Around the world, sustainable fashion is making waves. From local designers to global fashion houses, reused and recycled materials are increasingly finding their way onto international catwalks. As the world shifts to more value-driven choices, and fashion brands become more consumer-centric, sustainable fashion is seeing a massive rise in popularity, with consumers looking for more ethical and eco-friendly brands to support.

The fast fashion industry poses a complex issue in itself, from the many materials used to create a garment, to the reduced durability and increased likelihood of it ending up in landfill. It’s a stark contrast to items that may have been worn again and again a generation ago.

But a wave of new social enterprises are looking at ways to make the fashion industry more sustainable, all the while generating a great business opportunity. Enterprises such as Sweden’s re:newcell and Taiwan’s MiniWiz are turning textile waste into thread that can be used to weave new clothes; eco-conscious designers are seeking out fabrics made from discarded fishing nets; and entrepreneurs are aiming to transform the way we shop.

Looking beyond production techniques, sustainable fashion is rethinking the fundamental economics that underpin the industry. “The best thing consumers can do is really to limit their consumption,” explains sustainable fashion consultant Anna Brismar of Green Strategy.

Brismar recommends seeking alternative routes to a new wardrobe besides buying new, be that vintage shopping or trading with friends, as well as repairing, redesigning and upcycling old pieces, and choosing timeless styles that won’t date. “We can share wardrobes with friends and family. We can lease, and we can buy second-hand,” she says. “We can redesign.”

And, even when shopping for new items, it’s possible to shop more sustainably by seeking out natural dyes, organic fabrics and recycled materials. H&M’s Conscious Collection is setting a new standard for fast fashion brands globally, and Adidas recently created recyclable trainers and hoodies. Outdoor brand Patagonia not only creates durable products and encourages repairs, but also commits to recycling all cleaned gear it receives in store.

In Singapore, entrepreneur Priyanka Shahra is creating value while simultaneously hoping to reduce the amount of clothing bought by women. Her social enterprise, Swapaholic, runs clothes-swapping events in Singapore and launches its new e-swap website in November.

“Women only wear 20 per cent of their closets,” Shahra says. “Eighty per cent is lying there unoptimised and completely usable. So, rather than buying new, we encourage people to swap it.”

Rather than the straight exchanges favoured by traditional swap meets, Swapaholic uses a point system to ensure swappers get fair value for their garments. With some users swapping as many as 120 hardly worn items, the business has given new life to mountains of clothing.

Shahra claims that each item swapped effectively reduces its carbon footprint, as well as saving water, among other resources. “With every garment that is saved, there are thousands of litres of water that are saved by extending the life of that item, because ultimately we’re hoping that it reduces the need to produce as many garments,” she says.

Whether it’s businesses working to do better for the planet, or consumers asking more from fashion brands, can sustainable fashion be more than just a trend? Regardless, social enterprises across the region are helping push sustainable fashion into the spotlight and, by extending a garment’s life, are reducing our combined impact on the planet.