10 Common Misconceptions About Sustainable Hoodies

Do you love hoodies? Actually, who doesn’t?! Nothing can compare to the warmth of a hoodie on a cold morning run! Well, hoodies are no longer just for fitness enthusiasts but have become a clothing staple in everyone’s wardrobes. Whether a casual meet with your friends or shopping for groceries, a sweatshirt makes you feel comfortable anywhere, anytime. It’s no surprise we end up having so many in our wardrobe.

While having a sweatshirt for every occasion is desirable,  we should be conscious of the impact excessive clothes have on the environment. Today, people are embracing sustainable products  In every walk of life because most people have realized that sustainability is key for survival. The sustainability factor has trickled down in the clothing industry as well, and a growing section of eco-conscious consumers are opting for sustainable clothing. 

Opting for sustainable sweatshirts and sustainable hoodies can be a significant first step towards preserving the environment. Unfortunately, the trend of sustainable hoodies has not gained as much momentum as it should have. Why? 

Let us take a look at ten common misconceptions about sustainable hoodies:

1. Myth: Embracing sustainable hoodies should start with clearing out the wardrobe.

Reality: The concept of sustainability is, in principle, against overconsumption. The minute we throw out clothes from our wardrobe, we are perpetuating the cycle, not weakening it. Buying sustainable hoodies is promoted as these last a long time. But, if we throw out our existing clothes to exchange them with sustainable sweatshirts, the problem persists.

2. Myth: Eco-friendly hoodies can burn a hole in your pocket!

Reality: Products like eco-friendly hoodies use raw materials that are natural and biodegradable. This doesn’t necessarily mean they should be exorbitantly priced. As long as we can make ethical sweatshirts that promote livelihoods and make profits, the price of these products can well be managed within a specific range.

3. Myth: Buying ethical sweatshirts allows for consumption at a similar rate.

Reality: If we replace our current wardrobe with ethical sweatshirts, we address only a part of the problem. Sure, workers are not being exploited to cater to ever-increasing consumer demand. However, if the replacement and consumption of final products happen at the same rate, we perpetuate the problems associated with fast fashion instead of mitigating them.

4. Sustainable clothing means saying goodbye to the latest fashion footprints

Reality: If we already have fast-fashion pieces in our wardrobe, it makes sense to keep using them as long as we can. Buying a sustainable sweatshirt does not mean throwing away our favorite top. It’s your chance to get creative,  reuse and repurpose your fashion pieces the way you like.

5. Myth: The options for sustainable sweatshirts are limited.

Reality: For some reason, anything good always gets associated with drab and boring. Sustainable hoodies break this myth as they are available in a variety of colors, designs, and materials.

6. Myth: Donating ethical sweatshirts compensates for overconsumption.

Reality: Donating our existing clothes, whether a fast-fashion piece or an ethical sweatshirt, does not compensate for overconsumption. It still leads to waste disposal issues that have a substantial environmental impact. The idea of buying ethical sweatshirts is to ensure better livelihoods for workers in the clothing industry without burdening the ecosystem.

7. Myth: Opting for eco-friendly hoodies reduces our fashion footprint.

Reality: A term that has recently become common in the clothing industry is “fashion footprint.” This refers to the impact left behind by the apparel, including the carbon footprint. Reducing our fashion footprint is an important goal in moving towards sustainable fashion. However, simply opting for eco-friendly hoodies is not enough. We have to be mindful of our production and waste disposal practices too.

8. Myth: Labeling a hoodie as sustainable makes it so

Reality: A significant challenge of the clothing industry and, by extension, the sustainable fashion movement is greenwashing. Companies can simply slap a label on a garment and label it a sustainable hoodie. Such greenwashing brands do not follow sustainable practices at all. Greenwashing is an unethical practice. Consumers should watch out for greenwashing when purchasing eco-friendly hoodies.

9. Myth: Thrifting is fully sustainable.

Reality: Thrifting is a good way of repurposing and reusing existing clothes. Who doesn’t like to find good quality clothes at a lower price?! That said, we need to be wary of overconsumption. Also, one must be mindful of random donating or disposing of clothes in the garbage.

10.   Going for ethical sweatshirts is equivalent to philanthropy

Reality: Just Buying ethical sweatshirts does not make anyone a philanthropist. Philanthropy is much deeper than that. By using sustainable products you are actually doing good to yourself by ensuring a safer, greener planet for yourself and the coming generations.