Sustainable fashion for men: All info, tips & Seal explained – The ultimate Fair Fashion Guide

Fair Fashion is the latest trend in the men’s fashion world. For a long time, the hype was reserved exclusively for environmentally conscious fashionistas. There are now several eco-labels that produce resource-saving, stylish suits, jackets and shirts for men. Despite increasing environmental awareness, the concept of fair fashion is still unknown to many. Here you can find out what sustainable fashion is all about and which seals it bears.

Fair Fashion vs. Fast Fashion – the important difference

The fashion world is subject to constant change. Fashion trends are reborn, revolutionized and forgotten hypes are revived. The fashion designers want to see their clothes quickly on the bar. Collections are produced, presented and made accessible to the masses in the fashion houses in the shortest possible time. Due to the low prices and cheap production, the quality suffers. So after a long day in the office the shirt is quickly disposed of and before the next meeting simply bought a new one. The trend of fast fashion is practical for us consumers, but also has its disadvantages.

Toxic polyster, garbage and child labor as consequences of the shopping madness

The prices of many fashion chains quickly tempt to buy. Nevertheless, caution is always advisable. The use of cheap chemicals and materials can not only irritate the skin, but also cause a lot of garbage. A study showed that Germany produces over 390,000 tons of textile waste annually. The consequences are devastating: the seas are polluted and animals die. Manufacturers, often based abroad, are also regularly criticized for their poor working conditions and regular child labor.

Fair Fashion: Sustainable textiles revolutionize the fashion world

Companies and designers now focus on sustainability. Fair and Sustainable’ is the motto of Slow Fashion, which is now fighting the throwaway society of today. Instead, the new eco-labels place emphasis on the fact that the material is ecologically degradable and the manufacturing process of the textiles is environmentally friendly:

• The materials come from economical cultivation
• Fair working conditions prevail in the manufactories
• No toxic chemicals are used in production
• As few resources as possible are consumed in both production and transport

Green Shirts, A/C Suits & Vintage Shopping

The fair fashion of today has long since ceased to have anything to do with the cliché of Birkenstock sandals and linen pants. Thus, men can now find comfortable cotton shirts for everyday use as well as elegant suits and shirts. Today’s labels attach great importance to combining contemporary designs with functionality. So for example also the menswear supplier CLUB of GENTS, which makes a clear statement with its climate suit: Next Generation against Climate Change.

Fair Fashion can be found meanwhile however not only in the office and on the road, but also on Events, Galas and even the red carpet.

Berlin Fashion Week: Exclusive insight into the world of sustainable fashion

Together with model and entrepreneur Marie Nasemann, the WDR team will be visiting Berlin Fashion Week and interviewing Germany’s biggest influencers and fashion experts about the new fashion trend. To get to the bottom of the hype of fair fashion, they will also take an exclusive look at the production of sustainable fashion and get all their questions answered.

Fair Fashion in practice: What do I have to pay attention to when buying?

Seals, awards, vintage stores – anyone who has never dealt with the purchase of fair clothing is quickly confused. And it’s not all that complicated. Not only can a lot of information and brands be found on the Internet, but consumers can now also find their way around the stores using seals. Here we have an overview for you.

The most important seals of approval

Although Fair Fashion has become a household name, many people find it difficult to keep track in the jungle of many seals of approval. So that this doesn’t happen to you, we have listed the most famous seals for you here.

Fairtrade Cotton

Highest social standards, sustainable cultivation and a guaranteed minimum price for the cotton farmers – that’s what the Fairtrade Cotton seal stands for. Attention is also paid to the limited use of fertilizers and pesticides and compliance with ILO core labor standards.

Naturtextil IVN certified Best

The seal of IVN (Internationaler Verband der Naturtextilwirtschaft e.V.) is currently considered the most secure seal in the textile industry. Here, particular emphasis is placed on a ban on harmful dyes and transparency in the documentation of the transport of clothing. The natural fibers of the textiles are 100% from controlled organic cultivation. Here, too, great importance is attached to compliance with the core labor standards and minimization of environmental pollution.

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)

To receive the GOTS seal, the textiles must be made of at least 90& natural fibers and the remaining 10% must be synthetic fibers such as viscose. The minimum standards are checked regularly and only a few processing substances and dyes are allowed during production to minimize the pollution and environmental impact.

Fair Wear Foundation

This seal is awarded by the Dutch Fair Wear Foundation (FWF). It is supported by several non-governmental organizations, as well as trade unions and manufacturers’ organizations. The aim of the foundation is to improve working conditions for textile companies worldwide, with particular attention being paid to the companies where the clothes are sewn. The FWF is active in 15 production countries in Asia, Europe and Africa and represents over 120 brands.

Naturland seal

With the Naturland seal, attention is paid to the observance of social guidelines, the preservation of natural soils and a minimization of environmental pollution. This is guaranteed by strict controls. Great importance is also attached to the correct disposal of chemicals.

Second-hand clothing: Online & Offline

Cult jeans from Levis and timelessly elegant autumn coats – second-hand clothing is a good alternative and offers a win-win situation here, both for the buyer and for the environment, as no additional resources are required for remanufacturing. To find the nearest second hand store is not a witchcraft and so you will find it quickly with a short Google search. Nowadays there are also several apps and online stores that now allow you to buy retro looks from the couch.

Fair Fashion for men in test

Where can I find sustainable fashion? How do I dress as a man in a stylish yet environmentally friendly way? These are the questions that reporter Frank Seibert will be addressing in the ‘Sustainable Fashion’ Challenge. How he masters it and what his conclusion is, you can see here.