A One-Stop Platform for Ethical Fashion Manufacturing

Abstract

Today, greenwashing is the new frontier of sustainable fashion (Kent, 2022). While it poses a challenge to customers, it is an even bigger one for small businesses: It is difficult to find a channel where entrepreneurs can access a comprehensive service to develop quality garments and accessories made sustainably from start to finish. Although there are several existing alternatives that small businesses can use to find textile or garment manufacturers, these alternatives come with disadvantages. These include inflexible minimum order quantities (MOQs), high labor costs, and a lack of guarantee that sustainable practices are implemented throughout the whole production process. In most cases, small businesses cannot afford the high MOQs and do not have the capacity to sell a large number of units. This can lead to overproduction and waste that will affect the health of the planet. According to the United States Environmental Agency, an estimated 17 million tons of textile waste in the United States, with 11.3 million tons ending up in landfills (Environmental Protection Agency, 2022). In addition, producing textiles and garments requires extensive resources like water, energy, chemicals and other natural resources.