So, how bad can it be to just throw away an old piece of clothing?
Pretty bad.
Every year, an estimated92 million tons of textile waste is created by the fashion industry. When it comes to fashion waste, it is more than just the fabrics and garments. We’re also talking about resources like energy and water, microfibers and plastics, and process-related waste such as bad inventory management, overproduction and consumption, which all directly impact our planet. Since 2000, the number of garments produced annually has doubled,exceeding100 billion for the first time.
There is no silver bullet solution, and there is no one singular source that contributes to the issue. Life would be pretty neat if that was the case. Rather, it is up to me and you to become more educated and actively involved in championing a less wasteful industry. And up to brands to help!
Here’s a question I’ll pose, because it’s one I asked myself not long ago:
Living in Canada, How many jackets do you own? One for wind, rain and snow? One for being out in nature and one that’s better suited to work or ‘city life’? Do you ever feel forced to choose between function and fashion?
In January 2020, I landed in Australia for a short visit (which turned into nearly 2.5 years due to Covid). After a fulfilling 7 years at lululemon, immersing myself across various departments from menswear garment development and design to womens outerwear designer, I began freelancing.
I continued designing outerwear for lululemon, as well as other brands such as Outdoor Voices and Orage. In some instances in addition to designing, I had the opportunity to develop full lines from initial sourcing to final production. In the midst of all that, I noticed a gap in the market. and Adhere To began to take shape.
Growing up in Vancouver, I have always been drawn to cities but in my core was a deep rooted love for nature and the outdoors. Throughout a decade in the technical apparel industry, working directly with trim/fabric suppliers and factories, and in technical design, I saw an opportunity to offer outdoor apparel that combines sustainability, functionality, and contemporary. But what does this really mean?
Adhere To is a Canadian based, women-owned, low-impact outerwear brand that uses low impact materials, ethical manufacturing, with a low-carbon supply chain- that doesn’t compromise aesthetics or functionality. My experience in garment development and sourcing contributed greatly to designing with circularity in mind. Using mono-fibred material that can be recycled again - a poly thread with a poly fabric - and using polyester or nylon recycled from fabric rather than plastic bottles.
At this time, our outerwear is built on using recycled materials, down to the zipper tape and thread. Although recycled synthetics is not the perfect answer- it is a step in the right direction for outerwear.
Outerwear requires durability and longevity- the technical properties of a synthetic yarn will always be greater than natural. Each material supplier is certified with either or all Bluesign®, Global Recycled Standard, OEKO-TEX®, Higgs.
Our garment factory is WRAP (Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production) certified. Aside from materials and suppliers, the brand is founded on low-impact measures - focused on small production runs, styles designed on a temperature basis rather than seasonally, and our packaging. Building the brand has allowed me to build a low impact structure from scratch.
The problem with overproduction and overconsumption in the fashion industry isn’t an easy fix, but our collective priority as designers and consumers should be to reduce waste and focus on longevity and quality design. This doesn’t have to mean forgoing our love for fashion, but rather a mind-switch to become more aware of all the waste that results from the many clothes we buy. If anything, my love for fashion drove me to this venture. While I was working directly with factories in Vietnam and doing sampling close-up, I realized the difficulty of finding sustainable options and the complexity in technical outerwear, and sought a better solution, knowing that while it is the more challenging route, it was possible, and incredibly important.
As consumers, we need to adhere to a higher awareness and consciousness of what we wear and the quality of apparel we buy and where it comes from. Adhere To is produced with purpose and intention - it is a true labor of love.
