Paving the way to sustainable fashion

The road to sustainable fashion has generated interest in combating the pollution produced by the industry itself, which is the second most contaminating industry in the world. How to diminish waste?

Approximately 20% of the world’s wastewater comes from textile processing; while 87% of the fibers that are used for garments are incinerated or thrown away. The chemicals applied in the production processes are harmful to the environment and to the workers in textile factories.

Looking at fast fashion, we know that some of the waste they produce includes plastic bags and tons of garments that end up in landfills, accumulating little by little.

There is an extensive list of the pollution generated by this industry, so how can consumption habits be changed, what can young brands do to reduce waste, and is there really a strong contribution to make a change?

We present you two young brands that from the pattern making, the creative process, and the final production, carry out sustainable practices thanks to materials discarded by other industries, or even worse, by consumers.

Menos117, an experimental fashion brand with recovered materials

117% is the total of different polluting factors of the global textile industry; this is how Yunuen, the designer and founder of Menos117, explains it to us.

Working with pre-consumer waste from textile industries in Mexico and with materials that are difficult to recycle, Menos117 begins with its first collection with textile interventions.

The textiles are handmade with scraps of plastic on a loom to then begin the process of designing the garment and deciding on where the main textile will go.

The idea is that for future collections there will be special interventions in the garments with recovered materials.

Going back to the waste from fast fashion brands and other industries; the fabrics are made with plastic strips from plastic wrap bags, organic cotton yarns, rescued plastic security/ hazard tapes, acetates, recovered vinyl scraps, and plastic bag zippers.

Yunuen tells us that later she would like to experiment with recycled materials to make details required by the garments, such as buttons.

Menos117 becomes a brand that has the desire to promote sustainable awareness in consumer habits.

Veleta, upcycling navigating to a more sustainable route

From a passion for sailing since she was young to creating sustainable garments and accessories.

Jimena Gárate, designer and founder of Veleta, reuses parachutes, sailboat sails, wetsuits, inner tubes, paragliders, kites, tents, leftover textiles, and more.

The garments and accessories pay homage to the aesthetics of sailboats, the connection between the wind, the sea, and the boat.

The materials of these sports can be considered waste once they cease to fulfill their function, for example when the parachutes are damaged and endanger the user, Veleta’s mission is to collect the material and thus create a totally unique piece.

It is worth mentioning that the recovered materials may be very damaged and could not work for Veleta’s purpose; still, their search continues to achieve the minimum waste of material.

Jimena is on the path of experimenting with other materials to continue discovering the possibilities that exist in sustainable design.

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The focus of these brands is to create accessories and garments in a responsible and ethical way where materials and processes minimize environmental and social impact, using recycled and organic materials.

Fair practices in the supply chain demonstrate that there is a long way to go not only in Mexico but around the world. Sustainable fashion is neither limited in style nor boring; Menos117 and Veleta demonstrate this through their designs and practices.

When consumers choose sustainable brands, they contribute to building a sustainable future for the fashion industry and planet Earth.

Which changes would you apply to your consumption habits?