General

Table of Contents
    Introduction

    We all own a trustworthy pair of denim jeans, even despite them being one of the hardest items to shop for when it comes to finding the perfect size and shape. Globally, 6 million pairs of jeans are manufactured a year! Research undertaken by Fashion United states that women own an average of 7 pairs of jeans whilst men are just behind at 6. Despite this, we only tend to wear 4 pairs of the jeans we own a regular basis. 

    It took a lot of searching for me to find the right pair of jeans, only to then realise how badly the manufacturing of jeans impacts the environment. This led me to do more research and eventually I began to make the decision to shop more sustainably. 

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    History of Denim

    The most recognized early pairs of blue denim jeans were created in 1873 by two men named Jacob Davis and Levi Strauss. Jacob was a tailor and originally a customer of Levis’, who sold cotton cloth amongst other things. Jacob made his first pair of blue denim jeans for one of his customers using cotton cloth he bought from Levi as well as extra accessories such as a zipper. He decided he wanted to patent the creation and wrote to Levi and they eventually became partners and opened a large factory together. 

    Over decades the types and styles of jeans available has just kept on increasing. Different colors, sizes, shapes and styles have been introduced over the years and I believe the variety and demand for jeans is only going to increase. 

    Negative Effects of Manufacturing Denim

    Since the late 1800’s, when jeans were first introduced into society, the demand for the perfect pair of denim has only kept increasing. However, this is directly having a negative impact  on the environment, resulting in significant damage to our ecosystems as well as the health of cotton farmers. 

    Around 11,000 litres of water are used in the dying and washing process of fashioning a pair of denim jeans. This figure is extremely high and really shocking. During this process water is used to wash the jeans and eventually becomes polluted with dyes and chemicals. It is then discarded into waterways as it is unusable. 

    70% of lakes and rivers in Asia suffer from water contamination as well as water shortage due to denim factories. Denim manufacturing organizations are using and wasting water, taking it away from communities and returning it in a state of pollution, which can cause dehydration and further health issues for not only humans but also wildlife. 

    Manufacturing denim not only causes water pollution. During the growth process of cotton, which is used to create denim jeans, insecticides and herbicides are sprayed on the plant to assist with its growth. This results in air pollution from the toxic chemicals as well as creating hazardous working conditions for cotton farmers.  

    Sustainable Shopping

    Some good news is that, despite the large amount of denim manufacturers causing harm, there are denim companies out there that manufacture their jeans in a more sustainable way if you’re looking to shop more sustainably. Shopping sustainability can help improve the condition of the environment as well as the health of humans. 

    Do you want to start your sustainable fashion journey? Well you should visit goecolove.com! They sell a variety of sustainable products from clothing, accessories to other items. They are also known for giving back to their community such as donating to charity and providing work and learning opportunities to students and children. 

    Table of Contents
      Introduction 

      Fashion empowers us all through giving us the means to express who we are to the world around us. It provides a glimpse of our personalities and allows people to gain an insight into our character. Clothes can be worn as a tool to express our emotions, in addition to being used as a means of protecting ourselves. 

      When I was a child, my parents would always make sure I had the best clothes. My wardrobe was practically overflowing, even when I was unable to comprehend what fashion was. I must admit, my obsession with clothes started from a young age. As a teen it didn’t get much better, I always wanted the newest styles and felt my best when keeping up to date with fashion trends. However, it was only when I began to start studying fashion that I realised that there is a negative side to this industry that many people are not aware of. 

      Over recent years there has been seen to be a rising awareness around fashion and how it is having an increasingly negative impact on our environment. However, many of us are still unaware of the impact caused by fast fashion brands and I believe we have a right to know what is going on behind the scenes in order to help make a change to the damaging effects caused by these organisations.  

      What is sustainable fashion?

      Have you ever heard of sustainable fashion? No? Well, you’re in luck. 

      Sustainable fashion is a slow-paced method of manufacturing clothing, which differs from other brands who tend to release new clothing collections four times a year. Sustainable clothing is made from organic, natural and environmentally friendly materials that will ultimately completely decompose one day. However, these clothes are designed to last for long periods of time unlike fast fashion brands who use harmful and low-quality materials.

      Why sustainable fashion matters 

      Sustainable fashion should be a priority to everyone when buying clothes as it provides an alternative solution to fast fashion and has the potential to help us restore our eco system to its full potential. 

      You wouldn’t believe it, but the fashion industry is the second largest industry that causes the most pollution to earth, coming in sharply behind the oil industry. This statistic definitely made my jaw drop. How about you?

      Fast fashion has been seen to have a detrimental effect on the environment with over 13 tons of wastage being created annually from textiles that could be reused or upcycled. As well as this, textiles that end up in the ocean can cause water pollution, therefore endangering wildlife. It only got worse when I discovered that 93% of these fast fashion brands aren’t paying their workers a wage suitable to live on, in addition to subjecting them to unsafe working conditions. 

      Sustainable fashion can provide many benefits such as:

      • Reduction in wastage due to higher quality clothing items
      • Helping to minimise air, land and water pollution
      • Improving the quality of life for workers as sustainable brands pay a fair wage
      Future of Sustainable Fashion 

      It is likely that the future of fashion could become sustainable as recent studies have shown that 88% of consumers want brands to be more aware of the environment. In addition to this, with technology consciously growing, apps where you can buy and sell pre-owned clothing have become increasingly popular. 

      Brands such as Levi’s, Tentree and Patagonia have been leading the way in sustainable fashion by being conscious of materials used and water wastage accumulated. Tentree also gives back to the environment by planting ten trees for every product purchased. So far, they have managed to plant 50 million trees! 

      Go Eco Love

      Do you want to make a change to your wardrobe? You can always start by checking out our website where we sell a range of sustainable clothing items and accessories. Don’t hesitate, take your first steps to bettering the world today by visiting goecolove.com. 

      Sources:

      https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2020/02/24/11-fashion-companies-leading-the-way-in-sustainability/?sh=77744e486dba

      https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/future-of-sustainable-fashion

      Introduction 

      Were you aware that many of the purchase decisions you make every day can contribute towards environmental damage as well as the extortion of farmers and factory workers? 

      Demand for goods is always increasing, meaning production rates are becoming higher. Whilst increasing demand for products may seem good for organisations, this leaves our planet facing exposure to increased pollution emissions as well as accelerated climate change. 

      A lot of consumers are unaware of the part they play in polluting our planets’ ecosystems and it wasn’t until I was informed of how badly purchasing habits can impact the environment that I knew I needed to be more conscious of what I was buying and where I was buying from.

      What Is Conscious Consumerism? 

      Conscious consumerism is when individuals actively make purchasing decisions that they know will help to better our society as a whole. A conscious consumer ensures they are aware of the negative effects purchasing decisions can have on people’s lives as well as our environment. 

      The awareness around conscious consumerism is spreading rapidly as 75% of the public are calming to be modifying their purchasing habits, such as only buying items that are recyclable. So, the question is, why are people suddenly changing their shopping habits?

      As I am sure you’re aware, climate change is a real cause for concern and people want to feel although they are playing a part in protecting the planet. In addition, 69% of people who recycle their plastic waste are said to feel more positive about life. 

      5 Steps You Can Take 

      If you want to help to make a change, there are multiple steps you can take to help you on your journey to becoming a conscious consumer:

      • Use sustainable fashion brands instead of fast fashion brands. Their clothing is made from natural materials, is of higher quality and is designer to last long periods of time. 
      • Stop buying products that are tested on animals. Animal testing subjects’ innocent creatures to torture and imprisonment. 
      • Shop Fairtrade, such as coffees, teas and fruits as it helps provide people with a fair wage.
      • Eat less meat and dairy products which can help reduce the farming of animals.
      • Donate your used clothing instead of throwing it out to help prevent land and water pollution.

      Go Eco Love

      Conscious consumerism is only going to continue to grow as people are becoming more aware of the harsh reality behind their purchases. You can visit our shop, goecolove.com, where we sell a range of sustainable items such as, lip balms and scrubs, clothing and accessories which can help get you started on your journey towards a more sustainable lifestyle. 

      Sources: https://www.walnutunlimited.com/rise-of-the-conscious-consumer/

      Table of Contents
        Introduction

        Every week that passes I continue to notice a rise in the amount of people I know and even those I don’t, such as celebrities and influencers, becoming more environmentally aware and taking steps to restore our ecosystem to its full glory. 

        It’s hard to imagine that every time you purchase a plastic toothbrush you are contributing to a huge global waste crisis. It is estimated that by 2050 our oceans will be filled with more plastic than fish, with an average amount of toothbrushes being thrown away being around 260 million annually in the UK should this really come as a surprise to us?

        It takes up to 1000 years for a plastic toothbrush to completely decompose. So, if you think about it, the toothbrush you had as an infant is probably still sitting around in a landfill somewhere. 

        Do you want to reduce your eco footprint but are unsure where to start? Well look no further because here at Go Eco Love we have the perfect tool to help you out. Bamboo toothbrushes are an effective way to put a stop to the number of plastic toothbrushes you have been disposing of throughout your lifetime. 

        Origin and Growth

        Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet, and it doesn’t need the assistance of fertilisers or pesticides in order to help it grow. This elegant plant grows in certain Asian, African and Latin regions. However, China is the largest producer as well as exporter of Bamboo.

        This doesn’t seem like much of a coincidence when you find out that around 800 years ago the Chinese constructed the bamboo toothbrush using animal hairs as bristles. 

        Environmental and 5 Health Benefits 
        1. Unlike plastic, bamboo is a plant, so it doesn’t take hundreds of years to decompose. In fact, if you were to put it in a home composting bin it would only take 4 months to completely decompose. This could really help fight the large amounts of wastage created by plastic toothbrushes.
        1. Bamboo toothbrushes can be manufactured with a range of different bristles therefore can be suitable to a variety of people with different needs. Some bristles may contain low percentages of plastic, others can be nylon, and some are manufactured with the hairs from boars. 
        1. Bamboo toothbrushes are more hygienic than their plastic rivals as they possess antibacterial properties. As long as you allow your brush to dry properly bacteria will not be an issue.
        1. Toothbrushes made from bamboo are generally BPA free. This means you won’t have to worry about harmful chemicals affecting your health.
        1. Certain types of bamboo toothbrushes have activated charcoal in their bristles which will help leave you with whiter teeth. 

        Bamboo toothbrushes are available to purchase from the product section of Ego Eco Love’s store. Just as a regular toothbrush your bamboo toothbrush still needs to be replaced every 3 months or when you can see that the bristles are becoming damaged. If you feel like making your first step towards a sustainable lifestyle, check out our shop now!

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