One Earth Fashion

How should we dress on a dying planet?

Our society is driven by consumption. The motto is always faster, cheaper and endless growth. Our current economic system requires infinite growth in a finite system. In cell biology, this is known as 'cancer'. The fashion world is also affected by this. We need a radical change. Because the fashion industry is one of the most environmentally damaging industrial sectors.

There seems to be a broad consensus on where the industry should move; less greenhouse gas emissions, more circular economy, more fairness, less pollution. However, there is no consensus on the scale of change needed for a fairer fashion system.

Fast Fashion

Fast fashion appeals to many with its favourable prices and fast trend cycles. However, what provides short-term satisfaction has complex ecological, social and economic consequences when viewed holistically. The motto is basically buy-use-dispose, and this now applies to 52 micro-seasons in a year. Almost 60% of all clothing produced is disposed of within a year. In Switzerland alone there was 60'400 tonnes textile waste collected.

Toxic Legacy

Every year, the fashion industry consumes around 93 billion cubic meters of water (source), which is enough to meet the needs of five million people. Cotton production alone accounts for 2.6% of global water consumption. Added to this is the water pollution caused by dyeing processes (approx. 20% of industrial water pollution).

However, it is not only the production process that is harmful, but also the disposal. Many cheap fast fashion products in particular end up in landfill sites. Around 70% of donated clothes from Western countries end up in landfill sites in countries such as Chile, Ghana or Pakistan. In the Atacama Desert in Chile, 60,000 tonnes of textile waste are now piling up to form a surreal landscape. The synthetic materials lying there will take up to 200 years to decompose, releasing microplastics in the process. As good as the idea behind donating is, it is also important to remember that collection alone does not always lead to sustainable reuse. The majority of used clothing is exported from high-income countries to South Asia, Africa and Latin America. Some believe that this undermines the local clothing industry, although this proportion is probably rather small. The problem is rather that the old clothes exported are often in such poor condition that they are simply waste. Even if they are not, the items do not meet local demand in terms of style and size. A considerable proportion is therefore simply disposed of there.

 

How we make a difference

As already mentioned, garments are worn far too short these days. On the one hand, this is because the cheaply produced garments can be worn less (see ‘cost per wear’) and on the other hand, the reasons are simply on an emotional level. Everything is fast-moving, just like fashion trends. Through targeted marketing, customers assume that some items of clothing are out of fashion and that there is already another ‘must have’ on the market.

In order to produce garments with long-lasting quality, qualified labour and sufficient time are required during production. That's why we at HUNIQAT stand for slow instead of fast fashion. For less waste and more environmentally conscious production. Our natural resources are not infinitely available, we have to take care of them.

Our promise for a fairer and more environmentally friendly system is:

• Slower production cycles: At HUNIQAT, we focus on quality, not quantity. Our garments are made with love and designed with precision. All HUNIQAT pieces are durable and timeless. No more chasing after fast fashion trends.
• Environmentally friendly: Whether textiles or packaging material, we always try to find environmentally friendly materials and processes. Every decision we make at HUNIQAT, from production to delivery, is made responsibly.
• Ethical: HUNIQAT stands for decent labour. We do not produce in sweatshops and pay attention to ethical production. Even with our business partners. This should also lead to a fairer distribution of the value generated.