In a world where fast fashion reigns supreme, the negative environmental consequences are becoming increasingly obvious.

The fashion industry not only contributes significantly to pollution, but it also produces massive amounts of textile waste.

The rapid growth of the fashion industry over the last few decades has resulted in an unprecedented increase in clothing production. Demand for new trends and low-cost garments has driven fashion brands to produce twice as many clothes as they did in 2000. This overproduction not only contributes to environmental degradation but also generates excessive waste because styles quickly become obsolete, resulting in unsold and discarded inventory.

The fashion industry’s first major concern is the alarming rate of textile waste.

Every year, millions of tonnes of clothing end up in landfills, causing a significant environmental impact. The sad thing is almost half of them directly come from brands which are not even purchased by someone. Textile production consumes a large amount of resources, including water, energy, and chemicals, which contribute to pollution and climate change.

The linear fashion model, characterized by its “take-make-dispose” approach, is unsustainable and requires a paradigm shift.

Furthermore, the fashion industry’s carbon footprint is increasing at an alarming rate. Global emissions are expected to rise by 50% by 2030, with the textile industry playing a major role. The industry’s greenhouse gas emissions are caused by synthetic fabric production, transportation, and energy-intensive manufacturing processes. Addressing this issue is critical in the struggle against climate change and embracing sustainable practices is imperative.
           

The solution is to switch to a ‘Make to Order’ model, a more sustainable approach that emphasizes producing clothing items only when an order has been confirmed. By doing so, fashion brands can significantly reduce overproduction, thereby reducing the environmental impact of excess inventory and waste.

Embracing ‘Make to Order’ clothing provides several advantages. For starters, it eliminates the need for large-scale production runs, which alleviates the pressure to accurately forecast consumer demand. This, in turn, reduces overproduction, lowering the environmental impact of excess garments ending up in landfills. As a result, the fashion industry can reduce its contribution to the 92 million tonnes of textile waste produced each year.
      

Second, adopting a ‘Make to Order’ approach is consistent with lowering carbon emissions. Brands can streamline their supply chains, save energy, and reduce transportation-related emissions by producing garments only when an order is confirmed. This shift contributes to the larger effort to achieve sustainability and reduce the fashion industry’s impact on climate change.

Furthermore, ‘Make to Order’ encourages a more thoughtful and deliberate approach to consumption. Consumers become active participants in the production process, making informed purchasing decisions. This shift in consumer behaviour promotes a more sustainable and responsible fashion industry by emphasizing longevity over disposable trends.

The ‘Make to Order’ model provides a sustainable solution to the problems of textile waste, overproduction, and carbon emissions. By embracing this approach, NEOAA will help to create a more sustainable and responsible future that prioritizes quality, durability, and environmental consciousness.