Sustainability at Uniforme

When we think of industries that play a harmful role on the environment, we don’t typically think of fashion. However, fashion is the second most polluting industry in the world, which makes it one of the largest contributors to the global climate crisis. “Fast Fashion” is the concept that delivers low cost clothing from third world countries to consumers in developed countries, like the U.S. and Europe. At Uniforme, we are trying to bring back slow fashion in order to create a platform where the materials we use, the way clothes are produced, and the way we shop doesn’t cost us the earth.

Materials

The production process of fashion is one of the leading causes in harmful green house gases which not only affect human health, but also the environment. This process includes the creation of new fabrics and the manufacturing of new garments. Approximately 2/3 of fashion’s impact on sustainability occurs during the raw material stage, before clothes are produced. Today, more than 60% of materials made are synthetic fabrics, in other words, plastic. When these fabrics are washed they release microplastic, which ultimately ends up in the ocean and rivers. Not only does material selection affect how you feel in a garment, but also how it is washed and recycled. Clothing should look and feel good, but not at the cost of our planet. We have the choice to produce and wear natural fabrics such as linen, silk, organic cotton, and wool. Responsibility looks good on you.

Origin

In 1960 approximately 96% of all clothes worn in America were produced in the USA. Today, the USA produces 3% with the other 97% outsourced to developing countries where there is no enforcement of fair trade or workers right. One in every six people on earth work in the global fashion industry, making it the most labor dependent industry on earth. This is due to the fact that the more we outsource, the cheaper clothes are, which creates the economic platform for fast fashion. Not only does this greatly impact the lives of those involved in the garment industry, but it effects the environment with the drastic amount of emissions emitted during transport. Just one t shirt being transported to the US from Asia emits approximately 2 pounds of CO2 emissions. We believe in buying local which is why Uniforme produces and manufactures in the USA. Location, location, location.

Afterlife

Many women today have adopted a “wear it once culture”. Studies show that 33% of women consider clothes old after wearing an item as few as 3 times, resulting in the garment because discarded. Recycled clothes can take up to 200 years to biodegrade. In the landfill, the synthetic fabrics release heavy chemicals such as BPA into the earth. Obviously something is wrong if women are wearing clothes a few times only to be thrown away without a second thought. Uniforme aims to create classic pieces that are so damn good they become iconic staples in a wardrobe and get passed down to the next generation. Uniforme creates certain pieces using its recycled clothing program for materials such as the coziest cashmere sweater and your new favorite pair of jeans. We don’t need more, we need better.