(TURKISH JOURNAL) Ece Yilmaz Gunaydin – You open your wardrobe in the morning. That simple white shirt you reach for…
To you, it may seem like just a piece of clothing. But in reality, it carries the silent story of thousands of liters of water, pesticide-contaminated soil, and the hands of workers paid meager wages.
For many years, fashion was built solely on “appearance”. People talked more about how fabric looked in the store lights than about its texture. Yet today, it’s no longer just about what we wear, it’s about how we live. Because the planet can no longer keep up with our pace of consumption.
Constantly changing trends, collections renewed every season, clothes worn only a few times and then discarded; these are the invisible burdens of the modern world. In every step, sustainability matters, and in fashion, its role has become undeniable.
Sustainable fashion advocates production that respects nature, people, and labor. From the fields to the factories, from factories to our wardrobes, this approach reminds us of our responsibility to the environment, the need to conserve natural resources, and our duty to future generations.
Organic materials play a leading role in this philosophy. Organic cotton is grown without chemical fertilizers. Tencel™ comes from eucalyptus trees, produced in closed systems that recycle water. Linen remains nature-friendly with its low water footprint.
What was once considered a luxury has now become a necessity for the planet to breathe.
Because luxury is no longer in showiness, it’s in responsibility.
Certifications are the silent witnesses of this transformation. Standards like the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Global Recycled Standard (GRS), and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) not only certify the production process but also serve as a moral declaration of a brand’s ethical stance.
These certifications now answer more than just “what we wear” in the fashion world, they answer “how we produce what we wear”. They make a brand’s sense of responsibility, and its respect for both people and nature, visible; each certificate serves as an ethical compass beyond style.
Today, a garment’s value is measured not just by its quality but by the story behind it. Fashion is no longer merely a matter of style, it is a matter of awareness, a statement, a call to responsibility.
Slowing down consumption means listening to the rhythm of nature. Because the planet can no longer tolerate fast fashion.
Perhaps it is time to ask the question:
Not how we will dress the next season…
But how will we dress the next generation?
