According to UN data, the fashion industry occupies the worrying position as the second largest consumer of water worldwide. But that’s not all: the environmental impact of this industry is even more alarming, as it is also responsible for generating between 8% and 10% of global carbon emissions due to the transport used for the distribution of its products.
These revealing data make us reflect on the future of the planet. If we do not take urgent action, United Nations projections indicate that by 2030 pollutant emissions from the fashion industry could increase by almost 50%. It is imperative that we act now to reverse this trend and seek sustainable alternatives in this sector.
Aware of this alarming reality, the UN took action on the matter and in 2019 launched the United Nations Alliance for Sustainable Fashion. The objective of this initiative is to stop the practices of the fashion industry that are harmful to the environment and society in general. The goal is to transform this industry into a driver of environmental action, encouraging more sustainable practices at all stages of the production chain. It is fundamental that both industry players and consumers join this initiative to achieve meaningful change and ensure a more sustainable future for fashion.
But what is sustainable fashion? or What does fashion sustainability imply?
According to the UN Alliance for Sustainable Fashion, sustainability encompasses both social and environmental aspects. In social terms, it means improving working conditions and fair remuneration for workers throughout the fashion production chain. This ranges from cotton farmers to garment factory employees.
As for the environmental aspects, sustainable fashion seeks to reduce the flow of waste generated by the industry, reduce water pollution and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is about adopting practices and processes that are respectful of the environment and promoting the responsible use of natural resources. In other words, sustainable fashion seeks a balance between creativity, beauty and the respect for people and the planet.
As part of the Wiese Foundation’s Entrepreneur Fund program, through which we provide accompaniment, financing and advice to social enterprises, we have had the opportunity to discover interesting sustainable fashion initiatives in the country. Below, we shall address some of them.
Pallay
Away Pallay is a social enterprise conceived with the aim of preserving the backstrap loom techniques that are part of our cultural identity, giving them the recognition that they deserve, while providing job opportunities to the women weavers and artisans of the high Andean communities of Cusco.
Since the year 2014, when the company began to collaborate with the high Andean weavers, it has carried out various actions in line with sustainability. These include the creation of phyto-awnings, the training of villagers in agricultural practices to improve the cultivation of orchards and vegetables, as well as promoting the ancestral know-how of weaving techniques among the youngest women in the community, among other initiatives.
Caxacori Studio
Caxacori Studio is a sustainable fashion company that develops circular economy biomaterials for brands and designers. This venture works with native Awajún communities in the Amazonas province, creating soles based on wild rubber in order
to preserve the forest and empower families. It also develops bio-leathers and bio-textiles, created from a high composition of organic waste. It focuses on the creation of new materials and sustainable forms of production, collaborating with experts in various areas.
Killa Vive Verde
Killa Vive Verde is a business venture dedicated to the design and elaboration of eco-friendly fashion, taking as a source of inspiration the Yanesha women. Its mission is to reduce the use of plastics and disposable products in the fashion industry.
Through collaborations with native communities, Killa Vive Verde produces innovative, functional and completely environmentally friendly garments. The company is committed to the promotion of sustainability and respect for cultural traditions, creating fashion products that reflect authenticity, environmental awareness and social impact.
Learn more about the Entrepreneur Fund and the social enterprises that are part of the pre-acceleration stage, here
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