Green is the new black
MANILA, Philippines - After a nice long afternoon stroll through the mall, it’s quite difficult to not notice how environmentally conscious we have become. What I thought was just an influx of hipster organic restaurants was actually the begintning of a definitive movement for a lifestyle that’s good for the environment, and for us, too. This same sensibility has found its way into our hearts and our closets as well.
Clothing and textile is the second most polluting industry and fast fashion — retail clothing that is quickly manufactured, high in demand, and on trend — is the biggest culprit of them all. It may not seem likely but according to businessoffashion.com, it takes more than 20,000 liters of water to produce 1 kilo of cotton — that ends up becoming a single shirt and a pair of jeans. From dyeing to finishing, there are about 8,000 chemicals used in the process of turning raw materials into garments, and let’s not forget about the inhumane working conditions and practices that ends the lives of workers every year.
I admit, I wasn’t aware of these technical details. How could I be when the fashion that I have grown exposed to is associated with labels and looks? Like most people on most things, I never really bothered asking how these items came to be. But also like most people, I have learned to become more circumspect about what I choose from the market.
But there is always a problem that comes with wanting to help in the face of a very complex issue. The solution seems obvious: create and buy more sustainable options, of course. But I’ve also always wondered how much of what we do really affects the environment? It’s not to say that these little changes aren’t doing any good for the environment — it does and we should be proud of ourselves for taking the time to think about the consequences of our actions — but if we truly want a lasting green movement, our actions need to address the root of the problem.
Sustainability tends to be synonymous with preventing further damage (like using less chemicals) rather than just actively doing something good, at least from what I’ve observed. I admit it gets frustrating that we are to believe that choosing organic products every now and then is good enough of a contribution to the greater scheme of things because “we are only a small part of the system.” While that is partially true, that doesn’t necessarily mean that the “good” things we do actually make enough of a difference. But we still do it anyway, if only to make ourselves feel good for doing something “right” rather than focusing on the larger good. It’s easy to fall for the mini-altruism that comes with all the Band-Aid solutions we come up with, but making something like a special organic clothing line (while still maintaining your regular fast fashion production) or buying products that are labeled green don’t really change the wrong practices that we do. It only attempts to make up for these, while what we really need to do is forge a new way of thinking.
If fashion is an expression of ourselves, then what kind of statement do our choices say about us?
I’m no environmentalist. I admit that I still have a lot of learning to do and I’ll probably need more time and effort than what I thought I needed to live a more sustainable lifestyle. After all, this issue of sustainability is something to be taken seriously by everyone. But just as with fashion, I learned that there is no right and wrong way, as long as you have the appropriate mindset for what you are trying to achieve. It is easy to believe that you should be following particular rules to be “green” but in reality, we all have different resources and situations to consider in terms of going for an eco-friendly lifestyle. What is important is how we make an honest effort given what we have. I don’t need to eat an expensive organic meal every day or rebuild my entire wardrobe for the sake of doing the “right” thing. Sustainability requires so much change in the system — it is a change in mindset, first — but in a few years time, hopefully, thinking green will not just be another trend but a classic staple underlying every decision we make.
