The fast fashion industry is one of the most polluting industries in modern society, after agriculture and the fuel industry. Globally, we are consuming natural resources at a rate 50% greater than the planet can replenish. Over 70 million trees are destroyed every year. The human and environmental costs are astounding and include the use of toxic chemicals, water pollution, high water and energy usage, increased waste of textiles to name just a few.
The speed at which the fast fashion industry operates is particularly damaging to our environment. Pressure to reduce costs and cut the time it takes to get a product to the shop floor often means cutting corners. What used to take several months to design, produce and deliver is now possible within one week. The fast fashion industry dictates what's on trend and what we should wear on a weekly basis.
Conventional cotton farming is harmful and requires vast amounts of water. The cotton industry uses more pesticides than any other crop in the world. In addition to this some so called ‘Eco friendly’ cottons are genetically modified to make them resistant to the bollworm pest. Further down the line this leads to another problem, the creation of “Superweeds” which are resistant to commercial pesticides. These then need to be treated with additional toxic pesticides that are even more harmful to livestock and humans.
We as consumers are often unaware of the human and environmental costs of the very clothes we wear and buy. We believe it’s important to think about the impact of our purchasing decisions on our planet, the people who make these clothes, our wildlife, marine life, nature and our future.
At Luna & Soul we believe we can do better. We opt for safe and environmentally friendly dyes, fabric and materials, whilst still producing a beautiful end product. We believe everyone can enjoy beautiful clothing without having a negative impact on our planet, people and animals.
We strive to push the limits of fabric and clothing technology to produce our clothing in the most environmentally friendly way possible and we are constantly researching new ways to do this.
One of the problems the clothing industry faces is the use of toxic chemicals during the dyeing process. The textile dyeing industry is the second largest polluter of clean water today. These toxic chemicals are usually the secret to achieving modern fabric finishes, vibrant colours, and prints. The hazardous cocktail used in dyeing is often filled with mercury, lead, cadmium and other dangerous substances. After dyeing the waste is then dumped into open waters, killing marine life, poisoning drinking water and destroying plants. Farmers are often able to predict the colours for the next fashion season just by looking at the colour of the rivers!
The natural dyeing process is an old tradition and has been know for many centuries. The process is extremely environmentally friendly, has zero water waste and does not kill, poison or destroy the soil, drinking water, plants or animals.
It begins by collecting what mother nature has to offer: bark, leaves, flowers, fruits, roots and vegetables. These are then cut into small pieces and fermented in boiling water. After this, the fabric is dyed by submerging it into the liquid. This time consuming process can take between 1 - 3 weeks and is costly as no chemicals or toxins are used.
Once the fabric has achieved the desired colour, all natural scraps are composted and returned to the earth. The excess water that was used during the dyeing process is also returned to earth by running it through a natural plant filtration system. The plants absorb and filter the natural dye resulting in clean water that can be reused.
Cotton is one of the most popular and versatile fabrics on the market today and is grown in over 100 countries. Over 80% of our cotton comes from developing countries and is produced by small family run businesses who rely on cotton production as their sole source of income.
By sourcing our cotton from small independent suppliers, farmers gain access to the global market and can avoid poverty. Having rich organic soil also enables farmers to become self sufficient by growing clean food on their land.
Cotton is natural, soft, breathable, durable, biodegradable, comfortable and ideal for sensitive skin - this is also why you find a piece of cotton in your underwear. With all these natural traits you wouldn’t think that cotton has a negative impact on the environment, right? Unfortunately this is far from the truth.
Conventional cotton uses approximately 16% of the world’s insecticides and 7% of pesticides. Conventional cotton also requires a lot of water, approximately 2,700 litres of water are required to make one cotton T-Shirt. In addition farmers and their families are exposed to toxic pesticides causing life threatening illnesses. Wildlife, plants, trees and the food chain are poisoned or destroyed in the process which has tremendous consequences.
Our certified organic cotton has been produced to global organic and agricultural guidelines. No livestock, plants, trees, or wildlife have been killed or destroyed to produce it. Organic cotton reduces our environmental footprint as no toxic chemicals are released into the soil to grow the crop. Healthy and rich soil promotes biodiversity and creates safe habitats for small and large animals. By maintaining a healthy Eco system and avoiding toxin penetration into the soil, we are also helping to keep the soil healthy, the water clean, the food safe and the farmers healthy.
Organic cotton still requires water but is 80% rain fed and reduces water consumption significantly in comparison to commercial cotton. Using organic cotton contributes to cleaner air, healthier soil, better livestock and water conservation.
We are animal lovers and strongly believe that fashion can look beautiful without harming animals. We are animal fibre and cruelty free. We are proud to be 100% vegan.
We are excited to be able to use our platform every time a customer shops with us to offer the opportunity to give back from every sale to our 3 chosen charities.
Our paper bags, hangtags and stickers are made of recycled paper. We are plastic free. Our biodegradable poly bags are made from vegetables and are compostable.
