Sustainability, the future of Gen Z fashion?

MORE and more Gen Z fashion enthusiasts are leaning towards sustainable fashion.

According to Forbes, sustainability in fashion refers to creating or consuming clothes in a “sustained” way that protects the environment and those producing the clothes.

As the fashion sector booms, concerns are growing about the significant negative environmental impacts it creates.

The United Nations Environment Programme indicates that the fashion industry is responsible for producing up to 10% of the world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions.

Needless to say, sustainability represents a significant shift for an industry that has long struggled with wasteful practices and negative environmental impacts.

Gen Z fashion

Gen Z fashion blends retro influences from the 90s with streetwear aesthetics, showcasing oversized and graphic pieces. The Y2K revival brings back early 2000s styles, featuring bold colors and playful designs. Iconic items include low-rise jeans, crop tops, and logo heavy designs.

Gen Z fashion is also redefining gender norms with inclusive and gender-neutral styles, adding a personal touch through DIY and customized items.

Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram play a significant role in shaping fashion trends. Influencers and content creators set style trends and promote new brands.

Many Gen Z individuals enjoy thrifting and vintage shopping, or “ukay,” as a way to find unique pieces and reduce their environmental impact.

In the Philippines, people use the term “ukay” to describe second-hand or thrifted clothing and items. Derived from the English word “okay,” it refers to buying used goods, often sold in thrift shops or stalls.

Ukay and thrift stores offer a treasure trove of unique and vintage pieces that stand out from mainstream fashion. This appeals to Gen Z’s desire for individuality and distinctive style.

With their wallet-friendly prices, shoppers can transform these second-hand pieces into fresh, stylish finds by giving them a clever new twist.

Kristine Lunday, a Gen Z fashion enthusiast, shared in an interview with republicasia how thrifting and vintage shopping excites her.

“Discovering unique goods, as well as finding high-quality and designer goods at cheaper prices is interesting and exciting. Also, I appreciate that secondhand shopping is accessible and helps me to discover and express my unique style,” she said.

Many Gen Z shoppers also enjoy the creativity involved in thrifting—whether it’s finding hidden gems or repurposing and customizing items to make them their own.

Most importantly, embracing second-hand fashion reflects a broader cultural shift towards mindful consumption and can serve as a statement against the fast fashion industry’s practices.

Towards sustainable fashion

John Jade Montecalvo, 23, shared his experiences as a young sustainable fashion designer in an interview with republicasia.

Montecalvo began exploring upcycling—transforming old clothes into new creations—in 2019.

“We should start practicing sustainability and encourage the use of eco-friendly materials, reduce waste through quality over quantity, and foster a circular economy by advocating for recycling and upcycling,” he said.

“That is why my brand is committed to repurposing textile waste through cultural and traditional-based approaches that turn it into a resource and source of living for the local communities. Also, to conserve our natural environment and preserve our heritage of weaving.”

For Montecalvo, fashion should be inclusive, innovative, and sustainable. 

He added: “We need to convince everyone, especially the young people to support and practice sustainability because if everybody commits to sustainability then we can live in a circular economy where nothing goes to waste.”

Montecalvo was one of the 32 emerging designers in the Philippines, according to the Mega Magazine February 2024 Issue. 

Various magazines, including Wonder Mag, Preview, Metro, Village Pipol, Metroscene, and the Dubai-based Victor Magazine, have also featured his work on their covers and in their pages.

Renegade Limpin, 26, shared in an interview with republicasia the importance of sustainable fashion and its role in minimizing negative environmental and social impacts.

“Sa akin malaking bagay yung sustainable fashion lalo na para sa kalikasan, yung negative impact kasi ng fast fashion malala talaga, hello shein! Hindi dapat isang gamitan lang ang damit, dapat mahaba ang buhay nito,” he said.

Fast fashion rapidly produces high volumes of inexpensive clothing to keep up with the latest trends and consumer demands. This focus on low prices and quick production creates a disposable culture, where people wear garments only a few times before discarding them.

Limpin added: “Pinakamadaling gawin talaga ang magkaroon ng alternatives, instead na bumili ka ng murang damit online pero mabilis masira at mawala sa uso, siguro mas better mamili sa ukay ng timeless pieces,” on how young people can practice sustainability.

Limpin is a sustainable fashion designer who has participated in various local fashion shows, and most of his pieces focus on sustainability.

Kurt Aranan, 20, said in an interview with republicasia that sustainable fashion is also a way of supporting local businesses and fashion designers, helping them to grow and thrive in the industry.

“Choose clothing that has a reasonable price for its product quality, not just branded by a famous name,” he said

Aranan is a member of PUP Icons, an advertising organization at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). He is also an aspiring fashion designer.

As Gen Z pioneers a new era of fashion, their commitment to sustainability promises not just a trend but a transformative shift that could reshape the industry’s future.

With reports from Cedrix Leppago