Healing Our Relationship with Fashion: A Conscious Journey

I refuse to unconsciously participate in a linear system that harms the Earth. Do you?

The fashion industry, as it stands, is unsustainable. Here are some staggering facts about our current reality:

• 125 million tons of garments are produced globally every year.
• 8,000 chemical compounds are used in the production of clothing.
• 87% of garments end up in landfills or are incinerated, releasing toxins that harm soil and biodiversity.
• The average American consumer buys five times more clothing than they did in 1980.
• Today, the average American purchases 68 garments per year, more than one piece of clothing per week.
• 40% of household wastewater comes from laundry, and 35% of ocean plastics come from washing synthetic fabrics—equivalent to more than 50 billion plastic bottles in the ocean annually.

Shifting Perspectives: Fashion as a Practice

To heal our relationship with fashion, we need to shift our perspective. Fashion should not be a mindless pursuit of trends but a thoughtful practice—an ongoing journey towards understanding and improvement.

Steps to a Conscious Fashion Practice:

1. Pause and Reflect
Before making a purchase, take a moment to meditate on three questions:

• What resources were used to make this garment? (Consider raw materials, natural vs. synthetic fibers.)
• How was it made? (Think about the design’s durability and functionality.)
• Who made it? (Are the workers in fair conditions, or are they in sweatshops? Is it made by people or machines?)

2. Educate Yourself
The linear fashion industry thrives on mindlessness. To counteract this, we must fill our minds with knowledge, curiosity, and creativity. By understanding the impact of our choices, we can make more informed decisions that align with our values.

3. Embrace Sustainable Alternatives
On our farm, we work daily to develop sustainable fashion from alpaca fleece, replacing convenience with knowledge and skills. I am certified in permaculture design, which guides my approach to creating eco-friendly, durable clothing that honors the Earth.

Join the Journey

Thank you for following my sustainable farm-to-fashion journey at @sacred.alpaca. Together, we can make conscious choices that respect the planet and foster a healthier relationship with fashion. Let’s move towards a practice of sustainability, one mindful step at a time.