Why High-Quality Clothing is More Environmentally Friendly
As you well know Lands’ End is committed to creating high-quality clothing that stands the test of time. However, our reasons for doing so may not be quite as obvious to you. We’ll answer a few of the most commonly asked questions to help you better understand the ways in which our high standards benefit everyone. Consider this the quick course on slow fashion.
What is Slow Fashion?
Slow fashion is a more mindful approach to fashion. The result is high-quality clothing made in a way that ensures the fair treatment of people, animals, and our planet. Lands’ End adheres to this philosophy in the making of our products. We carefully consider the processes as well as the resources used in the production of our merchandise. Our entire team is committed to exploring eco-friendly strategies to take clothing from the design table to your closet while producing less pollution and wasting less energy.
The goal is to always create high-quality clothing in the most sustainable way possible. Ultimately, this leads to the production of longer-lasting clothing we can be proud of. Knowing your clothing was consciously created with great care and integrity is something you can be proud of, too.
What is Fast Fashion?
Fast fashion promises to deliver trendy styles in the quickest, most affordable manner. Clothing that is considered fast fashion is made of short-lasting, lesser quality fabrics. It sounds like an alright option for the budget-savvy shopper, but don’t be fooled. According to Princeton University’s publication of The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment by Ngan Le, fast fashion has dire impacts on the environment. The practice of creating fast fashion may not always take workers’ health into consideration. Eco-friendly methods are often not used in the production of fast fashion and ethical standards may not be a priority over cost savings. Fast fashion is absolutely not Lands’ End’s style.
Is Cotton a Sustainable Material?
Cotton is naturally sustainable, renewable, and biodegradable. A beautiful example of this can be found in the Supima cotton used to make so many Lands’ End tees, tanks, and towels. Supima cotton is grown using advanced methods that greatly reduce the amount of water, land, and energy used. Similarly, organic cotton, which is currently used in select Lands’ End towels and bedding, is an eco-friendly alternative that doesn’t require the use of harmful pesticides or chemicals. In addition, so much work is being done behind the scenes to help sustainable cotton go mainstream. A leader in this movement is undoubtedly the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). Working together with everyone involved, from the farmers’ fields to the fashion industry, the BCI is helping to make global cotton production better for cotton producers and for our environment.
Does Environmentally Friendly Clothing Last Longer?
It sure does. High-quality clothing made of eco-friendly fabric is made to last. That alone is reason enough to make the switch to environmentally friendly clothing. It is well worth the investment. We can proudly say that with full confidence. After all, we have over five decades-worth of loyal Lands’ End customers who couldn’t agree more. There’s no better feeling than receiving fan mail from people who own decades-old Lands’ End gear. Receiving their praise is proof positive our long-lasting clothing has what it takes to stand the test of time. Even after years of wear and tear, our high-quality clothing made of environmentally friendly fabric has the ability to look almost as good as it did when it was brand new.
Is High-Quality Clothing More Environmentally Friendly?
Yes, if high-quality clothing made from sustainable materials is well constructed, it often lasts longer. That makes it more environmentally friendly than lesser quality clothing. A great example of this is our swimsuits made from recycled materials. Lands’ End uses up to 9 plastic bottles in every eco-friendly swimsuit. These environmentally-conscious swimsuits are crafted with chlorine-resistant material, which allows the swimsuits to hold up better over time. Bottom line, when the fabrics and construction are better, the clothes last longer, and that’s the first step in keeping clothing out of landfills.