Impact

Impact of the Fashion Industry

Ethical Fashion vs Sustainable Fashion

Ethical and Sustainable have become synonymous in the world of green washing buzz words.
In a complex, nuance filled world, we're sharing our thoughts and how we define these terms in the hopes that it enables reflection on the industry as a whole and allows for more in depth conversations towards creating change.

How we define ethical fashion vs sustainable fashion

centred on the people

Ethical Fashion

Is about protecting human rights and animal welfare across the supply chain: who makes our clothes, under what conditions, and whether they are paid fairly and treated with dignity. Ethical fashion considers skilled craftsmanship, safe working environments, child-labour-free production, anti-discrimination practices, and transparency at every stage. It extends beyond borders. Our ethics are not defined by geography but by integrity, accountability and the social repercussions of bringing a garment into the world.

Centred on the planet

Sustainable Fashion

Focuses on managing Earth’s resources responsibly through low-impact materials, organic and certified fibres, reduced carbon emissions, low-waste design, and thoughtful consideration of a garment’s full lifecycle— from sourcing to end of life. Sustainability asks whether fashion can exist within ecological limits, allowing systems to regenerate and businesses to grow without depletion. While deeply connected, the distinction matters: it is not sustainable to ignore people, and it is not ethical to ignore the planet— but one leads with human impact, the other with environmental responsibility.

The Fashion industries negative effects on the environment is overwhelmingly caused by fast fashion brands and large scale companies that prioritise their profits over people and the planet. As a small, slow fashion brand, we choose to center our values around people and the planet because for us, they're not just another marketing ploy or box to tick, they're an integral part of the design process.

We are committed to continuously educating ourselves on ways we can do better. As creators and consumers, we acknowledge our role in an industry that is causing more harm than good to our planet. We believe there is a better way, through supporting slow fashion brands and changing our perspective on clothing and consumption, working on sustainability initiatives and community action. Striving towards a fashion world that advocates for the people who actually make our clothes and the land on which it's created.

Below is a non exhaustive list of environmental issues that the fashion industry faces and ways that we, here at Gentle Threads navigate these issues.

Fashion production accounts for ~ 10% of humanity's total carbon emissions.

Carbon Footprint

We are constantly evaluating ways to improve our carbon footprint and are aware that many of our current systems aren't scaleable. Initiatives in place include:
- Investing in natural fibres
- LED bulbs installed throughout the shop
- Energy plan that prioritises renewable energy
- Energy provider is certified by the GreenPower program
- Encourage brands we stock to use compostable garment bags
- Cardboard boxes received are stripped of tape & used in our gardens. Extras are taken to the local transfer station
- Encourage people to choose quality to allow them to buy less
- Highlight & showcase ethical brands that are committed to sustainable & ethical practices
- Opt for sea freight on in-house collections
- Prioritising paper mailers for shipping.

85% of textiles end up in landfills each year.

Waste

Waste initiatives include:
- Waste management  —cardboard is recycled at the local transfer centre or used on our gardens.  Any soft plastics that we do receive are recycled appropriately at the local transfer centre or reused around our homes. I.e. bin liners & home projects.  
- Yarns are spun to order 
- Manufacture in small quantities  
- Small orders from brands 
- Deadstock yarns & fabrics used for all in house production 
- Work with brands that have similar waste reduction policies 
- Garments that are damaged or do not sell are taken home by staff, sold on second hand platforms, donated where possible or re-imagined into other garments & pieces.  
- Emphasise timeless designs over trends
 - Encourage & educate people to repair their clothing

The fashion industry contributes to water scarcity & water pollution through the use of toxic chemicals & wastewater discharge.

Water

Water preserving initiatives in place:
- Our in-house collections are made with OEKO-TEX & GOTS certified fibres
- Our knitwear manufacturers use a water treatment station that is on site . This prevents any contamination of local water systems whilst significantly reducing their total water consumption
- Choosing sustainable materials made from natural fibres  
- Encourage and educate people to wash their clothes properly & less often

Washing clothes that contain synthetic fibres, such as polyester, acrylic & nylon releases microplastics into the ocean, generating thousands of bits of plastic.

Microplastics

Ways we're limiting microplastic spread
- Prioritise natural fibres 
- Encourage people to wash their clothes less 
- Phasing out all plastics across the supply chain
- Paper & cardboard packaging where possible

The fast fashion cycle perpetuates consumption & waste, exacerbating the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Of which, Australians are the highest consumers per capita.

Fast Fashion

- Discourage the practice & participation of fast, transient trends both within our supply chains and our broader community...
- Instead prioritising timeless, high quality and durable pieces
 - Educate consumers & offer an alternative solution
 - Promote & showcase slow fashion practices

Wind turbines on a hillside with a clear sky

Water flowing over a series of concrete barriers with a natural landscape in the background.

Large pile of discarded clothing at a landfill site with mountains in the background.

Replace current brand, care label & size pips to 100% cotton.
We've previously tried cotton tags which unfortunately wore out quickly. We're working with new suppliers on a new version which is expected to be on our Winter 2026 pieces.
Replacing our recycled paper swing tags with cotton swing tags which are made from cotton linters (the fuzz around the seed).

Expand our size range to include XXL and beyond.
Launch our pre-loved collection.
Comprised of found pieces, repaired garments & previous styles that customers aren't getting enough wear of.

notice something we can improve on?

Please let us know so we can implement a long term solution.

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