An ethical current flows through Baby and Company and ripples through the designers that we carry. Each one is carefully selected based on quality, morals, and their contribution to the larger narrative of sustainability. Our goal is to not only dress people in clothes they love but to encourage them to hold on to each item, rather than constantly seeking the new or trendy. Though many thoughtful companies hold themselves to the same moral standard, we watch as the environment is drowned by the world’s second-biggest polluter behind coal; fashion.
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The fast fashion industry centers on speed and low costs to bring about new collections inspired by celebrity and influencers. The amount of clothing that people buy every year has more than doubled in the past two decades and the damage it is doing to our environment is massive. The aim to reduce cost and get a product from design to retail as fast a possible means that companies are not taking the time to care about their practices and the environment.
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According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American throws out seventy pounds of clothing every year and more than 85 percent ends up in a landfill. But it’s not just physical waste we’re talking about here, the fashion industry generates more greenhouse emissions than international flights and shipping combined. This adds up to about 1.2 billion tons a year. On top of that, textile dyeing is the second largest polluter of clean water globally, second only to agriculture.
Photo: The True Cost
We should all be held accountable when addressing the mounting problem of textile waste. Here’s what you can do to help - Donate all textiles, even if they are torn or stained. This including shoes, belts, linens, towels, accessories, curtains, ties, undergarments, purses, pillows and more. All of these things can be recycled, as long as there is no harmful chemicals or mildew on them. Look at labels and do research on the brands you love. When people stop buying into bad fashion practices, companies will listen. Last but not least, buy locally. Air travel is a major polluter and shipping a few garments here and there from overseas adds up. You can help by buying directly from the designer or retailer. Though these small acts seem quite minuscule, they can change the world.