As an eco-conscious consumer, you want to buy only sustainable clothing--fashion items that protect the environment and promote fair labor practices. But we understand how mentally taxing such decision-making can be.

You're constantly bombarded with various fashion brands and fabrics, and some are falsely marketed as "green" or "eco-friendly." So, how can you tell if a clothing brand is actually sustainable? In short, what makes clothes sustainable? What should you be looking out for?

We answer it all below.

What Makes Clothing Sustainable

Here's how to know if a fabric is sustainable:

1. The Fabric Must Be Organic or Recycled

The first thing to look out for when buying sustainable clothing is to ensure the fabric is organic or recycled. Organic fabrics include organic cotton, linen, and wool. If it is made of synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, it is not sustainable.

However, if it is a recycled material even though synthetic, it is sustainable.

That's because a critical goal of sustainability is waste reduction. By recycling synthetic materials, you promote reuse and reduce clothing waste. This crashes the demand for more synthetic fabric production since old ones can serve. This reduces the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

On the other hand, organic or eco-friendly fabrics are biodegradable and so go back into the earth, reducing waste and carbon emissions.

2. The Price Must Reflect Fair Wages

As much as we appreciate cheap products, it defeats the essence of sustainable clothing. Aside from reducing our carbon footprint, promoting fair wages and safe working conditions are at the core of sustainable and ethical fashion.

You see, it takes considerable time and effort to produce a high-quality garment. If such a product is cheap, consider where it is coming from, how much it's worth, and how much goes to the person making it.

If it's cheaper than it's worth, they're obviously not making enough profit, and that's unsustainable. Also, the brand would be unable to pay its workers fair wages. This is common with fast fashion, where clothes are cheap and workers are subjected to poor working conditions.

Sustainable fabrics consciously manufactured using ethical practices may not be cheap, but their superior quality ensures you get your money's worth and workers are paid fairly.

3. Eco-friendly Printing and Dyeing

Textile production accounts for a staggering 20% of global water pollution, all thanks to synthetic dyes. Traditional printing techniques often contain harmful chemicals such as azo dyes, formaldehyde, and solvent-based inks that pollute water and harm ecosystems. These toxic chemicals leach into water when you wash your clothes.

So, any garment made with traditional dyes is not sustainable or eco-friendly.

Sustainable fashion brands prioritize the use of eco-friendly printing and dyeing to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry.

When buying a garment, check the dyeing technique used. If the fabric is block-printed using plant-based dyes, it is sustainable. You can find that information on the brand's website or the clothing label.

Sustainable fabrics are printed with the following:

• Natural or plant-based dyes
• Water-based dyes
• Azo-free dyes
• Water-based inks
• Digital printing
• Block printing

It can be difficult to sift through individual garments at a store to find one made with eco-friendly printing and dyeing techniques. To ease your shopping experience, look out for block print clothing. Block printing is an eco-friendly printing technique that greatly minimizes environmental harm. At Ichcha, all our fabrics are block-printed using plant-based dyes.

You can shop Ichcha now to make your ethical shopping decisions effortless.

4. The Garment Must be Durable

One of the elements to look out for in sustainable clothing is durability. Unlike fast fashion, sustainable products are created with durability in mind, using high-quality materials to ensure the item lasts. This reduces your need for frequent replacements, saving you money and reducing waste.

You don't want to dump clothes in landfills every month, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.

So, to reduce your carbon footprint, buy high-quality clothes, even though they may cost more. Consider it an investment, as the durability gives you your money's worth in the long run.

5. The Supply Chain is Transparent

Sustainable fashion goes beyond the fabric itself. How were the raw materials sourced? How was the product manufactured? And how was it shipped to you?

You can find out such details on the fashion brand's website.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. If sustainable practices were used throughout the supply chain, the brand would be transparent about it. How do they minimize waste? How are they reducing carbon footprint via their manufacturing process? Are there photos to back it up?

If they cannot show it, there's no way to believe their claims.

Bonus point:

6. The Brand Does Some Social Good

While not every sustainable brand will have some social responsibility, it's good to prioritize those that do. There are different ways brands give back to their communities, including:

• Donating returned or old stock
• Supporting community initiatives
• Dedicating part of their profits to NGOs
• Offering take-back and recycling programs
• Investing in projects that reduce greenhouse gases
• Promoting zero waste
• Supporting local craftspeople and designers
• Ensuring ethical labor standards among their workers

At Ichcha, our commitment to sustainability transcends our products; we are always looking for new ways to give back to our community.

Learn more about how we are making a difference.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What Defines Sustainable Clothing?

Sustainable clothing is defined as any clothing made using eco-friendly materials and ethical practices, minimizing environmental impact and supporting fair labor. It focuses on durability, reducing waste, and promoting circular fashion through recycling or reusing materials.

What is an Example of Sustainable Clothing?

An organic cotton t-shirt made without pesticides and produced by a brand that ensures fair wages is an example of sustainable clothing. Other examples include garments made from recycled polyester or secondhand clothing.

What is the Most Sustainable Type of Clothing?

The most sustainable clothing is versatile, long-lasting, and made from eco-friendly materials—like a durable, organic cotton dress designed for multiple seasons.

What is a Sustainable Material for Clothing?

Sustainable materials include organic cotton, hemp, bamboo, recycled polyester, and Tencel. These materials have a lower environmental footprint compared to conventional fabrics and are often biodegradable or recyclable.

Wrapping Up: How to Know If a Brand is Sustainable

A brand is sustainable when it uses eco-friendly materials, pays fair wages, and has a transparent, eco-conscious supply chain.

These are the key elements qualifying a brand as sustainable. So they are the first things you want to look out for when buying conscious fashion.

The fabric you can determine by checking the clothing label. The price and product quality give you an idea of the brand's working conditions. The supply chain you can find on the brand website. If you're shopping online, you can obtain important information about the item in its description. Always pay attention to this part before buying.

Once you've found a sustainable clothing brand, sticking with them can make your ethical shopping decisions effortless, as you wouldn't have to devote much thought to your next clothing purchase.