Sustainability within fashion is hard to define... what does it actually mean? Is it merely using natural fibres? Or organic cotton? Each 'sustainable' route you take has pros and cons you need to weigh up.
Secondhand Materials
The use of secondhand materials is a core part of Pocket Money. Materials are sourced from opshops, flea markets, garage sales and secondhand directly from the community. Using materials that are already created is the priority as it prevents the materials ending up in landfill. However, sourcing fabric this way can be difficult as not only can specific fabric be hard to find, but often the quality is hard to determine, as well as the fibre content.
Deadstock Materials
If I can't source suitable secondhand fabrics, I will turn to deadstock materials. Deadstock fabric refers to brand/factory excess, leftover, or 'faulty' fabrics that are no longer wanted. From the factory they are bought by deadstock retailers who sell them on to smaller brands and/or individuals. The use of deadstock fabric allows people to access high quality fabrics at lower costs, and utilise the unwanted materials of factories. While it does keep many fabrics from being sent to landfill, a concern is that as factories profit from the resale of their waste fabrics, they are less likely to refine production to stop this waste from occuring in the first place.
Cotton
The use of cotton within the context of sustainability is a tricky one. It is one of the most common fibres in the world, meaning most people have an understanding as to how to properly care for the material. However, the environmental and social impacts of the production of cotton can be severe. The use of pesticides coupled with extractive irrigation methods often used in the farming of cotton may take an environmental and human toll. The runoff from pesticides often poisons waterways while the overuse of water sources may disrupt river systems endangering towns and ecosystems downstream. With this in mind, virgin cotton is used within Pocket Money solely where item longevity is targeted and organic, deadstock and secondhand cotton cannot be sourced.
Natural dye
Natural dye is a method of dying that uses plant or vegetable matter to create pigments, as opposed to synthetic dyes more commonly used in everyday textiles. Contrary to synthetic dyes, natural dye is prone to fading. This can be a beautiful process, as over time the dye fades leaving you with softer colours and patterns.
Longevity
Longevity is another key part of Pocket Money's ethos. Not only do items need to last, they also need to be worn! All pieces are created with the experience of the piece in mind, allowing it to last many years and be something you want to continue wearing.