3 Fast Fashion Companies That Are Slowing Down

It's no secret that in recent years, sustainability has become a hot topic. As the global climate continually worsens, people are becoming more conscious of their purchasing habits. On top of that, with the popularity of social media, people are voicing their opinions regarding the issue on various social platforms. If you think about it, you probably found out and learned about sustainable fashion through social media.

Here’s the good news - because of the increasing demands for more ethical business models in the fashion industry, many fast fashion companies are slowly but surely creating sustainable clothing collections.

Here's the even better news - you don't need to completely boycott your favorite fast fashion companies to be sustainable.

In this blog post, we will be sharing three of the many fast fashion companies that are striving to make a difference.

201H&M

When talking about fast fashion, we’re certain that H&M instantly comes to mind. The company is known for its trendy and cheap clothing items. If you pay close attention, you’d notice that the company releases new clothing collections on a bi-weekly basis and always has ongoing sales.

Despite being a world-renowned fashion company, H&M has been called out on multiple occasions for its poor and wasteful practices. However, since then, the company has strived to make small changes to incorporate sustainability into its business model.

In 2014, the company released denim garments made using recycled fibers. That was the start of the company's slow yet steady journey toward sustainability.

Currently, the company has a "Conscious" clothing collection. According to H&M's website, all clothing from the conscious collection contains "at least 50% sustainable materials, such as organic cotton and recycled polyester — but many of [their] garments contain more than that."

According to the company's annual Sustainability Performance Report, as of 2020, H&M ranks highest in Fashion Revolution's Fashion Transparency Index, uses 64.5% of materials from recycled or more sustainable sources, reduced product packaging by 14%, and uses 100% organic cotton that has been recycled or sourced in a more sustainable way.

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The prices of H&M's sustainable clothing items are certainly a little higher than their average products. However, there's a reason sustainable clothing is more expensive. And, in the long run, it's a worth-it investment. ​

Zara

Zara produces trendy clothing that is of higher quality compared to most fast fashion companies. However, like H&M, the company's business model is not the most sustainable and ethical.

Thankfully, in recent years, the company has strived to reduce waste, and overall, become more sustainable. In fact, the company has publicized a list of its environmental commitments.

Here are some of them:

• Reduce water use and improve water efficiency in manufacturing, stores, offices, and facilities.

• Improve water management in the supply chain for cleaner, more efficient usage.

• Use only sustainable certified (PEFC or FSC) sources for wooden furniture and paper products, such as bags, labels, and office paper.

• Promote the reuse and recycling of garments and fibers

• Complete transition to using only organic, sustainable, or recycled cotton, linen, and polyester by 2025.

As you can tell, Zara is not only concerned about being sustainable with their clothing. They are also trying to implement sustainable measures within their offices and workplace.

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To find out more, check out Inditex's, Zara's parent company, website. ​

UNIQLO

If you've ever shopped in UNIQLO, you'd know that they have amazing quality items. Unfortunately, from the prices of their products, you can instantly tell that they aren't the most sustainable and environmentally friendly. However, like most fast fashion companies, UNIQLO is striving to change.

Recently, UNIQLO adopted the sustainability mission statement "Unlocking the Power of Clothing." In fact, Doraemon, a Japanese manga series character, has become the company's global sustainability ambassador. As stated on the company's website, "Aiming for harmony, the sustainable stewardship of natural resources and responsible development of human potential, we focus on planet, society, and people. We believe that our clothing has the power to change the world for the better."

As part of UNIQLO's journey toward sustainability, the company has introduced circular sustainability programs, which encourage customers to recycle unwanted clothing that is still in relatively good condition. To prevent those items from going to waste, UNIQLO donates them to refugees, disaster victims, and others in need.

​To find out more, check out UNIQLO's website.

Conclusion

See? You don't need to completely boycott your favorite clothing companies to be sustainable. Obviously, the companies we’ve mentioned are in no way perfect. However, they're striving to make changes, and at the end of the day, that's what counts. As you support the sustainable clothing collections of fast fashion companies, they will be more motivated and inspired to increase sustainable clothing options.