Should style Influencers be concerned with Sustainability in Fashion?

Influencer marketing has become popular online and is expected to grow to a market size of 13.8 billion. With social media, it has become even more popular. More style influencers are promoting fast fashion which leaves a carbon footprint in the environment. Between cheap labor, clothing pollution, and fast fashion, the fashion industry is rife with sustainability issues. Some of these sustainability, keywords have been slapped on clothing brands such as “ethical, organic, transparent, conscious, and sustainability” to attract more consumers to their brands. Do these words really describe the Brand accurately? Is the influencer responsible for promoting more sustainable clothing in the fashion industry?

There are some companies around accused of “greenwashing” making false exaggerated sets o claims of sustainability to keep up with consumers, The European commission revealed, that National Consumer Protection authorities believe that 42% of cases of companies making green claims were false.

What is sustainability and fashion?

Sustainability in fashion is when clothing is created with a reduced carbon footprint taking into consideration many factors such as how the garment was produced, who made the garments if the garment can survive long-term use, and what impact on the environment will this garment make when being created. Sustainability is about being mindful and aligning your spending and activism to your values. According to Rivet, sustainable Marketing is definitely a growing category.

How to find brands that are sustainable

There are many companies that claim to be sustainable clothing brands. You have to do your research on the company if you are interested in purchasing clothing brands that are really sustainable and there are no companies that are greenwashing their brands. Some of the companies that claim to make sustainable clothing are Eileen Fisher, Patagonia, pact, Reformation, people tree, Levi's, everlane, H&M, Raven and Lily, just to name a few of the many companies involved in the making of sustainable clothing.

Fast fashion compared to sustainable clothing

The main difference in fast fashion versus sustainable clothing is the amount of waste that each creates. Less waste leads to less water pollution and fuel carbon emissions during production. Sustainable fashion can be defined as clothing that is ethically made and environmentally friendly. As opposed to fast fashion which is the opposite.

Why influencers should make sure they are concerned that they are blogging about sustainable clothing?

As a citizen of the world, is up to everyone to help to save the environment and the World, if they can. It's a duty and responsibility to all in the World to save the planet. And fashion influencers, its their ethical and moral duty to make sure that the brands they blog about are really sustainable and not a “greenwashed” brand. If they write about sustainable fashion.

As influencers, they can steer the public towards sustainable fashion because they set the trends and styles for the public with their fashion ideas. If they make sustainable fashion look cool, more people are apt to try it. Style influencers can make a big statement with their blogs. they can message to the world that truly sustainable fashion is good for the planet and we should push more clothing brands to adopt this model. Not only should Style influencers show brands that are more truly sustainable, but they should also show how fashion, in general, can be sustainable by reusing pre-owned clothing. Style influencers should be concerned with the planet, when styling blogs for fashion, because it will benefit all of us in the long run by promoting responsible consumption.

Although, it may be hypocritical to encourage people to consume when it's contradictory to a sustainable lifestyle. But what's an influencer to do they have a job to do and I rather that they promote sustainable fashion to Save the Planet long term. By promoting sustainable fashion, it makes the influencers more adept at the growing consumer's concerns about the environment.