Sustainable Fashion in Developing Countries: Initiatives and Case Studies

The fashion world is an ever-evolving industry that will only continue to grow as the global population increases. It’s no news that fast fashion remains a major contributor to waste generation—it thrives at the expense of the environment.

According to the United Nations, the fashion industry is resource-intensive—it’s the second-biggest consumer of water and responsible for 2 to 8% of global carbon emissions. Valued at over $1 trillion, the fashion industry employs over 400 million people globally, yet it loses $500 billion of value each year due to unsustainable practices that impact the environment.¹

The fashion industry takes its toll on the environment as evidenced by how fast fashion floods the market with affordable, low-quality fabrics. Sustainable fashion is an effort to minimize the industry’s carbon footprint—it involves prioritizing the well-being of workers, which is a concerning issue in developing countries.

Although fashion exports in these countries create jobs and reduce poverty, factory workers often work long hours in poor and sometimes dangerous conditions for meagre wages.²

What Is Sustainable Fashion?

Sustainability in fashion refers to efforts to minimize the environmental impact of a massive industry by reducing CO₂ emissions and pollution and addressing overproduction. This includes the entire production chain, from polyester production to cotton growth and waste generation in landfills.^3,4

The concept of sustainability in fashion is not just about minimizing the environmental impact of the industry; it also involves prioritizing workers’ safety, and ensuring they receive a fair wage in safe working conditions.⁴

Learn more: Sustainable Alternatives to Synthetic Fabrics in Sportswear

Sustainable Fashion in Developing Countries

According to a study, developing countries account for over 50% of global textile exports and almost 75% of clothing exports. Low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Tunisia have made a significant contribution to global exports.⁵

Although these countries contribute to textile export and have established industries that create job opportunities and improve their economy, the question remains whether they prioritize sustainability.

Sustainability in Vietnamese Fashion Industry: Sustainable Fashion Brands

Vietnam’s apparel export industry plays a major role in the country’s economy. The Southeast Asian nation’s textile and garment exports reached almost $44 billion in 2022. The country’s textile and garment industry provides over 2.5 million jobs.

However, Vietnam remains one of the major contributors to plastic waste in the sea, with its fast fashion playing a part.

Vietnam is one of the top fashion-manufacturing nations in Southeast Asia. The country’s economic growth is significant compared to other Asian countries, and many fashion brands are choosing Vietnam as the preferable destination for business.⁶

Regarding sustainability in fashion, some Vietnamese fashion brands are embracing the idea of minimizing the industry’s carbon emissions. Achieving sustainability in fashion may be challenging, but some brands are making efforts to showcase their commitment to the world.

Metiseko

Metiseko is a clothing brand founded by Florence Musso and Perzo, a French couple who are fascinated with Vietnamese culture. Metiseko is a name derived from the combination of two words “métis” and “eko.”

Metiseko is one of the brands prioritizing sustainability in fashion in low and middle-income countries. Their clothes are sustainably sourced, using 100% silk fabrics and Indian cotton fabrics.

Promoting Sustainable Fashion in Vietnam

Sustainability in fashion is focused on minimizing the industry’s environmental impact. As a major textile and garment exporting country, Vietnam needs to prioritize efforts to make the fashion industry more sustainable.

Fashion brands in the Southeast Asian country should invest in technology to help discover eco-friendly, vegan, and recycled fashion materials. The application of new technologies can revolutionize the Vietnamese fashion industry.⁷

For producers in the industry, the application of 3D technology can be utilized to create suitable garments for consumers without using excessive raw materials. The application of advanced technology can also help in cutting down production costs.

Sustainability in the Fashion: The Case of Bangladesh

The Bangladeshi textile industry plays a major role in the country’s economic development. While the nation’s textile and garment industry contributes to its economic growth, news of its fast fashion and negligence for safety and security issues are concerning.⁸

In recent years, there have been many fire accidents and building collapses in Bangladesh, which led to the tragic death of thousands of workers with scores of injuries recorded as well. An example is the Rana Plaza building collapse in April 2013, which killed over a thousand people.⁹

The Tazreen Fashion fire tragedy in November 2012 also claimed the lives of over 100 apparel workers and the Bangladeshi fashion industry was criticized for its negligence towards workers’ safety and other sustainability-related goals demanded by buyers.¹⁰

The Bangladeshi textile and garment industry is trying to redeem itself, and efforts have been made to achieve sustainability. The country plans to make its fashion industry more sustainable not for economic advantage but to ensure environmental sustainability and workers’ well-being.

Case Studies: Eco-Friendly Initiatives in Underrepresented Regions

1. MitiMeth – Nigeria

MitiMeth is a Nigerian enterprise that has developed an innovative method to produce green fashion accessories from natural materials. MitiMeth makes home décor from invasive aquatic weeds. They collaborate with local workers to find water hyacinths and use them in the production of unique products. By doing so, they solve the environmental issues associated with the unchecked growth of water hyacinths.

The company’s initiative provides job opportunities in local communities. Mitimeth’s sustainability blueprint aims to present underrepresented regions, specifically rural areas in Nigeria, into the global sustainable fashion movement.

2. Soko – Kenya

SOKO Kenya is a fashion brand that genuinely intends to promote environmental sustainability and empower local artisans, particularly women. The brand aims to connect the local communities with the global market through a mobile technology platform.

SOKO Kenya provides income-generation opportunities in local communities. They prioritize sustainability and workers getting fair wages by using locally sourced materials.

Soko’s efforts are focused on improving economic development in local communities, particularly rural areas in Kenya. Which are usually underrepresented in the global conversation on sustainability in the fashion industries.

3. Mayamiko – Malawi

Mayamiko is another African brand committed to creating a sustainable fashion world. The brand takes pride in the manner in which it sources its eco-friendly materials. They produce garments with these materials and their project focuses on empowering women with skills and providing employment opportunities.

Mayamiko’s initiative promotes sustainability in fashion and demonstrates a true commitment to improving the livelihoods of women in the rural areas of Malawi. The brand’s goal is to include Malawi in the global conservation of sustainable fashion.

4. Nest

Nest is a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth of local businesses, focusing on supporting enterprises in underrepresented regions worldwide.

Their well-detailed plan for local artisans is to empower them with training on sustainable practices. Nest’s global impact has helped artisans in countries such as Kenya, India, and Guatemala. They have successfully promoted sustainability in fashion on a global scale.

While the organization focuses on sustainable fashion, its project in underrepresented regions has created a bridge to connect artisan businesses to the global market.

5. Ethical Apparel Africa – West Africa

We turn our attention back to the continent of Africa, where Ethical Apparel Africa, a social enterprise collaborates with garment factories in West Africa to manufacture sustainably sourced apparel.

The mission of Ethical Apparel Africa is to prioritize fair wages and safe working conditions for workers. They are committed to achieving a sustainable fashion industry in the underrepresented regions of West Africa.

EEA is working with local factories to ensure their production process is not resource-intensive. Ethical Apparel Africa understands that West Africa is underrepresented and IS making efforts to showcase the region’s potential in sustainable fashion production.

The Impact of Sustainable Fashion on Local Economies

Sustainable fashion presents opportunities and green initiatives to help local artisans. Sustainable fashion brands that collaborate with artisans and workers in local communities contribute to better and safer working conditions as well as fair wages.

The idea of sustainable fashion in underrepresented regions prioritizes transparency, the economic development of local communities, and empowerment through sustainable training.

Implementing sustainable practices can revolutionize local communities in regions where fashion brands rely on sustainable materials. Inculcating sustainable ethics in local communities will be beneficial to their economies.

The few fashion brands and non-profit organizations mentioned in this article are collaborating with local artisans to provide access to the global market.

Sustainable fashion is positively impacting local communities by providing income-generation opportunities, improved access to the global market, education, and healthcare, and ensuring workers’ safety and fair wages.

The Impact of Fashion Events on Local Economies

Fashion events boost local economies worldwide. The events provide opportunities that enhance local businesses as fashion enthusiasts visit in large numbers.

Fashion events can be the game changer for local economies. The presence of tourists is likely to improve local businesses, and these activities also promote cultural exchange and collaboration among entrepreneurs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does fast fashion affect the local communities?

Fast fashion makes clothing affordable and accessible, but the environment suffers irreparable damage as a result. Although the sustainability trend is fighting against the manufacturing of low-quality apparel, fast fashion still thrives, taking its toll on the environment.

In addition to negatively impacting the environment, fast fashion also relies on the destructive model of exploiting human labour and resources to keep business afloat.

Since clothing and other fashion accessories are affordable with fast fashion, excessive resources are required and used, which in turn generates more waste in landfills.¹¹

Fashion industry-induced pollution can lead to serious environmental issues, affecting aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Waste from synthetic fibres can pollute our waterways with microplastics.

The Fashion Industry Waste Generation

According to statistics from a study, textile fibre production increased from 20.2 million tons to 90.8 million tons from 2007 to 2014. Waste generated by the global fashion industry in 2015 alone was about 92 million, and this number is expected to increase by 56 million tons by 2030.¹²

Facts on the environmental impact of the fashion industry and its resource-intensive nature

Do you know that producing a pair of jeans generates the same amount of greenhouse gases as a car that has travelled a distance of over 80 miles (129 kilometres)?

Old clothing made of non-biodegradable fabrics can persist in landfills for over two centuries. Making a cotton shirt is resource-intensive, as the production process uses about 2,700 litres of water -which is the same amount of drinking water an average person needs to survive on for 30 months.

How does fast fashion impact developing countries?

Fast fashion relies on exploiting human labour and resources to stay profitable. It’s guilty of negligence in terms of workers’ safety, with factory workers in developing countries working long hours in unsafe conditions for wages that are barely livable.

Fast fashion generates large amounts of synthetic waste that end up in landfills. Fast fashion is resource-intensive and continues to impact the environment, causing air pollution and contaminating waterways.

Fast fashion in developed countries also has environmental impacts on developing countries. According to U.S. News & World Report, the United States leads the world in secondhand clothing exports. It’s reported that the U.S. exported almost 719 million kilograms (1.5 billion pounds) of secondhand clothing in 2018 alone.

These secondhand clothes are shipped to different parts of the world, especially to developing countries. They are typically used for a couple of months before ending up in landfills in low- and middle-income countries.

Which country has the most sustainable fashion?

The United Kingdom prioritizes sustainability in fashion. The British government advocates for sustainability within the fashion industry, and both retailers and consumers in the UK are increasingly aware of the importance of minimizing the carbon footprint of fashion.

Conclusion

Sustainability in fashion is an effort to cut down the industry’s carbon emissions and to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for employees. Fashion brands in developing countries are making efforts to ensure sustainability is achieved in the fashion industry.

Sources

1. UN Alliance For Sustainable Fashion addresses damage of ‘fast fashion.’ (n.d.). UN Environment. ↩︎
2. Textile workers in developing countries and the European fashion industry: Towards sustainability? | Think Tank | European Parliament. (n.d.). ↩︎
3. Mizrachi, M. P., & Tal, A. (2022). Sustainable Fashion—Rationale and Policies. Encyclopedia, 2(2), 1154–1167. ↩︎
4. Wikipedia contributors. (2024, August 11). Sustainable fashion. Wikipedia. ↩︎
5. Amankwah, A. M., Appiah, E., Frimpong, C., & Kent, A. (2024). The role of developing countries in the global fashion industry sustainability discourse: Ghana in perspective – A narrative review. Sustinere Journal of Environment and Sustainability, 8(1), 1–15. ↩︎
6. Nayak, R., Akbari, M., & Far, S. M. (2019). Recent sustainable trends in Vietnam’s fashion supply chain. Journal of Cleaner Production, 225, 291–303. ↩︎
7. Nguyen Thi Van Anh et al: “Sustainable Fashion Consumption Trends Of Vietnamese Youth.” ↩︎
8. A. K. M. Ayatullah Hosne Asif: “An Overview of Sustainability on Apparel Manufacturing Industry in Bangladesh.” ↩︎
9. Textile workers in developing countries and the European fashion industry: Towards sustainability? | Think Tank | European Parliament. (n.d.). ↩︎
10. Su, J., Iqbal, M. A., Haque, F., & Akter, M. M. K. (2023). Sustainable apparel: a perspective from Bangladesh’s young consumers. Social Responsibility Journal, 19(9), 1654–1670. ↩︎
11. At what cost? Unraveling the harms of the fast fashion industry. (n.d.). ↩︎
12. Bailey, K., Basu, A., & Sharma, S. (2022). The environmental Impacts of fast fashion on water Quality: A Systematic review. Water, 14(7), 1073. ↩︎