Regenerative Agriculture Textiles
If there is one fabric, we use the most in our daily lives, it has to be cotton. From clothing to bedding, and linen, and countless other textiles, cotton is the most durable and natural textile materials. While we all use and enjoy the natural properties of the fibre, we forget the environmental impact it is having on the planet. Needless to say, the fashion and textile industry is heavily reliant on agricultural systems. From land being used to produce cotton crops to sheep producing wool, the dependence is much more than we can think of. Did you know? Cotton being the most used fibre in the world uses 2.5% of the agricultural land while also consuming large amounts of pesticides which harms the planet. To mitigate the harmful effects of the fashion industry, there is only one solution – regenerative agriculture. Move over sustainability, regeneration is the new term taking the fashion industry by a storm.
What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Regenerative agriculture has no specific definition. Instead, it is a holistic approach towards farming. It focuses on improving soil health, enhancing biodiversity, and ensuring the overall ecosystem functions effectively. It is all about working in harmony with nature by using indigenous ecological knowledge. A few regenerative agricultural practices include cover cropping, crop rotation, reduced tillage, intercropping and natural compost. Doing this can enhance biodiversity, and enrich soil and water systems. Currently, regenerative agriculture is being used as a farming method to grow cotton, wool, hemp, linen and bamboo. The fashion and textile industry are coming together with farmers to further develop systems that are resilient.
For those who think regenerative agriculture is a new way of growing crops, you’re mistaken. Instead, it is a traditional and natural way of managing agricultural land. It is an age-old practice that is making a comeback.
Revolutionising Regenerative Agriculture: Practices across Fashion Production
Regenerative Farming
Regenerative agriculture is all about engaging in sustainable farming. A lot of brands are heavily investing in land for regenerative agriculture. They are doing this to grow their own materials or are partnering with companies that specialise in this. For example, leftover deadstock fabrics are being used for new textiles. This is surely a positive step towards reducing environmental impact. Beyond organic or sustainable farming, regenerative agriculture aims at actively revitalising plants, soil and the surrounding environment. Diverse plants are strategically planted to support each other’s growth. For example, on a cotton farm, any other crop can also be planted that acts as a cover crop thereby providing shade and cooling the soil.
Textile Processing
Only growing the crops in a regenerative way won’t help. The processing phase of the crop is as essential as the growth. It’s the process of converting raw fibres into fashion products or garments. The journey, from harvest to consumer ready products encompasses a series of processes and what the materials undergo. Brands these days are even mentioning the technicalities of textile processing on their labels or tags. It’s important for every designer or fashion product manufacturer to know the nitty-gritties of fabric processing.
Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture
Watershed Improvement
It’s no surprise that the fashion sector significantly takes a toll on water resources. Whether it’s raw material cultivation, dyeing or finishing procedures, the availability of clean water is diminishing. Amidst this, regenerative fashion strives to enhance watersheds through certain practices that curtail water consumption and enhance the overall water ecosystems.
Recyclability
Another fundamental aspect of regenerative fashion is its recyclable nature. Unlike a traditional linear fashion model, regenerative fashion aims at a circular system where all materials are designed for continuous recycling. This not just minimises waste but also the need for new resources.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
If we’re facing the effects of climate change and global warming, the fashion industry is one of the top contributors. Regenerative practices mitigate carbon footprint. Reduced carbon emissions across the garment’s lifecycle helps. Energy-efficient manufacturing methods can also help reduce emissions.
Biodiversity
Regeneration also emphasises biodiversity conservation. From the first stage, steps are taken. For example, materials are sourced in a responsible manner to avoid ecological damage. The use of sustainable materials also reduces the environmental impact. Fast-fashion brand H&M came out with a conscious collection that used sustainable materials for production. Not just that, the practices too were regenerative. They focused on supporting biodiversity, avoiding pesticides and enhancing soil health. By using sustainable methods, we can be assured of a more diverse and sustainable future.
Final Thoughts
Don’t think of regenerative agriculture only as a trend. It’s much more than that. It’s a comprehensive approach to sustainability in the fashion industry. Regenerative agriculture can redefine or completely mitigate the environmental impact. A lot of students pursuing fashion design and management are shaping their career in different ways. Beyond run-of-the-mill jobs, they’re focusing on environmental sustainability and are even becoming specialists in the same. The curriculum of all fashion designing programmes these days has to include a chapter on sustainability and regenerative textiles.
