Be Kind Apparel: Sustainable and ethical clothing right on our doorstep
Sustainable fashion is a deep interest of mine. as I’m obsessed with shopping and anxious about climate change, and sustainable clothing seems like a great way for me to deal with this issue. Fast fashion has a gross impact on the environment. The BBC states that according to the UN the fashion industry accounts for eight to ten percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. The BBC goes on to describe what some of these causes are which include their raw materials. Cotton production for the fashion industry uses about two and a half percent of global farmland while production processes like dying needs forty-three million tonnes of chemicals a year. These are sobering statistics, especially when buying clothing is usually taken for granted, we might consider the cost and the quality of the clothing item but how often do we consider the ethical cost of our closet, and how much damage it causes to the earth?
One Cork based clothing company is here to help change things. Be Kind Apparel is a sustainable online leisurewear store that is based in Glanmire.Statista reported that the sales share of sustainable clothing products on the global market has only increased from 2013, which bodes well for this clothing sector. 2013 had a 2.1% sales share and it’s only risen from there with 2022 boasting of a 4.1% sales share. Fast fashion follows trends and uses cheap materials in their production according to the BBC. This has a negative impact on the environment for reasons I’ve already explained and for the rather simple one: it produces waste. Because fast fashion follows trends, when those trends go out of fashion very few buy those clothes anymore, people want the new trendy clothes. Out of fashion clothes are discarded, and new clothes are produced, and the cycle continues. But Be Kind Apparel doesn’t subscribe to these methods, instead they follow a sustainable and ethical guide when it comes to the production of the clothing brand which has a positive effect on the planet.
To delve deeper into fast fashion and its negative effects on the environment and contribution to global warming, the website Earth.org gives a detailed account of the cost of fast fashion and it is disheartening to say the least. A sobering comparison of global carbon emissions would be to the European Union which produces as much as ten percent of the Earth's carbon emissions. This is on par with the fashion industry and much of this is down to fast fashion. Earth.org describes how the fashion industry negatively affects the environment and after reading this I look at sustainable fashion with an even more appreciative mind and their efforts to minimise their effects on the earth is needed. Earth. Org states that up to eighty five percent of textiles end up in landfills each year. These textiles are what is called fast fashion and it’s a mainstay of the fashion industry - the antithesis to ethical ethos. Earth.org accounts for how fast fashion produces mass waste throughout their production process from design to the sales rack, for example Zara who were able to design, produce and deliver a new product in two weeks. This produces waste because more clothes are being made than what is needed, which is why so many textiles in the fashion industry end up in a landfill. Be Kind Apparel counters fast fashion because this brand commits to high sustainable standards through every process, unlike fast fashion brands. Be Kind Apparel promises that they work with all their suppliers to ensure they meet their ethical and sustainable standards, from packaging that is made from recyclable materials to their garment supplier that is recognised internationally for sustainability production. This is in direct contrast to fast fashion as their textiles are usually not bought with sustainability in mind according to the Quantis International 2018 report. One of the main causes of pollution in the fashion industry included the dyeing and finishing of textiles which accounted for thirty six percent of its pollution. Be Kind Apparel takes action to minimise its pollution and works against this mindless consumption and excessive production by ensuring that every step of their production and delivery is kind to the planet.
Be Kind Apparel is a locally based clothing brand and its focus is on kindness and, from the look of their clothing, comfort. Just a quick glance at their website reveals cosy jumpers in both calming and vibrant shades of blue, yellow, pink, green, lavender and so much more. The jumpers also have correspondingly coloured T-shirts and sweatshirts. Their clothes look so comfortable, and I can picture myself wearing them for anything from a walk on the beach to meeting up with my friends. To be honest, Be Kind Apparels clothes look so cosy, leisurewear is an apt description. The brand’s main message though isn’t sustainability or ethical wear even though they’re both honest descriptions of the Glanmire based brand. Their main message is actually kindness. Be Kind Apparels website reveals their commitment to ethical and sustainable clothing with their goal being “a premium ethical and sustainable product”. Be Kind Apparel writes that they’ve committed to maintaining the highest sustainable standards in every step of production, including shipping. Their products are certified to the highest international standards for sustainability and ethical production and they work to limit their impact on the environment. This is followed by a list of certificates of approval including one from Fair Wear and another from Global Organic Textile Standard, proving that Be Kind Apparel really is ethical and sustainable in their production. We can see that this Cork business is conscious of how the fashion industry can damage the planet, and they’re taking steps to ensure that their company alleviates climate change rather than makes matters worse.
This clothing brand follows through on their message from their name in regards to their ethical production, and even more. Be Kind Apparel states on their website that they donate five percent of profits to five local charities. I think this is so heart-warming that a local business carries on their message in so many ways, not just to the environment but to their community. I think this is a wonderful way to give back to your community and I love that the leisurewear brand owners Gregg and Eric have sustained the spirit of what began their local business: the creation and highlighting of kindness that exists around us.
Be Kind Apparel is a sustainable and ethical brand that works to minimise the fashion industries pollution levels but one of their drawbacks would be pricing. As I write this, the hoodies are listed as €54.99. The T-shirts cost €22.99 while the sweatshirts are€47.99. This isn’t affordable for college students, at least not for any that I know, but in defense of Be Kind Apparel they are not unusual for having high prices for sustainable clothing. Sustainable fashion often costs more than fast fashion, and this is for several reasons from quality to the cost of labour. For example, sustainable and ethical fashion can be more expensive because it prioritises labour and protects those that work for them in their production line. Ethical brands are more likely to prioritise fair wages to their workers and this would impact the pricing as this would fall under production costs. This would increase the price of the garment as the business still needs to make a profit. This can be seen in Vogue India which reports that sustainable fashion focuses on well-made garments and a longer lead time in factories which leads to more consistent payment of wages. This makes sense when we consider what I’ve written about a dozen times; that they’re sustainable and prioritise the earth in their production and kindness, so of course this would fall under the fair payment of workers, especially when they work with all their partners to ensure that they meet the same ethical standards. I’m very excited that there is another sustainable clothing brand I can obsess over for the foreseeable future.