Eco-Conscious

The fashion industry is devastating the planet through overconsumption of natural resources, pollution of the air and water, and contribution of massive amounts of waste in landfills. In fact, 85% of clothing ends up in landfills each year (UNECE, 2018). This figure is likely increasing with the rise of fast fashion. Clothing items were once made to last, but as fast fashion has allowed for the success of cheaply made garments using nondurable materials. When compared to purchasing trends in previous decades, presently humans are opting to purchase more clothing items that they wear half as many times (McKinsey and Company, 2016). The result of this? Larger amounts of clothes ending up in landfills and greater environmental impact.

You may be thinking "I donate all my clothes that I decide not to wear anymore". Yes, this is certainly better than simply throwing your old clothes away. However, just because they are out of your sight does not mean the impact they are making is over. Even donation centers are overwhelmed by the amount of clothing they receive. As there is virtually no market in the United States for trends that are "out", and there are just so many clothes, clothing that has been donated and is unsold is shipped to developing countries. In those countries, these secondhand clothes are put up for sale, potentially outcompeting local markets, but many of the clothes end up becoming trash at the end of all these steps (Green America, 2024). That is a lot of places each item of clothing goes just to end up in a landfill.

At Bend Lifestyle, we recognize that there is a need for people to express themselves through fashion. This need is why the fast fashion industry got traction in the first place. We aim to offer an alternative so our customers can do fashion as sustainably as possible. We take into account these considerations when upholding our commitment to eco-consciousness:

  • Reduce: I buy only the materials I need for the present release I am working on while minimizing wasted fabric through strategic cuts. My aim is not to make many cheap products that could become waste if unsold. Instead, I focus on small releases of high quality, unique products, reducing the total amount of products being created, with the intention that all the products I create find long, loving homes. I utilize high quality materials and strong stitches in order to ensure a long life for your garment.
  • Reuse: I source equipment and materials secondhand from places like Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, and local secondhand stores such as ReCreative Denver. I do thorough research to ensure that the equipment I use will last a long time.
  • Recycle: I use 100% recycled fabrics and threads which save existing materials from entering landfills. It takes approximately three years worth of drinking water to create a single cotton tee-shirt from virgin cotton (Real Thread). Much of the water used in making a tee shirt is from growing cotton. By using recycled cotton, the customer gets the benefits of a cotton garment (comfort, softness, breathability, color-fastness) while reducing the environmental impact (water consumption and waste) of virgin cotton. All of Bend's clothing labels are made of 100% recycled material.
  • Minimal use of plastics: Garments release microplastics into the water whenever they are washed. For this reason, I prioritize the use of natural fibers, such as recycled cotton, for the bulk of the garment.
  • Low-impact shipping: I use compostable shipping envelopes and ground shipping to ship your garment. Absolutely no excess packaging or plastic is used in getting your item to you.
  • Repair: Should your garment acquire damage, I offer repairs to lengthen the life of your garment. You can read about specifics here.
  • Repurposing of deadstock: Any materials or products that a business does not sell becomes what is known as deadstock. Raw materials were required to make the products that become deadstock, and if it is not used it often ends up becoming waste. I utilize deadstock from other businesses as a source of materials, ultimately helping find a purpose for items that would otherwise wind up in landfills.

Bend Lifestyle is committed to continuous improvement in sustainability. If you have feedback on how we can improve our commitment to eco-consciousness or specific questions, feel free to contact us.