Sustainable Style – the Importance of Sustainable Promotional Clothing over Fast Fashion

Why is Fast Fashion a Problem?

Fast fashion is a dying trend and with excellent reason.

Cheap labour, toxic dyes, and the promotion of a throwaway culture are just some of the horrors associated with this once-acceptable buyer behaviour.

But consumers now voice their distaste for this type of clothing and its destructive impact on the planet. They vote with their feet (wallets!) and move their custom away from once-popular fast and cheap fashion brands, choosing instead to make more informed, more considered clothing purchases.

It is no different when it comes to promotional clothing. Polos, hoodies, caps, and shopper bags are all classic promotional products that consistently produce results and increase your brand’s visibility. But as consumers’ environmental consciousness increases, this will only continue to be the case if you offer quality items that people not only want to wear but feel morally able to do so.

Sustainable, Organic, Recycled Clothing – What Does it Mean?

Sustainable

An umbrella term, ‘sustainable clothing’ is used to describe textiles designed, manufactured and sourced in a socially and ecologically responsible way.

The people involved in the production of the garments, as well as the environment itself, are protected throughout the process.

Organic

Clothing produced from materials and fabrics that have been grown in compliance with organic agricultural standards is considered to be organic.

Whilst no clothing will ever be completely sustainable, the methods used in producing organic materials, such as organic cotton, have a much lower negative impact on the environment than many alternatives.

The lack of pesticides and fertilisers ensures the prevention of water contamination whilst also protecting the health of the workers engaged in the process.

And as an added bonus, organic cotton is known for being soft on and kind to your skin, so you get to feel both comfortable and secure in the knowledge that you are doing your bit for the planet – now that’s a winning combination!

Recycled

We all know that old clothing can be resold or upcycled (think eBay and charity shops), but it is also possible to produce textiles through a process called raw material recycling.

Take one of our big sellers at Firefly – the recycled cotton bag. The cotton used to produce some of these bags had a previous life as a different cotton product. Rather than finding its way to landfill once its use has been served, the discarded cotton is separated into type and colour, shredded, and then spun back into a yarn that can be used to produce a brand-new product, such as the bags. Others were once being sold on shelves as plastic bottles. Mind-blowing but true, and the very epitome of the 3 Rs of recycling – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Take a look at Green & Innocent to learn more about what is available, and you’ll want to choose sustainable over disposable from here on in.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

In summary, fast fashion damages both the environment and people due to the processes used to produce and distribute it. It also promotes the idea that a disposable way of life is acceptable.

As businesses, we must turn against this and do all we can to protect our planet. It is also in our best interests to do so from a business point of view. People are waking up to the idea that sustainability is vital for our future and the future of the planet. If you want them to become your brand ambassadors, you must make it clear that this is important to you too!

How Firefly Can Help you with your Sustainable Promotional Clothing

It should come as no surprise to hear that Firefly is a massive advocate of sustainable clothing.

Over the years, we have nurtured relationships with some wonderful suppliers we rely upon, not just for their extensive ranges of organic and recycled textiles but also for their in-depth knowledge of the subject. This enables us to provide you, our clients, with the clothing that will best promote your brand, safe in the knowledge that you are also promoting ethical fashion practices.

And please don’t make the mistake of thinking that sustainable equals boring… Take a look at our supplier and friends Stanley/Stella, for example. Modern, premium garments even the most fashion-conscious amongst us would be happy to be seen in. All responsibly and ethically produced and distributed – aren’t they fab?

You might also like to take a look at our Symplicity case study. We had lots of fun helping the innovative plant-based food company to develop a range of recycled and organic clothing that fitted perfectly with their brand values.

Want us to help you with your sustainable promotional clothing? Get in touch and let’s chat!