factory safety in Bangladesh, and later a similar Alliance was formed by North American brands. These initiatives led to thousands of factory inspections and improvements in structural and fire safety for garment factories in Bangladesh.

While conditions have improved in some areas, many issues persist in global garment supply chains. But Rana Plaza’s legacy is a heightened awareness and a growing demand for transparency and ethics in fashion. Many consumers and brands now take worker safety and fair treatment more seriously than before. Memorials and documentaries have been made, and the site of Rana Plaza in Savar, Bangladesh, now bears a monument – two large hands holding a hammer and sickle – in memory of the victims.

For anyone interested in sustainable and ethical fashion, Rana Plaza serves as a solemn reminder of why these efforts matter. It underscores that cheap clothing can carry a deadly cost, and it motivates the push towards an industry where no one has to risk their life for a pair of jeans or a shirt. When we talk about fair wages, safe working conditions, and holding brands accountable, it’s because we never want to see another Rana Plaza.

(If you’re learning about this now, take a moment to look up Fashion Revolution and consider participating in asking #WhoMadeMyClothes. Greater transparency and consumer pressure can help ensure such a disaster never happens again.)

Recycling

In the context of fashion, recycling means taking an item or material and processing it into new raw material that can be used again for manufacturing. We’re all familiar with household recycling (like turning used paper into new paper, or plastic bottles into plastic pellets for new bottles); fashion recycling is similar, but with textiles and related materials.

Some examples:

• Textile recycling: Old clothes or scrap fabric can be shredded and re-spun into new yarn. For instance, cotton from used jeans can be recycled into fiber for insulation or into yarn for new garments (though often it’s downcycled to lower-quality uses because the fiber gets shorter when recycled).
• Recycled Polyester: Perhaps the most common example in sustainable fashion marketing is fleece jackets or t-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles. Plastic bottles (made of PET) can be cleaned, melted, and extruded into fibers (polyester) which are then woven or knitted into fabrics. Many activewear and fast fashion brands now boast items made from recycled PET bottles. (However, note that some critics argue that converting bottles to clothes, which will shed microplastics, is not the highest and best use – better to recycle bottles into new bottles where possible. Still, it’s a form of recycling that keeps material out of landfills for a while longer.)
• Recycled Nylon: Old fishing nets or carpet waste can be recycled into nylon yarn (one brand name for this is Econyl). This is used in swimsuits, sportswear, etc., providing a second life to material that would otherwise pollute the ocean or land.
• Recycled Cotton or Wool: As mentioned, cotton and wool can be mechanically recycled by shredding. In practice, recycled cotton fibers are shorter and weaker, so often they’re blended with virgin cotton to make a durable new textile, or used in things like stuffing or industrial rags. Recycled wool (called shoddy in the past) can be made into blankets or sweaters, sometimes blended with new wool or synthetic fibers.

It’s important to differentiate recycling from upcycling (next entry). Recycling usually means breaking something down to its base material and then making something new. This often requires an industrial process (melting, pulping, etc.). Because of this, recycling uses energy and sometimes chemicals – but generally less than producing the virgin material from scratch. For instance, recycled polyester saves considerable energy and CO₂ compared to virgin polyester production, and it reduces waste in landfills.

One key point: Not every material is easily recyclable. Blended fabrics (like poly-cotton blends) are hard to recycle because the fibers need to be separated. There’s a lot of innovation happening in textile recycling – from chemical recycling (dissolving fabrics and extracting polymers or cellulose to make new fiber) to better mechanical techniques. The holy grail is closed-loop recycling where a garment can be recycled into an equally valuable garment (fiber to fiber recycling). We’re getting there slowly with fabrics like polyester and nylon; cotton and cellulose fibers are coming along with new tech, and even blends are being tackled by some startups.

When you see “made from recycled materials” on a garment, it’s a positive sign but also do a bit of digging: is it 100% recycled or a blend? Is it post-consumer recycled (old products) or pre-consumer (factory waste)? Both are useful, but post-consumer is the harder and more impactful one since it averts landfill dumping.

Finally, recycling in packaging is also big in fashion. Many sustainable brands use recycled paper for tags and boxes, recycled poly mailers, etc. That’s often the easiest win and is very common now.

In summary, recycling in fashion is about creating a circular loop for materials: yesterday’s products become tomorrow’s raw materials. It reduces the need for virgin resources and helps manage waste. It’s not a perfect solution (recycling itself can consume energy and often you can’t recycle indefinitely due to quality loss), but it’s a critical part of a more sustainable fashion system.

(Some fascinating examples: Adidas made shoes from recycled ocean plastic, Patagonia and other outdoor brands have long used recycled fleece, and there are even luxury brands experimenting with recycled cashmere and wool. The innovation is ongoing!)

Reusing

Reusing in fashion means finding a new use or user for a garment (or textile item) without breaking it down into raw material. Essentially, it’s giving clothes a second (or third, or fourth) life as clothing. Reuse is an incredibly powerful sustainability strategy because it typically consumes the least additional resources – you’re not recycling or remanufacturing, you’re simply extending the lifespan of something that’s already made.

There are several common ways clothes are reused:

• Secondhand Sale or Donation: Perhaps the most straightforward – when you’re done with a piece of clothing, instead of throwing it away, you sell it (consignment, thrift, online platforms like eBay, Poshmark, Depop) or donate it to a charity or thrift store. Someone else can then wear it. This delays entry into the waste stream and reduces demand for a new product that person might have bought.
• Hand-me-downs: Within families or communities, passing on kids’ clothes as they outgrow them, or sharing maternity clothes, etc., is a form of reuse.
• Swapping: Clothing swap events (or just swapping with friends) are a fun way to refresh your wardrobe without buying new – everyone brings items they don’t want and trades.
• Rental and Borrowing: An emerging model is renting clothes (especially for special occasions or rapidly changing wardrobes). Services let you use an item for a time and then return it for someone else to use – effectively reusing the same item across many people. This is big for things like high-end dresses or maternity wear or even everyday clothes via subscription rental services.
• Creative Reuse (Repurposing): Sometimes garments can be reused in different ways – like turning old t-shirts into cleaning rags, or an old sari into a curtain or quilt. This borders on upcycling (when you repurpose it creatively into a new product without full recycling). For instance, using a worn-out cotton bedsheet to cut into smaller pieces for a patchwork or to sew tote bags is reuse/upcycling because you’re not reprocessing the fiber, just transforming the item’s function.

The environmental impact saved by reuse is huge. Making new clothes is resource-intensive – it uses water, energy, raw materials, and creates pollution. Every time you reuse an existing item instead of manufacturing a new one, you avoid those costs. It’s often said the most sustainable clothing is the clothing you already have (or that already exists). By maximizing wear of each garment, we need to produce fewer total garments.

One possible caveat: if reusing involves shipping clothes across the world, the transport emissions can add up. For example, exporting massive amounts of secondhand clothes from the US/EU to markets in Africa or Asia – there’s a whole debate on the ethics and impact of that (it can undermine local textile industries and still ultimately end up in landfills, just elsewhere). So, the best reuse scenario is usually local and direct: you give it to someone who will wear it, or you find a way to use it yourself.

Ethical fashion strongly promotes reuse. You’ll often hear “the most sustainable garment is the one already in your closet.” Many sustainable brands even encourage customers to resell their items or offer their own take-back and resale sections. The rise of vintage and thrift shopping among younger generations is a great trend – it’s cool now to find unique secondhand pieces, and that attitude shift is very helpful for sustainability.

Bottom line: Don’t toss usable clothes in the trash. If it still has life, find it a new home or purpose. Reuse is usually the greenest option, even better than recycling, because no additional manufacturing is required.

Secondhand

Secondhand fashion refers to garments that are not new, but are being re-used by new owners. If something is secondhand (or third-hand, etc.), it means someone bought it or used it before you. In sustainable fashion discussions, secondhand clothing is absolutely celebrated – it’s basically the embodiment of reusing, which, as we discussed, is one of the most sustainable things you can do.

Why is secondhand so powerful? Because every secondhand purchase displaces the need for a newly manufactured item. It extends the life of clothes that already exist, reducing waste and the demand for virgin resources. Also, secondhand shopping often gives you access to unique or high-quality items at a fraction of their original cost, which is a nice perk for consumers.

Secondhand can take many forms:

• Thrift Stores / Charity Shops: Physical shops like Goodwill, Oxfam, Salvation Army, or local charity shops where donated clothes are resold cheaply. These are treasure troves for bargain hunters and also support charitable causes.
• Consignment Stores: These tend to be more curated, sometimes higher-end secondhand shops. People bring in clothes and get a cut when their items sell. The store selects items it thinks will sell.
• Vintage Stores: Focused on older pieces (often 20+ years old) that have a certain style or collectible value. Vintage fashion is secondhand by nature, though not all secondhand is vintage (a 2-year-old shirt from H&M isn’t “vintage”, but it is secondhand).
• Online Platforms: The digital age has exploded the secondhand market. Websites and apps like eBay, Poshmark, Depop, ThredUp, Vestiaire Collective, The RealReal, and many others facilitate buying and selling used clothing. Some are general, others specialize in luxury or streetwear or kids’ clothes, etc.
• Swap Events and Informal Exchanges: As mentioned, swapping with friends or attending community clothing swaps are ways to get “new-to-you” clothes without buying new.

From an ethical standpoint, secondhand is great because it’s inherently lowering the fashion industry’s footprint. It also can provide affordable clothing options for people with less means, which is a social good (though one should be mindful not to over-thrift in low-income areas if you have means, because many rely on those stores for essentials).

It’s important to note, however, that secondhand shouldn’t be used as a justification for overconsumption either. Sometimes people get into thrifting so much that they end up with tons of clothes (because they’re so cheap) – which can lead back to waste. The ideal is to purchase what you’ll actually use and love, even if secondhand. Another thing: quality matters – a well-made garment can survive multiple owners; a cheaply made fast fashion item might fall apart before even the first owner is done, making it less suitable for secondhand. So longevity is key.

One more angle: upcycling businesses often source secondhand or deadstock clothing to make their products. For example, a brand might take vintage denim jackets and paint on them or tailor them into a new style – that’s leveraging secondhand as the base for something creatively refreshed.

In an ethical fashion glossary, secondhand is absolutely given a place of honor. It’s the antithesis of the “buy-and-toss” culture. If more people embrace secondhand, the fashion industry would likely shift to make more durable pieces (to have resale value) and fewer items overall.

In summary: secondhand = sustainability win. It keeps clothes out of landfills, cuts demand for new production, often supports charities or small businesses, and allows you to find some really cool pieces with stories behind them. If you haven’t tried adding secondhand to your wardrobe, give it a go – the planet (and your wallet) will thank you.

Slow Fashion

Slow fashion is a movement and mindset that stands in direct contrast to fast fashion. Coined by Kate Fletcher of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion, slow fashion is all about quality, longevity, and mindful production. It takes inspiration from the slow food movement (which values local, traditional, and sustainably sourced food over fast food) – similarly, slow fashion values garments that are made with care, that last longer, and that foster a more thoughtful, less wasteful relationship with what we wear.

Key characteristics of slow fashion include:

• Fewer, Better Collections: Slow fashion brands do not pump out new designs every week. They might have two main collections a year (following natural seasons), or they might even operate on a made-to-order or limited release model. The idea is to produce less, in a way that each piece can shine and find a home, rather than overproducing and then dumping excess stock.
• Quality & Durability: Slow fashion emphasizes high-quality materials and construction, so that clothing can be worn for many years. This can mean natural materials that age well, or strong stitching and timeless cuts. The goal is that you love the piece for a long time and it doesn’t fall apart. It also means encouraging repairing items instead of discarding them (some slow fashion brands offer repair services).
• Ethical Production: In slow fashion, the supply chain is designed with sustainable development in mind. This means fabrics might be eco-friendly (organic, natural dyes, low-impact processes), and workers are treated fairly (fair wages, safe conditions – aligning with ethical fashion principles). It often involves craftsmanship and celebrating the making of the garment (as opposed to hiding it in an anonymous factory).
• Lower Environmental Impact: Because slow fashion brands produce less and often use better materials, the environmental footprint is much reduced. There’s also typically an aim to minimize waste (like using up scraps, or making smaller production runs to avoid unsold stock).
• Connection and Story: Slow fashion often carries a narrative – you might know who made your clothes, or what region the fabric comes from, or the traditional technique used. This builds a connection between the wearer and the clothing, fostering appreciation rather than treating it as a throwaway item.

In practice, choosing slow fashion might mean buying from indie designers, artisan cooperatives, or sustainable brands that operate on these principles. It could also mean simply adopting the ethos: buy less and choose well. Even a big brand piece can be part of “slow fashion” if you consciously buy it to last and use it for years – though supporting brands that embody slow values helps move the industry.

Slow fashion wants you to look amazing without harming people or the planet. It’s fashion that values people, planet, and profit in balance, often summarized as caring for “the three P’s”. You might also hear terms like “conscious fashion”, “responsible fashion”, or just “sustainable fashion” used similarly. The core is: slowing down the cycle – fewer purchases, slower consumption, and more enjoyment of each item.

Many see slow fashion as a return to an earlier era’s approach when clothing was an investment, something you mended, handed down, and valued. By slowing down, we counteract the frenzy of fast fashion and all its downsides (waste, pollution, exploitation). It’s a call for the industry and consumers alike to change pace: quality over quantity, timeless over trendy, and mindful over mindless.

Sustainable Fashion

Sustainable fashion is an umbrella term for clothing and accessory production that aims to minimize harm and even do good for the environment and society throughout a product’s life cycle. It builds on the broader concept of sustainable development, famously defined by the UN Brundtland Commission in 1987 as development that “meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”goodonyou.eco In fashion, this translates to meeting our clothing needs today in a way that doesn’t rob future generations of resources or a healthy planet.

Sustainable fashion encompasses several key dimensions:

• Environmental Impact: This means using materials that are lower impact (like organic or recycled fibers, or innovative sustainable textiles), reducing water and energy usage, cutting carbon emissions, and avoiding pollution (like toxic dyes or microfiber release). It involves everything from farming practices for natural fibers, to manufacturing processes that reduce waste (e.g., zero-waste pattern cutting, or using renewable energy in factories), to logistics (opting for greener shipping), and end-of-life (designing clothes that can biodegrade or be recycled, to avoid landfill). A fully sustainable fashion brand tries to operate within planetary boundaries – not contributing to climate change beyond what the planet can handle, not draining water reserves, not deforesting land for cellulose fibers, etc.goodonyou.eco.
• Social Impact: A sustainable approach also looks at people. This means fair labor practices, safe working conditions, no child or forced labor, and ideally contributing positively to communities (through fair trade, community-building, etc.). True sustainability covers human rights – because if a product is eco-friendly but made by exploiting workers, it’s not sustainable in the holistic sense.
• Animal Welfare: Many sustainable fashion advocates include animal welfare. This might mean using vegan materials or ensuring any animal-derived materials (like wool, leather) come from sources with high animal welfare standards. It intersects with ethical fashion and vegan fashion (see Vegan Fashion below).
• Economic Sustainability: Ensuring that those involved can maintain livelihoods. Also, building business models that aren’t just about endless growth through selling more stuff. Some sustainable fashion models involve circular economy ideas (like leasing clothes, take-back schemes, resale) that decouple profit from producing new goods constantly.

It’s important to note, as the industry has, that “sustainable fashion” can be an oxymoron if one is cynical – because fashion by nature implies change and consumption. No brand is 100% sustainable; any production will have some impact. So sometimes brands or writers prefer terms like “more sustainable fashion” or “responsible fashion”. The goal is continual improvement and reducing impact, not perfection.

However, the term is useful to signal intent and direction. A sustainable fashion brand is one actively working to measure and reduce its environmental footprint and improve its social impact. This could involve:

• Using certified sustainable materials (like GOTS organic cotton, FSC-certified rayon, recycled fibers, etc.).
• Localizing production to reduce transport and ensure oversight.
• Offering repair services or lifetime guarantees.
• Emphasizing quality and timeless design (to reduce the frequency of repurchase).
• Being transparent (which leads us to Transparency next) about the supply chain and practices.
• Offsetting carbon emissions (preferably after reducing them as much as possible) to approach carbon neutrality.
• Innovating new solutions (like biodegradable fabrics, or using agricultural waste to make textiles, etc.).
• Educating consumers about how to care for the product in an eco-friendly way (e.g., wash cold, line dry, etc., to save energy and make it last longer).

Sustainable fashion is more than just an environmentally friendly product; it’s about a systemic change in the fashion industry. It asks the question: can we enjoy fashion – the creativity, the expression, the beauty of it – in a way that actually benefits people and planet? Can fashion be a force for good, not just “less bad”? The most ambitious view of sustainable fashion says yes, it can create positive change: regenerative agriculture for fibers that improve soil health, empowering artisan communities and preserving cultures, innovating materials that clean up waste (like fabrics that capture CO₂ or use recycled ocean plastic), and so on.

For now, as consumers, participating in sustainable fashion means being mindful of what, where, and how we purchase: supporting brands trying to do the right thing, buying less but better, and taking care of our clothes so they last. We actually have a directory of sustainable fashion brands on our site – you can find it in our directory of sustainable fashion brands (brands we’ve researched and vetted for their sustainability).

In summary, sustainable fashion is an ongoing journey. It’s about shifting an entire industry away from the disposable, exploitative model to one that respects and preserves resources for the future, while still allowing us to enjoy the art and utility of clothing. It’s challenging, yes, but incredibly inspiring to see the innovation and passion that people in this space are bringing to make fashion a driver of positive change.

Transparency

Transparency in fashion refers to openness and honesty about how and where a product is made. A transparent brand will openly share information about its supply chain – from material sourcing to manufacturing to distribution. This can include details like: the names and locations of factories, the conditions and wages of workers, the source of raw materials (farm or mill), the environmental impact data (water usage, carbon footprint), and the company’s policies and progress on sustainability goals.

Transparency is a foundational principle for sustainable and ethical brands because it allows consumers (and auditors, NGOs, etc.) to verify claims and hold companies accountable. If a brand claims to be paying fair wages, transparency means they might publish what those wages are or which standards they adhere to, so that claim can be evaluated. If a product is labeled “organic cotton”, a transparent approach might provide the certification number or the supplier info.

In the post-Rana Plaza world, transparency has become a rallying cry. Movements like Fashion Revolution’s Fashion Transparency Index score major brands on how much they disclose about their supply chain and practices. The idea is that when brands are secretive, problems hide in the shadows (sweatshops, child labor, pollution). When brands are transparent, problems are easier to spot and fix, and there’s pressure to improve.

For consumers, transparency is very empowering. It means you don’t have to just take a company’s marketing at face value – you can see the evidence. For example, Everlane (a brand known for emphasizing transparency) would show breakdowns of their cost vs. price and give virtual tours of their factories. Many smaller ethical brands list their partner workshops or artisans by name. Larger brands might publish a factory list (which is an improvement, though just listing factories is only a starting point for transparency).

It’s worth noting transparency is not the end goal but a means to the end (the end being better practices). A company could be transparent about doing something not great – that doesn’t suddenly make it sustainable – but usually the companies that embrace transparency are ones actively striving to be better. If a company is hiding something, one wonders why.

When we recommend sustainable brands, we always look at their transparency. Do they tell you where the product was made? Do they share their sustainability reports or third-party audit results? Are they willing to discuss the challenges they face? Brands unafraid of transparency are typically confident in what they’re doing, even if they admit they’re not perfect yet. That openness builds trust.

In essence, transparency is about pulling back the curtain. It builds a bridge of trust between the brand and the consumer. In a fully transparent fashion industry, it would be easy to get answers to “Who made my clothes? What are they made of? How were those materials sourced? What’s being done to reduce the impact?” When brands freely share this information, it indicates they have nothing to hide and are proud of their processes – and it allows us all to make more informed, aligned choices.

(One way you can engage: ask questions! Email the brand or tweet at them if something isn’t clear. A responsive, transparent company will answer. If they don’t… that tells you something too.)

Traceability

Traceability is closely related to transparency, but it specifically refers to the ability of a company (and by extension consumers) to trace the path of each component of a product back through the supply chain to its origin. It’s about having records and visibility for “every step of the journey” of a product.

For example, consider a pair of jeans. Full traceability would mean the brand can tell you which farm grew the cotton (or at least which region and supplier), which spinning mill turned that cotton into yarn, which weaving mill made the denim fabric, which dye house colored that fabric, which factory cut and sewed the jeans, and even where the trims (buttons, zippers) came from. It might even include what shipping company transported it. In other words, you can trace each part of the jeans and each stage of production.

Why does traceability matter? Because you can’t fix or improve what you can’t see. If a brand doesn’t know where its cotton comes from, how can it ensure that cotton wasn’t produced with forced labor or excessive pesticides or wasteful water use? If it can’t trace which subcontractor actually stitched the garment, how can it ensure those workers were treated fairly? Traceability is a prerequisite for accountability.

From a consumer perspective, traceability can give confidence. Some brands now include QR codes or tags that let you “meet the farmer” or see the journey of your garment. That’s traceability in action. It is also crucial for things like verifying organic or fair trade claims (since certification schemes often require traceability to ensure, say, that the organic cotton in your shirt indeed came from certified organic farms and wasn’t mixed with conventional cotton along the way).

However, achieving full traceability is challenging, especially for big brands with thousands of products and multi-tiered supply chains. Many brands know their Tier 1 (cut-and-sew factory) and maybe Tier 2 (fabric mill) suppliers, but beyond that (Tier 3 raw materials, Tier 4 farms) they might not. There’s a lot of effort now in the industry to improve traceability through technology like blockchain, or simply through closer partnerships and supply chain simplification.

A company that boasts full traceability is saying “we have control and knowledge of every single input in our product.” If they truly can trace everything, it usually means they can also ensure high standards at each step, because they know where to apply pressure or support.

In summary, traceability is the backbone of transparency. If a company can trace every component, it can be transparent about them. If it can’t, there’s a blind spot. For sustainable fashion, traceability is gold because it allows brands to guarantee and verify claims (like no deforestation in their rayon, or no child labor in their cotton picking, etc.). As consumers, when you read that a brand has a “fully traceable supply chain,” that’s a green flag indicating they really understand where their stuff comes from and likely care about conditions at each step.

(Traceability often comes up in context of things like conflict minerals or sweatshop labor – e.g., tracing that your wool isn’t from farms that practice mulesing, or your cobalt in a smart jacket’s battery wasn’t mined by kids. It’s a big deal beyond fashion too.)

Upcycling

Upcycling is a creative form of reuse where you take waste materials or old products and transform them into new items of equal or higher value (often with minimal industrial processing). The term became popular in sustainability circles as the opposite of downcycling. While recycling often breaks materials down (sometimes degrading their quality, like paper fibers shortening each recycle), upcycling aims to maintain or elevate the value of the materials by clever redesign.

In fashion, upcycling can happen at different levels:

• DIY Upcycling: This is something anyone might do at home. For example, turning an old pair of jeans into a denim tote bag, or cropping a worn t-shirt to give it new style, or sewing patches over stains to make a jacket unique. If you’ve ever cut old pants into shorts, congrats – you’ve upcycled! The idea is you’ve extended the life by modifying it.
• Artisanal Upcycling: Some designers or small brands specialize in upcycled fashion. They might take vintage saris and turn them into beautiful kimonos or dresses. Or collect discarded textiles (like cut-off scraps, deadstock fabric, unsold clothes) and patchwork them into new garments. Each piece is often unique. For example, upcycled denim jackets with artistic embroidery, or dresses made from a collage of vintage t-shirts.
• Industrial Upcycling: On a larger scale, some companies take waste like factory offcuts or unsold stock and create new mass-market products from them. One example is a company might take old airline leather seats and upcycle the leather into luxury bags. Or use leftover rolls of fabric (deadstock) that big brands didn’t use, to create a new clothing line – thereby preventing that fabric from going to waste.
• Upcycled materials in products: Sometimes upcycling refers to incorporating unusual waste materials into new products – like jewelry made from discarded electronic components, or sneakers made from upcycled ocean plastic (though often that’s more correctly “recycled,” but if they directly use the material in a new way it can be considered upcycling).

The beauty of upcycling is it tackles waste and reduces the need for new raw materials and often results in something really creative and one-of-a-kind. It’s a cornerstone of circular fashion thinking – instead of “waste” we see everything as a potential input for something else. Upcycling also usually uses less energy than recycling because you’re not breaking things down to raw fiber or molecules; you’re using the material in its current form as much as possible. For example, making a backpack from old vinyl billboards (just cut and sew) uses far less energy than shredding the vinyl and reprocessing it into new material.

There’s also a fun, artistic aspect: upcycling encourages innovation and uniqueness. It asks, “What can I make out of this?” rather than “throw it away.” This mindset is contagious; many people find upcycled products very appealing not just for eco reasons but because they have a story and distinct look.

We should note that not all “upcycled” claims are equal; sometimes it’s a buzzword. But generally if a brand says upcycled, they’ll clarify from what. For instance, “upcycled from fabric scraps” or “upcycled from vintage military tents” – yes, that exists, turning old army canvas tents into jackets and bags.

Upcycled fashion has even hit mainstream trends: upcycled fashion shows and collections are now seen in some high fashion circles. And beyond clothing, the concept of upcycled beauty (mentioned in the original text) refers to cosmetics made using by-products of other industries, like a face scrub that uses coffee grounds that were a waste product from making coffee, or a soap using leftover citrus peels for fragrance. So the idea is spreading across lifestyle sectors.

The bottom line: Upcycling = creative reuse that adds value. It keeps materials out of landfills and often results in cool, limited-edition or even bespoke items. If you want something truly unique and eco-friendly, seeking out upcycled fashion is a great choice – or trying your hand at a little DIY upcycling yourself! It’s sustainable and fun.

(There are many resources and communities online for upcycling ideas. And every time you see a brand selling a “reworked” vintage piece – that’s upcycling in action.)

Vegan Fashion

Vegan fashion refers to clothing, shoes, and accessories that contain no animal-derived materials and involve no animal exploitation in their production. In other words, it’s fashion that a vegan (who extends their philosophy beyond diet) would feel comfortable wearing. This means no leather, no fur, no wool, no silk, no down (feathers), no animal-based dyes or glues, etc.

To break that down:

• Instead of leather (which comes from animal hides), vegan fashion uses alternatives like polyurethane (PU) or plant-based leathers (made from pineapple leaves, mushrooms, cactus, apple peels, etc.) or upcycled materials.
• Instead of fur, it uses faux fur (though faux fur is usually plastic-based, which has its own environmental issues, but it doesn’t harm animals).
• Instead of wool, alternatives include cotton, acrylic (again plastic), or innovative plant fibers; or ensuring warmth through synthetic fills instead of down.
• No silk, because traditional silk is made by boiling silkworms in their cocoons (which kills them). Vegans opt for silk-like fabrics made from polyester, rayon, or even new “peace silk” (where moths aren’t killed, though that’s a grey area for strict vegans) or entirely different fibers.
• Even details matter: things like horn or shell buttons (from animals) would be replaced by wood, metal, or plastic buttons; glues in shoes that could be animal-based must be synthetic, and dyes derived from insects (like cochineal red) or animals must be avoided.

Vegan fashion is about avoiding animal cruelty and exploitation entirely, whereas cruelty-free generally refers to not testing on animals or not directly harming animals, but could still include animal materials (like ethically sheared wool might be “cruelty-free” but it’s not vegan). So, all vegan fashion is cruelty-free, but not all products labeled cruelty-free are vegan.

This distinction came up earlier: a leather belt could be labeled cruelty-free if the brand claims the animals were treated well before slaughter, but it’s certainly not vegan because an animal died to make it. Vegan fashion would not include that belt at all; it would use an alternative material.

The rise of vegan fashion parallels the rise of vegan food – more people recognize that animals are used extensively in clothing, and they seek kinder alternatives. Brands can get certified by organizations like PETA (which offers a “PETA-Approved Vegan” logo) meaning the product line is completely free of animal-derived components. The Vegan Society (which typically focuses on food/medicine labeling) can also certify products as vegan.

A common question is: Is vegan fashion also sustainable? The two movements overlap but are not identical. For instance, PVC faux leather is vegan (no animal used) but PVC is an environmentally nasty plastic. So, vegan fashion isn’t automatically eco-friendly – it depends on what replaces the animal product. Ideally, vegan fashion pushes for sustainable alternatives: e.g., plant-based leather vs. plastic leather, recycled PET faux fur vs. virgin, etc. There’s a lot of innovation in this space to ensure vegan materials are as green as possible. After all, a philosophy of compassion to animals often goes hand-in-hand with caring for the planet.

Many mainstream brands now have vegan collections or at least clearly label when an item has no animal content. Also, entirely vegan brands have emerged (e.g., companies making only vegan shoes or handbags, etc., often using innovative materials).

To sum up, when you see “vegan” describing fashion, it means no animals were harmed or used. It’s a subset of ethical fashion focusing on animal rights. Ethical fashion can include things like humane wool or responsibly-sourced leather (those involve animals but aim for better welfare), but vegan fashion would exclude those entirely. So vegan is the stricter standard on animal use.

If you’re shopping vegan, look beyond just obvious materials (leather, wool) – check linings, glues, dyes if possible, or stick with certified brands. The good news is, as demand grows, it’s getting easier to find chic, durable, high-quality vegan fashion that doesn’t feel like a compromise at all. You can now find everything from vegan leather jackets to vegan sneakers and luxury vegan handbags that look and feel great – all without animal products.

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This concludes our sustainable fashion glossary! We’ve covered a lot of terms – from biodegradable materials and carbon neutrality, to slow fashion and vegan fashion. The common thread (pun intended) among all these concepts is a vision of a fashion industry that is kinder to people, planet, and animals. By understanding these terms, you’re better equipped to navigate the world of sustainable fashion and make informed choices that align with your values.

Remember, sustainable fashion is a journey, not an all-or-nothing checklist. Even adopting a few of these principles (like buying secondhand, choosing organic fibers, or supporting transparent, ethical brands) makes a difference. The industry responds to what we as consumers demand. So keep asking questions, keep learning, and wear your values proudly – you’re now fluent in the language of sustainable fashion!

Happy sustainable styling!

Biodegradable

Want to know something that they never tell you at school? Everything on the planet is biodegradable.

Given enough time, even lead wears away and ends up scattered in tiny pieces no longer visible to the eye.

But it’s that “given enough time” that matters when it comes to sustainability.

The reason plastics are not considered to be biodegradable in eco-conscious life is that they can take, quite literally, hundreds or even thousands of years to biodegrade.

When we talk about biodegradable we mean items that degrade quickly, ideally within a year, and even better if they are compostable (and can thus be degraded at home and turned into food for your garden).

We expect a truly sustainable brand to always use biodegradable packaging materials.

Carbon Neutral

Carbon-neutral processes remove as much carbon from the atmosphere as they add to it. Of course, in reality, there is no such thing as an industrial process that contributes as much to the environment as it takes from it – though some come pretty close.

That means it becomes necessary to indulge in some form of carbon offsetting for an industry or business to become carbon neutral. Companies can be certified carbon neutral too.

Carbon Offsetting

Carbon offsetting is the act of carrying out activities not related to your business processes (or personal processes if you’re doing this as an individual) that remove carbon from the atmosphere.

You may have noticed that a lot of brands run “tree planting” schemes. This is a form of carbon offsetting. When those trees grow up, they will start to breathe in and break down carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis.

You can also pay for carbon offsetting if you don’t want to do the tree planting (or other positive activity) yourself.

It is for this reason that carbon offsetting has its critics and the fact that it’s much easier to “carbon offset” if you are rich than it is if you are poor. In fact, many carbon offsetting schemes are simply designed to take the carbon credits of the poor and sell them to the rich.

Circular Fashion

Circular fashion is the ultimate extension of sustainable fashion. It is a truly ethical fashion approach that seeks to ensure that your clothes, when they reach the end of their (hopefully long and extended) lives can regenerate natural resources and systems to help create more clothing.

That is there is no “cradle to grave” cycle but rather a “cradle to cradle” approach which puts an end to the idea of disposable fashion and instead, caters to renewable fashion.

This fashion revolution launched recently but we suspect that every fashion brand’s supply chain will eventually need to reflect circular principles.

Cruelty-free

Cruelty-free is a vegan standard but as we’ve already seen, veganism goes beyond cruelty-free.

In fact, this is simply a descriptor that assures you that no animal cruelty is involved in a product. That might mean, for example, in the case of makeup that it has not been tested on animals.

In the case of a leather belt, it might mean that animal welfare was a priority before the animal was made into animal products.

The makeup might be vegan too, but the leather belt could not possibly be vegan but it could be cruelty-free.

Diversity (Inclusivity)

Diversity encourages creativity in the way that businesses approach their work.

In the fashion world, diversity and inclusivity extend to addressing the representation of everyone who buys fashion.

This can involve representing different body shapes, racial diversity, or gender diversity and celebrating differences.

It also means having management, employees and advertising which represent this diversity too.

Ethical Fashion

It’s easy to use the terms sustainable fashion and ethical fashion interchangeably but really, ethical fashion is an extension of the sustainable fashion industry.

It looks to do what is “morally correct” in a wide range of situations. (Moral vs legal is a complicated thing).

For example, the raw materials for some fashion products include animal skins. This is certainly sustainable particularly if the animals are raised with animal welfare concerns addressed but is it ethical?

Do we need to wear animal skins in an age where there are cruelty-free options? An ethical fashion world says – “no”. Whereas in sustainable fashion it’s more of a grey area.

Check out our ethical fashion guide for more on this.

Fair Trade

Fair trade is a movement that aims to ensure that the workers involved in producing goods and materials are paid fairly for their efforts.

They also seek to ensure that these workers have the right to influence the way that they work and are given decent working conditions and treatment while they work.

Fairtrade International is, of course, concerned with ensuring that fair trade standards are met by the companies that have attained their certification and which use their label in their garments.

Fashion Supply Chain

The fashion supply chain refers to all the component parts of the cradle to grave or cradle to cradle fashion system.

So, it begins with raw materials – this could be organic cotton or it could be oil for plastic production. And it can be more than one material – so a cotton shirt might have plastic buttons.

Then it looks at the people and processes required to grow and harvest those resources.

Then the transport of the resources to the manufacturing facility or facilities for garment production.

Then the actual manufacturing process and the people involved. This can be very simple or very complex depending on the company involved.

Then it is about the transport of goods for sale, the selling and marketing of those goods and their release to the consumer.

Finally, it may also be part of the process to transport and recycle/reuse/upcycle once the consumer has finished with the product. This can be seen in the rent-to-own business as well as with “buy back” promotions from sustainable fashion providers.

This is a complicated subject, in fact, and you can learn more about the supply chain here.

Fast Fashion

Fast fashion brands are the antithesis of sustainable fashion. The modern fashion industry looks to create clothing lines at a tremendous rate of turnover.

The entire production process is geared at helping consumers with consuming clothes. In a fast-fashion world, they want you to change every item in your wardrobe as often as possible.

In exchange, you get low-quality products made by low-paid workers in the developing world from raw materials that are anything but sustainable.

Everyone should avoid fast fashion brands and seek alternatives wherever possible.

Greenwashing

The fashion industry is fantastic at marketing and when some things appear as though they are the most sustainable fashion options, they are often nothing of the kind.

Greenwashing is a marketing process that leads you to believe that you’re buying an eco-friendly product but in fact, you’re not.

Truly green fashion involves brands that want you to ask questions and the answers they give are about addressing critical environmental impacts. They want to show you that their manufacturing process is fully sustainable.

They opt for recycled materials and fair trade agreements with staff and they are unafraid for you to see this.

Greenwashing is opaque and ugly.

Living Wages

There is a big difference between minimum wage and a living wage. This is a major ethical issue, in fact.

In many countries, someone on minimum wage simply cannot meet their obligations to themselves and their family and may struggle to feed themselves or provide basic shelter or other material needs.

A living wage ensures that someone can feed themselves and their family, put a roof over their head, buy what they need, and have a little left to buy luxury items or to save for a rainy day.

We would note that the major fashion companies often operate in countries where the ridiculously low minimum wage only makes up 1/4 to 1/3 of a living wage.

Microfibers and Microplastics

Any particle of fiber or plastic that is smaller than 5mm in diameter is a “microparticle”. Microparticles are universally agreed as bad news for the environment.

Now, this is a horrifying fact, but it’s true in a single load of washing nearly 10 million microfibers end up swirling down the drain.

Clothing also adds a ton of microplastics to the world’s oceans and makes the planet a much less pleasant place to live on.

Minimalism

Minimalism is super popular at the moment and while sustainable fashion refers to the idea of a kinder fashion industry, minimalism focuses on buying less stuff. Marie Kondo is one of the people who has brought minimalism to the masses in an “acceptable” way.

When it applies to fashion, it means conscious fashion that is chosen to be long-lasting and flexible so that it can be used in many different situations.

The benefit to the user is simplicity in their life but this can still be environmentally friendly as long as the choices that a minimalist makes are also sustainable.

You can learn how to become minimalist on this site.

Organic (Inc. Organic Cotton, Textiles, etc.)

The term “organic” began in the food industry and to begin with, it was a fairly meaningless term (as many other nice, eco-friendly sounding terms such as “natural” still are) but now? The idea of organic which means “without the use of chemicals for fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides” is strictly regulated in the food industry.

It’s also strictly regulated in the fashion world but we should note – that while it is regulated, nobody is forced to use the regulatory body in fashion.

Thus, the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) is important because it tells you that a raw material, such as organic cotton, is “organic” but there are still companies claiming to be organic that are not certified (and which are organic) and those which are claiming the status of being organic and which most definitely are not “organic” in the way we understand it.

To make things more complicated, some materials are certified under other organic standards too such as Latex which falls under the Global Organic Latex Standard (GOLS).

That means it’s on you as a consumer to research what “organic” means in conjunction with the garment you want to buy and see if it meets your standards for “organic”.

Rana Plaza: Fashion Industry Horror

The worst disaster in the history of fashion took place in 2013 in a place called Rana Plaza in Bangladesh.

Everyone working in this overcrowded and poorly constructed building was involved in making garments many for big name Western clothing brands.

Then, one day, the complex simply collapsed beneath them killing most of the people inside and over 1,000 people in total!

This could never have happened if even minimal safety standards had been enforced in the building as they would have been in the domestic markets of the brands exploiting these workers.

The accident had a huge impact around the world with many people finally coming to understand the horrific impact of unsustainable fashion on people’s lives around the world.

The disaster also inspired the launch of Fashion Revolution Week (find them at Fashion Revolution) which takes place every April and encourages people to ask “Who made my clothes?” and to demand answers from the brands they buy from.

They also promote transparency from brands so that consumers can find it easier to get an answer to this vital question and ensure that the people who make their clothes are being fairly treated.

Recycling

Recycling is when you take an item and turn it into a new kind of raw material.

One of the most popular examples of this in the fashion business is recycled packaging which is packaging made from other paper goods or plastic goods that have been used previously for other purposes.

One very popular reusable material in fashion design now is recycled plastic bottles (see how this is done here) – this can be transformed into plastic yarns or other plastic materials for fabric construction, shoe sole construction, etc.

We should more that not everyone thinks that plastic belongs in a discussion of “ethical fashion” even if it is recycled plastic as the original production process is so environmentally damaging.

Reusing

We should take at least a moment to note that ethical clothes are not discarded because they are no longer in fashion.

They are, instead, re-used, until such a point as they no longer contribute to a decent life.

Clothes can be reused by being sold on to others, donated or sold to a thrift store, or in many other ways.

The environmental impact of reuse is almost always less than the environmental impact of any other kind of process for unwanted clothes. The only possible exception to this is if the clothes need to be mailed to the other side of the world. Then the carbon emissions might be a problem.

Secondhand

In an ethical fashion glossary, this is a term that would be given pride of place because there’s no doubt that sustainable and secondhand go hand-in-hand.

When you buy pre-loved garments, you’re ensuring that those garments don’t spend any time in a landfill. There are a ton of benefits to buying secondhand.

That means by not buying “new” products, you’re guaranteed to reduce your impact on the planet and the impact of whatever it is you are buying that would otherwise have been thrown away.

Slow Fashion

The term “slow fashion” was actually coined by Kate Fletcher from the Centre For Sustainable Fashion and it is, as you might expect, intended to be the opposite of fast fashion.

Slow fashion is concerned with making high-quality garments that last and where all the processes used in the supply chain are designed with sustainable development in mind and where the individuals involved in the production of the garments are in fair trade agreements that protect their wages and working conditions.

In short slow fashion, wants you to look amazing but in a way that your fashion becomes eco-fashion and is kinder to people, the planet, and everything on it.

Sustainable Fashion

Sustainability was officially defined by the UN and we paraphrase but that definition is – development can be considered sustainable when it meets the needs of people in the present without interfering with the ability for future generations to meet their own needs.

The idea behind sustainable fashion is that it should meet our needs for clothing but in a way that balances the scales so that future generations can enjoy their own fashion industry on a healthy planet.

This involves ensuring that raw materials are harvested from sustainable sources. That the production process is tailored to care for the individuals involved in making your fashion products and that entire supply chains are tailored to reduce waste and carbon emissions to as near zero as possible.

Sustainable fashion is more than environmentally friendly, it’s also a way for fashion brands to create positive change for people, animals, and the planet as a whole.

We have a directory of sustainable fashion brands here.

Transparency

Sustainable brands promote transparency as part of their ethos. It is the practice of sharing (openly) all the data about how your garments are made, where they are made, who makes them, and how they get from A to B.

This allows you to see if a brand really is fair trade or if they just claim to be, for example.

When we recommend sustainable fashion brands on this site – we always try to investigate the transparency aspect of the brand so that we can feel confident in our recommendations to you.

Traceability

If a company can carry out full tracing on a product then it has full control and understanding over its supply chain.

This means that every single component within a garment can be traced back through every step from the completed garment to the materials used to make it.

If a company can’t do this – then they cannot offer transparency, which we look at next, in any meaningful way.

Upcycling

Upcycling is an idea that comes from circular fashion and it is the idea that we can take textile waste and other material waste and transform it into materials that are better quality than the original products.

It can also be about the reuse and repurposing of pre-used items to create something new. Think about cutting up an old bedsheet and making bandanas, face masks, cleaning cloths, etc. from it and you will have a pretty good picture of how upcycling works.

The nice thing about upcycling is that it removes waste from the overall fashion system but also uses far less energy than traditional recycling methods which means, of course, it does less environmental harm.

We also like the fact that it’s fun and you can get really creative with upcycling.

Like with upcycled beauty which is a massive new trend.

Vegan Fashion

Vegan fashion is a term that refers to any kind of fashion item that a vegan would be happy to wear.

So, vegan fashion emphasizes not just a cruelty-free approach but also that no animal has been exploited during the manufacture of the item.

This means, for example, that beeswax and silk, both of which are products made by animals in captivity – are not acceptable in vegan clothing, though they would be acceptable in ethical fashion.

Thus ethical fashion covers part of vegan fashion but not all of it.