The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion vs. Custom Tailoring
With recent news showing that Australia has surpassed the US as the biggest consumer of clothing in the world per capita, it’s no surprise that fast fashion is increasingly in the firing line. Poor quality, unsafe conditions for workers and unsustainable manufacturing practices are just some of the many negatives associated with this element of consumerism but you may well find yourself scratching your head when asking ‘well, what’s the alternative?’
That’s where we come in. Made-to-measure suits have many benefits but perhaps one of the least discussed ones is just how sustainable they are. Here, we give you the Oscar Hunt run down on why custom tailoring significantly trumps fast fashion and how slow fashion ultimately benefits everyone.
Minimal waste
The clue is in the name, but one of the major factors in making custom tailoring such a sustainable form of fashion is that it is made to order. Unlike fast fashion where clothing is made in bulk with the hope that consumer demand meets supply, the made-to-measure process only begins once an individual has made an order. This means that there is no excess stock that might be put into landfill causing significant environmental damage, nor is there undue pollution caused by manufacturing pieces that may simply never be purchased.
A sustainable end-to-end process
At Oscar Hunt we pride ourselves on working with some of the finest craftspeople and suppliers in the world. We are highly selective when it comes to the fabric mills that we partner with and also only engage with tailors who are at the pinnacle of their field. As part of this, we are dedicated to ensuring that these individuals are treated with respect and are working in best in class conditions.
Particularly when it comes to fabric manufacturing, many of our partners utilise processes that have existed for hundreds of years, using only natural fibres. This ensures that we are also being eco-friendly in the sourcing of the key elements in our custom tailoring.
Garments built for the long haul
Beyond the direct environmental impact of more sustainable processes, the other major benefit of made-to-measure garments is that they are built to last.
Firstly, because our pieces are based on your unique specifications, the fabric tends to wear more evenly. This is in contrast to many fast fashion garments where certain areas will be tighter than others, causing faster wear and tear.
Secondly, because we pride ourselves on helping customers build capsule wardrobes, our pieces - while being fashion forward - tend to skew towards the more timeless and classic. This means that they can be worn season after season rather than feeling out of date within a few months of purchase.
If you are eager to learn more about how custom suits contribute to a greener form of fashion, swing by your local showroom to chat with our team of experts today.