South Florida Fashion Industry Prompts National Bipartisan Environmental Bill

US Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Sean Casten (D-IL) have jointly submitted a bill to boost sustainable fashion.

Together, Representatives Salazar and Casten drafted the Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act to spur the sustainable clothing industry.

The bill would enable customers to identify sustainable apparel brands through an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved tag.

If passed, the legislation will establish a Voluntary EPA Sustainable Apparel Labeling program through which interested brands may apply for product-displayable sustainable  fashion certificates.

Via press release, Salazar explained the strides made in sustainability by Miami’s fashion industry prompted her to introduce the bill.

Salazar also underscored the sector’s importance for South Florida’s economy.

“Fashion is not just an important part of Miami’s identity in the world as a global hub, but also contributes millions of dollars to our local economy every year,” said Rep. Salazar. “The Voluntary Sustainable Apparel Labeling Act builds an information bridge between consumer and producer, encouraging more sustainable clothes shopping to help protect our planet.”

Companies that are granted permission to display EPA-certified sustainability labels will be able to boast their environmentally friendly-practices to customers.

According to the bill, labels will contain information such as companies’ reductions in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and scannable QR codes with additional environmental figures.

The latest economic figures state women’s clothing stores alone generate $7 billion annually for Florida’s economy. 

Male clothing stores generate $1.1 billion annually. 

Beside Salazar’s latest sustainable apparel initiative, she has introduced various other bills with similar intentions for other sectors of Florida’s economy.

Some of these have included measures to incite South Florida’s sustainable infrastructure development.