The Bohío Playa project in Envigado, Antioquia, has achieved a positive social and environmental impact.

Environmental awareness has increased over the years, as multiple studies have demonstrated the advanced deterioration of ecosystems around the world . This is caused by humans exploiting natural resources in unsustainable ways.

However, economic progress and development, carried out in this way, have generated questionable and regrettable consequences when it comes to the environment. In the midst of this, One of the most polluting industries is fashion. In fact, the world's biggest brands have built a production style known as 'Fast Fashion'.

This production model emerged after the large fashion companies felt the need to sell each increasingly in record time . In light of this, the great efforts that were made for only four seasons a year became for more than 50 collections. However, the production and purchase of excessive clothing each year causes things like 73% of the garments manufactured each year end up incinerated or in landfills, leaving this industry as the second most polluting in the world.

Year after year, the purchase of clothing has increased incredibly. But this not only harms the environment , but is also related to the low or no guarantee of human rights.

The above, according to Green Peace, is driven by the collective imagination focused on the Unnecessary need to buy clothes in short periods of time based on trends . This promotes low-cost clothing made with poor quality materials, manufactured quickly, and with workers who have 14 to 16 hour daily schedules, which are very poorly paid.

In fact, Kelly Drennan, founder of the NGO Fashion Takes Action, clarified that social networks have increased the search for what's new, not repeating a garment in several photos.

Now, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, between the Between 2000 and 2015, garment production increased from 50 billion to more than 100 billion. in just that period. In addition, the use of a single garment has decreased by 36% , there are clothes that are used just seven times and then they are discarded.

On the other hand, there is an unconscious use of natural resources, and even Fast Fashion represents the 10% of global CO2 emissions . In turn, according to a 2020 Greenpeace study, highly hazardous chemicals are used, which end up in rivers and bodies of water. For example, WRI indicated that they are used only 2,700 liters of water to make a single cotton shirt. Another example is the one pointed out by the UN, where it clarifies that manufacturing some jeans involve 7,500 liters of water, which is the equivalent of the amount that an average person drinks in seven years . This is where it becomes clear that the unnecessary consumption of clothing or the pursuit of fashion causes enormous damage and waste to natural resources.

And then, What is the alternative to Fast Fashion? People can opt for the Slow Fashion model, where brands develop quality products that will last longer. There are also many environmentally friendly initiatives, such as donate or sell clothes that is no longer used so that it has a new life; buy from merchants in the same country or city to avoid contamination during the transfer of clothing during flights; Do not buy from companies that promote long working hours with undignified wages. As well as buying second-hand clothes or give more use than usual to the clothes you already have and not be guided by trends.

Another alternative is to buy clothing made from recycled materials, as is the case of plastic. Bohío Playa, for example, is one of the sustainable and environmentally friendly projects. They make shirts, pants, and even swimsuits. This brand calls itself "the feeling of the Caribbean brought to haute couture; we are a truly sustainable beach brand."

Daniel Velásquez, founder of this venture that has been in the market for seven years, indicated that "the problem we are trying to solve is that fashion, which is one of the world's main pollutants, stop being like this, "that it be like a caress to the planet through sustainable fashion."

During the clothing manufacturing process at Bohío Playa, "we work with completely sustainable inputs , many fabrics made from recycled bottles and plastics. We have our suppliers of sustainable inputs. After that, we we work the fabrics with older adults and single mothers," he clarified Velasquez.

Faced with the excessive consumption of clothing, Bohío Playa pointed out that they mainly have a challenge as a sustainable company, which is "to be able to infect the fashion closet, with the idea that You can work sustainably and be economically viable, as well as grow as a company without "damage the environment."

Regarding the way these products are made from recycled plastic and their acceptance in the face of the collective imagination that clothing must be made from "new" raw materials, the founder stated that "it hasn't been difficult; the media has helped us a lot in conveying the idea that it is possible to be sustainable." It doesn't matter if a new garment is made with raw materials that are reused, The world already demands the reuse of materials. It has been very well accepted. Recycled bottles and plastic are being given a second life."

On the other hand, this sustainable project highlighted that they have had an impact on the country. "We have left a very important mark on society , because we have believed in second chances in all aspects, both socially and environmentally . Socially, we have given I employ grandmothers, which is often a sector where basically no one gives them work. We wanted to highlight their capacity to create, and we have also given employment to people with disabilities, this leaves a very positive impact and everything that has to do with sustainable raw materials. We have recycled roughly the equivalent of 100,000 plastic bottles. turned into garments."

Velásquez stressed that one of the most important challenges has been mainly to undertake "it is a very tremendous challenge, especially in a country that has so many obstacles like Colombia in taxes And in many ways, entrepreneurs are squeezed, and that's not reflected in opportunities in the state. However, we've done very well; we've moved forward despite the difficulties. There are some very alarming statistics regarding entrepreneurship, despite the fact that it's a very important economic force, and the government should give it more importance."

Finally, Velásquez clarified that many people turn to the brand because its raw materials are recycled. This demonstrates the growing awareness among citizens when it comes to purchasing clothing.