Sustainable fashion! The phrase alone can seem a little overwhelming, and that’s before you even delve into the reality of contemporary – or unsustainable – fashion. But we don’t like to overcomplicate things at Wunderthings; we really just like to do the right thing. It’s rather lucky that we get to dip our toes into the world of sustainable fashion every single day and help our beautiful community make more informed decisions.

Let’s unstitch and go back to basics.

In its most simple terms, sustainable fashion refers to clothing designed, manufactured, distributed, and used in environmentally friendly ways. It's slightly different to ethical fashion, which refers to clothing made in ways that value social welfare and workers rights.

Unfortunately, those words don't ring true for plenty of fashion labels and stores today. We're currently living in a world of 'fast fashion'. It's a time where four seasons of style are now 52 – one for almost every week of the year. That means clothing goes out of fashion as fast as it comes in, and it's so cheaply made that it's no surprise to find a hole after one wear. Unfortunately, the lower price point also means many shoppers won't think twice about throwing away or moving onto a new trend after just a few wears, even if there are no signs of tear. 

The fast fashion cycle is far from sustainable, as it depletes the earth's natural resources at an exponential rate, exploits workers around the world, and leads to an unfathomable amount of waste.

• 100 billion items of clothing are produced each year.
• Three in five of those garments will end up in landfill within 12 months of purchase.
• 8 – 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions comes from the fashion industry, which is more than the aviation and maritime shipping industries combined.

While pulling back on consumption is undoubtedly a great solution, conservative shopping habits alone aren’t enough to make up for fashion’s unglamorous side. But that’s where sustainable fashion comes in.

Sustainable fashion is on trend.

With the world becoming more environmentally conscious than ever before, it’s no surprise that sustainable fashion is climbing up the ranks. Younger generations are particularly seeking quality products that guarantee to prioritise the planet and its inhabitants. Thankfully, every small decision to purchase a sustainable garment can add up to make a big difference too.

These are a few things to look for that shows that your garment is better than your average fast fashion fare.

NATURAL FIBRES

Nearly 70 million barrels of oil are used each year to make polyester fibre worldwide, which is now the most commonly used material in our clothing. However, crude oil is incredibly damaging to the environment and takes more than 200 years to decompose. On the other hand, natural fibres are not only kinder to the planet – but they’re usually much softer and comfier to wear too.

At Wunderthings, we use regenerated nylon in every product we design and sell. Basically, that means our suppliers take the nylon products currently polluting our environment through a radical regeneration process that strips away any unnecessary materials to leave produce a stack of regenerated nylon. This material is then processed in yarn and used in our products. It’s a win-win, really!

HIGH QUALITY CONSTRUCTION

A well-constructed garment is a more sustainable garment. These products hold up better in the wash, give you a longer lifetime, and shed fewer fibres. If your garment appears looser than it should, stitches are unevenly spaced, or it comes with loose threads, it’s unlikely to withstand too much wear and tear.

It only takes one wear of our Wunderthings products to realise they’re designed to last. We have strict quality controls throughout the production process to ensure everything we deliver goes well beyond all expectations. So when you buy your first pair of Wunderthings, it’ll be sticking around for the long run.

A FAIR PRICE

Fast fashion is cheap for a reason. It’s simply impossible to produce the clothing to a high standard at those prices, unless you’re cutting some corners along the way. In our experience, the low cost typically means low regulation, low standards and low worker safety.

At Wunderthings, that couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ve priced our products to ensure we can source our materials ethically, pay our workers fairly, transport everything with consideration and deliver it to you for a fair price. It’s our way of educating Aussie’s on the importance of sustainable fashion and proving that we really do hold the future in our wallets.

Choosing Wunderthings means choosing the future. It’s simple really.