The fashion industry is the second largest consumer of water and the third most polluting industry in the world. Remember, one of the industry’s most popular fiber is cotton. Cotton is a crop, and most producers use pesticides to grow it. Even though growing cotton doesn’t take up much land, it is pesticide-intensive. It also uses a lot of water to grow, dye and process into a simple tee-shirt. And this is just cotton. How about polyester, viscose rayon, tercel, wool, etc.? Take a look at each fiber’s ecological impact here.

So it only makes sense to take a look at the basics: who is making our clothes, where are they made and what are they made of? There are several ways to look at a brand and decide whether they are doing their part:

• Materials/fibers being outsourced
• Chemicals used to dye
• Product design to fit into a circular economy
• Manufacturing location
• Corporate Responsibility, Fair Trade and Giving Back
• Overall environmental footprint (including transportation)

Here are a few active lifestyle brands that are committed to sustainability, corporate responsibility and giving back. Take some time to read how these brands are proactive about protecting the environment. It gives a lot of perspective on how “dirty” the fashion industry is.