SMALL STEPS - BIG IMPACT

We, at Usolo Outfitters, have considered ourselves to be a global company from day one. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fresh startup or a hot-shot fortune company with large resources, we should all be striving to become eco-friendly and focus on fashion and sustainability. That’s why being environmentally-conscious is one of our core values and as such, we hold ourselves accountable.

The Fashion Footprint

Historically, apparel and the environment haven’t had the best relationship. The number of resources it takes to grow the materials needed to keep up with consumer demand is putting a serious strain on our planet, especially as consumers increase their fashion footprint.

The Environmental Effects

Cotton, for instance, takes 2,700 liters of water to produce one t-shirt, which is enough for one person to drink for two-and-a-half years! Polyester, on the other hand, is less water-intensive but emits more than double the greenhouse gasses of cotton.

More troubling still is that consumption is only set to ramp up. In fact, in 2014, the average consumer bought 60% more clothes than in 2000 but kept each garment for only half as long. Consumption is only expected to increase to $2.1 trillion globally per year in 2025 –– up from $1.8 trillion in 2015 and $1.0 trillion in 2004. That’s where fashion and sustainability come in. We need to create change, and we need to start now.

The Business Responsibility

When faced with the facts of the apparel industry’s fashion footprint, it’s easy to think the problem is too big to make a difference. We all know that on a large scale, bigger corporations have a huge environmental footprint, and therefore have a responsibility to take larger steps towards fixing it.

Yet, on an individual or small business level as well, it is possible to make a fashion and sustainability impact. Small businesses make up 99% of businesses in the United States. And if 99% of businesses decide to start practicing sustainability, real change is going to happen!