Glossary
Understanding key terms in sustainable and fast fashion
C
- Carbon Footprint
- The total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly and indirectly by an individual, organisation, event, or product.
- Circular Fashion
- A system where clothing is designed, produced, and used in ways that enable it to circulate in society for as long as possible, minimising waste.
- Conscious Consumption
- The practice of being aware of the impact of purchasing decisions on the environment and society.
D
- Deadstock Fabric
- Surplus fabric from fashion houses and mills that would otherwise go to waste, often used by sustainable designers.
E
- Ethical Fashion
- Clothing that is produced with consideration for the people making it and the environment in which it's made.
F
- Fast Fashion
- Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends, often with negative environmental and social impacts.
G
- Greenwashing
- The practice of making misleading claims about the environmental benefits of a product or company.
M
- Microplastics
- Tiny plastic particles released from synthetic fabrics during washing that pollute waterways and oceans.
O
- Organic
- Materials grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or genetically modified organisms.
S
- Slow Fashion
- An approach to fashion that considers the processes and resources required to make clothing, promoting quality over quantity.
- Supply Chain Transparency
- The practice of openly sharing information about where and how products are made.
T
- Textile Waste
- Discarded clothing and fabric scraps, much of which ends up in landfills rather than being recycled or repurposed.
U
- Upcycling
- The process of transforming waste materials or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or environmental value.
V
- Vintage
- Clothing from a previous era, typically at least 20 years old, often considered more sustainable than buying new.
Z
- Zero Waste
- A design philosophy that aims to eliminate waste through careful planning and innovative pattern making.