Maakola is, at its heart, an ethical fashion brand that believes in the importance of sustainability — which is why it is such an essential part of our message. Not only does the education of sustainability drive our passion, but it plays an integral role in our fabrics, prints, and designs.
Sustainable fashion is more than just protecting our planet while looking unique and beautiful. It is about the lessons we can teach through our clothes and how we can re-educate ourselves about what we put on our bodies, how it came to be, and what it can do for the earth.
The Beauty of Nature and the Fragility of the Oceans
Celebrating the magic and importance of the coral reefs, our newest print is a distinctive and beautiful design that highlights the integral role the reefs play on our planet. Our Coral Reef fabric comes in one of Vilsco’s alluring Java prints, which captures the color, mystery, and effortless beauty of the reefs.
The Story of the Coral Reefs
We chose to dedicate a print to the reefs because they have a story that needs to be told. They are loved worldwide for their beauty and the wildlife that resides in them; however, they give the planet so much more than that. They protect our coastlines, prevent erosion, support wildlife, and generate an estimated $36 billion in tourism each year. Once we started delving into the reef’s importance on our planet, we found it hard to stop.
How Does What We Wear Effect Our Oceans?
Choosing what we wear can have a significant impact on our footprint on the planet. The world of fast fashion is renowned for having a damaging effect on the environment. With an estimated 10% of the world’s carbon emissions being caused by the fashion industry — and high-water usage and chemical pollution on the list for major concern, it has never been more important to act. Making small but positive changes can make a difference; this includes what we wear and how we wear it. When synthetic fibers are worn and washed, microplastics get flushed straight into the oceans. An estimated 700,000 microfibers from each wash cycle heads straight to the oceans, building sediments and ingested by sea creatures.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The United Nations has launched its SDG’s — Sustainable Development Goals — which aims to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from harmful effects such as pollution and ocean acidification. These positive changes will help mitigate some of the challenges facing our oceans. SDG12, which focuses on responsible consumption and production, and SDG14, which sheds light on life below the water, brings these issues into realization, and Maakola is a huge advocate of these innovative movements. This is why we have dedicated our newest print, Coral Reefs, to the beauty and importance of our ocean reefs.
How Can Sustainable Fashion Help the Oceans?
Simple choices that we make can have a massive impact on the oceans and the environment. Choose natural fibers, such as cotton, and choose to invest in fewer, high-quality, ethical fashion pieces instead of fast fashion. Attempt to wash your clothes less frequently and consider using a filter for your washing machine or use a washing bag that will filter out the microplastics. Join Maakola’s fashion revolution to shop smart, feel good, and look beautiful.
