The impacts of the fashion industry on the environment are fast becoming well known, with media reports regularly highlighting how clothing production globally produces 10% of all carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics. So why would a marine conservation organisation align with such an environmentally polluting industry? The answer lies with the people behind The Good Chic, a men’s fashion outlet that has started with bringing French labels FAGUO, JAQK and Edgard to the United Arab Emirates.
Those familiar with the labels will know the lengths that they have gone to in order to compensate for their carbon emissions and overcome the multitude of issues associated with "fast fashion." FAGUO is developing a reforestation project in France, while also utilising recycled fabrics and vegan leather in their clothes, JACQ is committed to utilising natural fibres wherever possible and Edgard is committed to complete transparency in the supply chain.
Natalie Banks, Founder of Azraq, stated that the team took three months to investigate the brands and the people behind them, as well as those involved in The Good Chic, to ensure that a partnership would be beneficial to Azraq’s clients’; the marine animals living in the ocean, before signing the partnership agreement.
"It was not only The Good Chic’s commitment to the reduction of plastics in the products they sell and in packaging and delivery of the products, but the extra lengths that they agreed to go to, to highlight the impacts of the clothing industry, particularly utilising recycled synthetic fabrics, and provide a link for people in the UAE to purchase a Cora Ball, to mitigate the microplastics in the oceans on their website," Ms Banks said.
"Most people do not realise that synthetic fibres such as polyester, elastic and lycra shred mircoplastics when they are washed, which end up in our oceans, and so while some people may think that recycling plastic into clothes sounds like a sustainable option, in fact it has some truly damaging impacts on the ocean."
Virginie and Ali, The Good Chic Founders, stated that partnering with Azraq made sense for their online outlet, providing avenues to continue the environmental commitment of the brands that they stock, such as educating consumers so it becomes a more conscious consumer and sustainable purchase.
"The introduction of the Cora Ball to our website is just one commitment that we are willing to make in order to stand firm to reducing the environmental impacts of our industry," Virginie said.
"We hope to strengthen our partnership with Azraq and commit to undertaking local beach cleans and mangrove tree planting with the organisation to offset our own operational emissions."
The partnership is to be reviewed in 12 months to determine how many cora balls the outlet has sold as well as to gauge the increased awareness of the impacts of synthetic fibres on the environment locally