sustainability buzzwords & greenwashing tactics brands use | what they really mean

[@TheReverenceProject]

As a fashion designer myself who’s been truly appalled by working for commercial fashion brands I can say very clearly: they don’t care about you as a consumer or the environment. They care about profit and looks. It was so disheartening to work like that when I had bigger dreams and hopes for what fashion potentially could be. Sustainability can look so many different ways, maybe compostable clothing so that you can keep updating your closet in the fast-phased tempo we see today. Maybe through upcykling already existing materials or by emulating how clothes were produced historically, made to measure via tailoring. This is something I have in mind while developing my brand.

[@alexiamaes3992]

Just commenting because I want KZbin to boost your channel so more people will become aware of the clothing they're buying! Supporting you all the way.

[@inspiroue]

aw tysm appreciate you 😭 I wish this could get more exposure too! x

[@sarahthatcher123]

YES, YES, YES....finally a video sharing the real information about what is really sustainable. I have been trying to shop for some basic items like a grey t- shirt, a sweatshirt and a sweater....I cannot find any of these items in the style, fit , size and color I want in 'truly' sustainable materials. So many add plastic. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who sees the issues and feels the same way I do. I am so tired of all these supposedly ' sustainable ' brands that say 'no one is 'perfect'. To me it seems like they use it as an excuse to keep on using plastic and unsustainable ( aka cheaper) materials and fabric. I'm so disappointed in how few truly sustainable brands there are and the very few I know of in the USA , don't ship to Canada. So in order to buy a truly sustainable brand I have to shop from an Australian or U.K. Brand...which isn't very sustainable and makes me so frustrated because the brands just across the boarder and have the items I am interested in but I can't get them. Also, sizing has been an issue. Often when I do find an item...it doesn't come in a size I can wear. It's hard not to get so discouraged. I guess the good side is I'm saving a ton of money because I cannot find anything to buy.

[@inspiroue]

Thank you!! We need better education around what TRUE sustainability is and I hope this helps spread awareness! And yes the 'no shipping to Canada' thing really sucks right now but I understand a lot of it is related to the pandemic. I've been discovering more smaller brands based in Canada (who try to use decent fabrics) and I'll share em in a future video, but I am finding that it's choosing brands that check off 'as many boxes as possible' but true sustainability from a brand is rare to come by (idk if this really exists either) x

[@CORNCHIP941]

Thank you so much for putting in the time to do research and make these videos! I'm so happy that I found your channel/instagram account! ❤️

[@inspiroue]

Aw tysm!! Appreciate your support a ton x 💛

[@Miluriel]

I really think sewing clothes ourselves again might be good, too. At least, if you made it yourself, you probably also know how to repair it, and you also realize how much work went into its creation. It's still so hard to find good fabrics, though. Just... So much polyester and viscose.

[@allafairytale]

I only just started watching your channel but am in awe of your in-depth videos and have learned so much; I no longer buy fast-fashion and am so happy to have great content like yours to learn even more from. Thank you :))

[@inspiroue]

This means so much to me - appreciate your support a ton 💛

[@jobless_mar]

That intro was EVERYTHING. And as always thank you so much for an amazingly well-researched and educational video! I am learning so so much. Thank you for your hard work and effort!

[@inspiroue]

THANK YOU for appreciating the intro 👏🏼 It truly means a lot to hear this cause it's so much work and I'm exhausted tbh 💛

[@simplesustainability]

This is great content, so important, and very well-highlighted. True sustainability in fashion requires an end-to-end life-cycle assessment for goods. My thinking is that without much stronger regulation (both in US and where I'm from in the UK!) preventing brands from misleading consumers, things aren't likely to improve fast enough.

[@ClassifiedCloset]

YES love this so much, it's so important to be aware of greenwashing tactics that brands use. Always making the most informative & well thought out content, Cynthia!!! *also...YES TO THIS NETFLIX SERIES @ NETFLIX, LISTEN UP !!!!!

[@inspiroue]

Right!! We need more education around this to avoid falling for greenwashing -- appreciate your support gal 💛 and yes NETFLIX PLEAAASE haha

[@littlereddragon]

I'm so glad I found your channel, I learn so much in every video and you're so eloquent! Side note: I thought the difference between upcycling and recycling was that the first involves giving something a second life without really changing it and the second involved breaking it down to reuse the material. So if you buy, say a denim jacket with rips in it and missing buttons, but you fix them and give it a funky patch that's upcycling whereas if you broke it down into fibres and made a new jacket, that would be recycling.

[@inspiroue]

Makes me so happy to hear my videos can help! x And yes that definition is true too -- there's no singular definition around either in the industry so both terms are used and applied to a broad set of processes. In the video, I'm speaking specifically to upcycled and recycled fibres from the textile manufacturing industry! 'Upcycling' pieces as consumers is the definition you shared too - multiple meanings! I linked a very good breakdown in the resources section of description that explains both too!

[@littlereddragon]

@@inspiroue absolutely! And so good to see more WOC in this space. Ah, I see. Will check out the links - I really hope there is some standardisation in the future for some of these terms so that companies can't just use them for greenwashing.

[@isagrnr]

Thank you for clearing up about all these terms that are sometimes hard to distinguish and quite untransparent! Love your entertaining and educational content

[@inspiroue]

You're so welcome! Always so happy to see my content helping x

[@mathidangamsiripol1570]

Thank you for showing us what fashion can truly be. I hope that youtubers can learn from you and use their platforms just like you-pushing us to learn and expand our knowledge! You are a true inspiration.

[@inspiroue]

Me too -- at least this content is out there so those who actually want to learn more can! Really means a lot to hear this, appreciate you x 💛

[@linnnnnlinnnnn]

As always really informative video, learnt new words to be more aware about, thank you for making this! 💛 for anyone looking for new conscious independent labels to support, I have been using “good on you” to find more of them!

[@inspiroue]

Yay so happy to hear this, appreciate you a ton! 💛 Good on You is definitely a good place to start (esp if you don't have time for a deep dive) but I would highly reco doing a bit more research than just what they rate -- they are pretty high level/vague with what they look for in terms of a "good" rating! x

[@kyla1515]

I also use the app :)

[@jess2533]

LOVE your videos. I hope that we get more and more consumers that are hyper-conscious of this issue like you are 💕✨ Thank you for putting these resources out there! x

[@inspiroue]

thank you appreciate you x and me too!!

[@_hael]

Vox does a lot documentaries on contemporary topics as well. They have a show on Netflix with micro docs. Get this girl a film crew!

[@inspiroue]

Omg yes! Haha @vox @netflix let's make this happen!

[@marixlife]

I love your videos!! Thank you for your hard work 🙏🏻 also my biggest pet peeve is when my bf buys the “sustainable/green line” from H&M 😫 but I get that he’s trying, so I’m grateful for that, but please lmk if you have any men’s fashion resources I can send over to him!

[@inspiroue]

Tysm for your support! x Haha yes a good start -- I haven't spent much time researching menswear but I'll keep an eye out x

[@jess2533]

Not a men’s fashion resource per say, but has he watched the documentary True Cost? They mention H&M a bit and it’s a great documentary about this topic! It’s on Netflix. But in reality there is no division between gendered fashion; it’s all made the same. I get that it can be hard to find menswear though! I’m based in australia and I really love Afends for both myself and my partner.

[@biancabuscemi9590]

I'm so glad I found your channel!!

[@desimc6380]

Thank for this video! I'm trying to shop more responsibly and was having so much trouble understanding who is/isn't misleading.

[@graceli4910]

Thank you so so much for these thoughts and resources. Extremely important and informative!

[@inspiroue]

You are so welcome! x

[@honeypotfilms6066]

your channel has helped educate me sm!!

[@inspiroue]

yay this makes me so happy to hear 💛

[@ellenwadsworth8437]

i’ve only just started watching your videos and wow they are so great! i’ve learnt so much so far, you are so good at putting all the information together in one video, and i love your voice! is there anyway you could review the activewear brand neu apparel? or have you spoken about them before?

[@shaunaburton7136]

This is a well thought out video. I learned a lot.

[@nickrod32]

I need to show this to my lil sister i always tell her you gotta be wary of all the buzzwords companies use now to come off as eco friendly etc 👍✌

[@siejsidjksjdjd]

Incredible video! ❤️

[@inspiroue]

thank you 💛

[@ngayi]

i like the way you say vague

[@inspiroue]

haha that canadian accent

[@marias2656]

Where did you get that top!! Wonderful topic by the way. You're such an eloquent speaker

[@inspiroue]

Thrifted!! Haha thank you x

[@Ananda_tho]

Have you by any chance heard of Sézane? Their about section seems pretty detailed as is their FAQ section on sustainability. Was just wondering if you had any thoughts on the brand? I am really interested in buying sustainably and ethically and this guide is super helpful- but putting in loads of research before buying brand new is not something I always have time for...

[@qqchua4820]

There is a website that evaluates the sustainability of brands based through certain categories at directory.goodonyou.eco, I checked the profile for Sézane and it apparently is "Not Good Enough"... not sure though, I also checked the brand's sustainability commitments page and an error appeared where the page no longer exists... so not sure what's going on? I have purchased a few of their sweaters and honestly believe they are overhyped to a certain degree, I would give them a second chance if their sustainability commitments checked out though.

[@Ananda_tho]

Thanks, I’ll check out that website. Honestly I’m sure Sezane is overhyped- I’m just really into Parisian/French fashion and have virtually no clue where to buy from for sustainable/ethical options (other than thrift stores).

[@inspiroue]

I've heard of them but haven't assessed anything too deeply. If they're a 'not good enough' on Good On You they're prob not the best! I'm trying to figure out how to balance these brand deep dive requests (it's a lot of work to research to give a good opinion tbh) -- might be something I offer on Patreon so everyone can vote on which brands they're interested in! x

[@elisa4620]

@@inspiroue Hello, I just discovered your channel and I really like it and what you do here on KZbin. I really appreciate your honesty, about sustainability being a privilege for instance, and about greenwashing. I hope to some day be able to buy from sustainable brands but for now I have a very small budget and can only afford stuff from charity shops and second-hand stores/thrift-shops. This is also the reason why I would be grateful if the in-depth series could be available here on KZbin, as I can't afford to support creators on patron but I make sure to watch the ads to the end so you all can get the ad revenues. I say this because I am sure that there might be many others like me, who would be interested in this series so we know which brands to trust the day we can afford them. Anyway, thanks for sharing your knowledge on sustainability 🐱

[@inspiroue]

Elisa appreciate your support and kind words so much! And yes agreed on this - I don’t want to gate this content on patreon because at the end of the day, education & awareness is my priority because it’s truly the only way to progress towards a sustainable future. I think I’ll keep having a donation link option & work with brands a bit more (and hope that you/my audience can understand this - I trust that through what you can learn from my videos, everyone can make the most informed decisions this way)! I’d rather get money from brands than from y’all too hehe. Really appreciate you watching the ads all the way through and supporting in ways that you can! 💛🥰

[@dametriamorris782]

When you’re speaking on the second most sustainable (second hand). Where do companies like depop, eBay, Poshmark stand in all of this? These brands have individuals who shop for clothing items that have been used but also many people buy thrifted items just to sell them online. The shipments can be local or internationally. How do large brands like that keep track of how large their carbon foot print is when so many people are shipping over sees or across countries? I mean I get how it is better than buying fast fashion but would it not be better to just donate locally instead of selling online

[@alibb8967]

I love your sweater and what an awesome video!

[@inspiroue]

Thank youuu - it's thrifted 😉 Appreciate the support x

[@arrojbhutta6275]

Amazing!

[@inspiroue]

Thank you!! x

[@linanana22891]

Where is your top from? Looks so cute✨

[@inspiroue]

Aw tysm!! It's thrifted and an old brand (can you believe!! it's so in style) x

[@judyl6325]

Thank you for your research

[@roseymetz698]

Could you make a video about big brands that have ‘sustainable’ lines. I know you talked about h&m conscious but I was wondering if you could look at others like Levi’s etc. Or maybe not a youtube video but a IG video about it;)

[@grassgrees6728]

thank you so much

[@jsmith8904]

You're right to wonder about cotton, it uses sooo much water to grow it

[@inspiroue]

Yupppp

[@clairem5223]

HELLO @NETFLIX

[@inspiroue]

netflix please!!! hahaha

[@ceciliasancristobal330]

I know this video is supposed be all educational, but honestly I felt like you were shaming people that shop at fast fashion brands. I hope you realize that not everyone can afford to support "ethical green/sustainable" brands. You praise brands such as Girlfriend or Eileen Fisher, but it is simply not realistic to expect low income families to buy $100+ clothing on the day to day. It is a luxury to be able to afford to live a sustainable lifestyle, so maybe adjust your tone to be more considerate of others

[@inspiroue]

I talk about this in a lot of my videos and I honestly don’t appreciate your tone either

[@ceciliasancristobal330]

@@inspiroue so you mad just because I left comment that didn't praise you?? God forbid anyone should have a different option 🙄

[@krysila7722]

You end up spending more money in the long run when you buy $5 clothes all the time. Also, majority of people have more clothes than needed- myself included. Its not a necessity to stay on trend. People just like to shop.