Beauty & Fashion

Everyone can help create a world of more sustainable fashion

Sustainable fashion is not just a concern for high end designers – we can all make a difference by the choices we make.

Published

2 years ago

September 17, 2021

ZestMag.com Staff

Photo by Zeny Rosalina from Unsplash.com

Repairing clothes, buying second hand, purchasing direct from the maker, reading labels, lobbying for change via social media platforms and not being a slave to trends are all actions individuals can take to encourage a new, more ethical order of fashion says a QUT researcher.

Around 100 million tonnes of fibre is produced each year and some 92 million tonnes of textile waste are discarded in the same period, an unsustainable situation in which everyone participates whether dressed in PPEs, tracksuit pants, uniforms, skinny jeans, designer dresses, or smart suits.

Associate Professor Alice Payne says even small changes from individuals, paired with larger scale industry and policy measures could help make the current system ‘less bad’ for the environment and workers within it.

Some of the inspiring examples of changes she cites include:

‘Taming waste’ using advanced remanufacturing and other measures to recycle fast fashion fibres
Innovation in biotextiles and other renewable materials to move away from the heavy reliance on non-renewable polyester
Approaches to better connect everyone in the system, from fibre manufacturers, retailers, wearers to charities and recyclers
Growing consumer behavioural change: how people are sharing, swapping, and finding alternative ways to engage in fashion beyond industry dictates, including inventive approaches to repair
Initiatives around the world fighting to improve worker welfare
Manufacturers’ innovation in better management of chemical inputs and wastewater, and
The opportunities presented through traceability technologies that can powerfully connect everyone throughout fashion’s complex supply chains

“‘Sustainable fashion’ may be defined as systems of clothing production and use that are environmentally responsible, contribute to the social wellbeing of workers and the wider community, and are based on values of cultural respect,” said Associate Professor Payne who has a new book on the subject – Designing Fashion’s Future: Present Practice and Tactics for Sustainable Change (Bloomsbury).

“What is considered design in fashion is trivialised, feminised or brought into the rarefied world of art and serves to disguise how design in fashion actually functions. Exalted high end designers such as Chanel or McQueen represent only the tiniest portion of design practice in fashion.

“My book is not about them. Instead, I have sought to understand the design processes and practices of those who create everyday items like socks and t-shirts, as well as the many other decision-makers who help bring into being these humble objects. These people and their design processes clothe the world from cradle to grave, and their practices design fashion’s future.”

Associate Professor Payne sees the dominant form of fashion system as composed of four networks of production, promotion, wearing and destruction, all of which are out of sync with one another.

“In the dominant system, fashion’s industry and culture are bound up with an unsustainable pace of change, provoking the continual creation and destruction of new garments and the continual piquing of desire without satiation,” she said.

“A ‘better’ fashion system is certainly possible, but everyone needs to take some responsibility – if you wear clothes, you are part of it. In the past decade fashion sustainability ‘awareness’ has risen exponentially but so has pollution, waste, and overconsumption.”

By digging into the root causes of fashion’s unsustainability, Associate Professor Payne proposes the imperfect but essential actions to take for change, and how these can be defined for an individual – whether designer, brand owner or everyday wearer – as their own ‘ethical action space’.

“The book is not ‘optimistic’. Nor does it claim ‘sustainability’ is ever possible. Amid climate crisis and growing inequality, we may see few reasons to be optimistic. Rather, a way through the doom is to reject vague optimism and embrace hope, which can be expressed through actions,” she said.

“Think about the issues that matter to you – whether biodiversity, justice for workers, tackling climate change, poverty, and that can become your ethical action space.

“In the short-term, it’s about seeking to make things better in the immediate and near future, within the scope of one’s own ethical action space. For me that includes working with colleagues, community, and industry partners in finding the new processes and technologies to re-evaluate waste, here in Australia.

“A long-term agenda for fashion’s designers is to prepare our organisations, firms, communities in which we work for a resource-constrained future, one that is cleaner and lower-carbon through necessity, yet one in which economies and communities may be struggling to adapt. Fashion as culture, expressive of community and identity, will find new ways to flourish within these limits.”

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Beauty & Fashion

UNIQLO and White Mountaineering launches second collaboration collection, made with recycled materials

UNIQLO announced that it will launch a second collaboration collection with Japanese outdoor clothing brand White Mountaineering. This new LifeWear features recycled materials in two outerwear styles for people of all ages.

Published

1 month ago

October 19, 2023

ZestMag.com Staff

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO announced that it will launch a second collaboration collection with Japanese outdoor clothing brand White Mountaineering. This new LifeWear features recycled materials in two outerwear styles for people of all ages.

Recycled Hybrid Down Jacket
Php 4,990 (three colors available)

This jacket is filled with recycled down and feathers, sourced from used garments that customers have donated to stores. The sleeves and upper back employ padding to ensure warmth and ease of movement, while the wave quilting design enables stylish layering. The garment also features excellent water repellency and heat retention properties.

Fleece Full-Zip Long Sleeve Hoodie
Php 2,990 (four colors available)

A parka that includes a fleece component made from 100% recycled polyester, combining long-layered boa fleece and a smooth-surface fleece material. The garment’s convenient features include pockets on the left chest and waist, size adjusters at the hem, and binder cuffs that make rolling up the sleeves easy.

Founder Yosuke Aizawa was born in 1977. He launched the White Mountaineering brand in 2006 after graduating from the Department of Product and Textile Design at Tama Art University. He has presented collections at Paris Fashion Week since 2016, and continues to design for various international brands. He is an affiliate professor at Tama Art University and Tohoku University of Art and Design.

RE.UNIQLO is UNIQLO’s initiative to recycle and reuse all of its merchandise. Through this program, UNIQLO collects garments worn by customers and distributes them to people in need around the world, including at refugee camps and in disaster-stricken areas. Unwearable clothing is recycled into fuel or materials including clothing. The Recycled Hybrid Down Jacket represents a new RE.UNIQLO initiative to recycle clothing into clothing.

Beauty & Fashion

UNIQLO launches ‘Doraemon Sustainability Mode’ products for JOIN: THE POWER OF CLOTHING Campaign

UNIQLO announces the launch of the 2023 Fall/Winter collection for JOIN: THE POWER OF CLOTHING, a campaign supporting UNESCO activities to reduce marine debris.

Published

2 months ago

October 4, 2023

ZestMag.com Staff

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO announces the launch of the 2023 Fall/Winter collection for JOIN: THE POWER OF CLOTHING, a campaign supporting UNESCO activities to reduce marine debris. The new items, the final in the series featuring popular cartoon character Doraemon, will be available at UNIQLO stores throughout Japan and the uniqlo.com online store from Friday, October 6.

JOIN: THE POWER OF CLOTHING is a customer-participation project that connects the “power of clothing” with actions for a more sustainable world. Items for the 2023 Fall/Winter collection are the Doraemon Sustainability Mode Fluffy Yarn Fleece Full-Zip Jacket, and the Doraemon Sustainability Mode Toy, both made of 100% recycled polyester fabric. The Full-Zip Jacket features a small Doraemon Sustainability Mode motif on the chest, and the Toy is UNIQLO’s first plush toy made from fluffy yarn fleece material. This will be the final Doraemon Sustainability Mode collection.

For every purchase of products eligible for the campaign, which include Doraemon Sustainability Mode items and other fleece items made from recycled polyester, Fast Retailing will donate US$1 to UNESCO to support its international initiative to reduce ocean garbage, which includes educational programs to raise awareness of marine debris issues.

Doraemon Sustainability Mode Products

Doraemon Sustainability Mode Fluffy Yarn Fleece Full-Zip Jacket: Php 1,490

Doraemon Sustainability Mode KIDS Fluffy Yarn Fleece Full-Zip Jacket: Php 990

Doraemon Sustainability Mode Toy: Php 990

For more information, visit https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/en/contents/sustainability/jointpoc/.

Beauty & Fashion

UNIQLO celebrates 5th anniversary in PH

Being the biggest Global Flagship store in Southeast Asia, it is the home to the complete line-up of LifeWear items in the country, as well as unique experiences such as the custom printing service, UTme!, and special displays and collaborations with various local talents.

Published

2 months ago

September 23, 2023

ZestMag.com Staff

Global apparel retailer UNIQLO marks the 5th anniversary of its Global Flagship store in the Philippines with exciting experiences and fun-filled activities for everyone to enjoy.

Since its opening in 2018, the UNIQLO Manila Global Flagship Store has brought customers exciting things over the years. Being the biggest Global Flagship store in Southeast Asia, it is the home to the complete line-up of LifeWear items in the country, as well as unique experiences such as the custom printing service, UTme!, and special displays and collaborations with various local talents.

As part of the brand’s appreciation for being part of Filipinos’ daily lives, UNIQLO is bringing customers an even better shopping experience as they ring in their 5th year from October 13 to 26, 2023.

Elevated Store. Elevated Essentials. Embrace the Future.

UNIQLO Manila’s 5^th anniversary promises to be one for the books with the theme “Elevated Store. Elevated Essentials. Embrace the Future.”

Bringing the concept to life is UNIQLO’s partnership with five young and distinguished individuals who have achieved global recognition in their respective fields. Each partner represents one of the brand’s biggest item lines which all hold innovative functionality at its core. These LifeWear items champion the Filipino people, elevating everyone’s essentials, wardrobe, and lifestyle.

Food and lifestyle content creator Erwan Heussaff, recognized by the prestigious James Beard Media Awards last June, joins the group for AIRism
Groundbreaking director Martika Escobar, the first Philippine director to win an award at the Sundance Film Festival, represents HEATTECH
Part of the group as well modeling for the AirSense line-up is entrepreneur Gio Visitacion, owner of the Good Cup Coffee Company and 2020 Philippine Brewers Cup champion
Southeast Asian Games Medalist and Guinness World Record holder Kaizen Dela Serna for UV Protection products
Award-winning singer and actress, popstar royalty Sarah Geronimo for Bra Tops

Discover new experiences

Opening on the second floor of the Global Flagship Store, customers are treated to new and revamped experiences.

UNIQLO is introducing UNIQLO Coffee to the country, bringing Filipinos the brand’s cafe-style offerings that first opened in 2021 at the renewed UNIQLO Global Flagship Store in Ginza. Highlighting the brand’s commitment to being one with the community, the coffee drinks will be made with locally sourced, high quality coffee beans from Mt. Apo, and will feature goods and pastries that mix Filipino and Japanese flavors.

As part of the brand’s commitment to sustainability, UNIQLO is also set to bring to Manila its Re.UNIQLO Studio. Visitors to the Global Flagship Store will get to enjoy repair services on their pre-loved UNIQLO items, bringing new life to their favorite LifeWear pieces. This stays true to the LifeWear philosophy of quality, enabling customers to enjoy their UNIQLO items for a longer period of time.

Lastly, UNIQLO refreshes their UTme! line-up, collaborating with local artists from all over the country to bring customers unique designs they can customize on t-shirts and tote bags. The artists include Gianne Encarnacion and Ross Du of Metro Manila, Johanna Velasco and Myka Arnado of Cebu, and Kajo Baldisimo of Davao. Muralist Glendford Lumbao also joins in to contribute a piece to be displayed at the new experience areas on the second floor of the Flagship Store.

Enjoy special UNIQLO items and limited-time offers

The celebration doesn’t stop here! From October 13 to 31, customers can expect exciting freebies and promos exclusive to the UNIQLO Manila Flagship store.

Moreover, customers should also stay tuned for fun and educational workshops led by select UTme! artists and endorsers throughout the month of October.

Make the most of the fun activities and special offers by visiting the UNIQLO Manila Global Flagship store in Glorietta 5 in Makati City from October 13 to 26, 2023.