One of Africa's most-watched fashion weeks has wrapped up in Johannesburg. Now in its 22nd year, the Joburg event has become a "can't-miss" for designers hoping to show off their latest wares. But the industry is changing. And there's a global trend towards more environmentally friendly clothes. Sumitra Nydoo went to see how local designers are GREENING their collections.

The fashion industry has become one of the largest polluters in the world. The heavy use of pesticides, toxic dyes and abuse of animal rights has increased the industry's carbon footprint. The multi-billion dollar industry though is slowly adapting to environmentally sustainable practices, more so because consumers are starting to pay attention and question production ethics.

NICOLA LUTHER CREATIVE DIRECTOR, LUNAR "In the last couple of years we have definitely noticed a shift in the consumer. They are asking more questions and they are more informed."

Fashion houses are now increasingly creating garments using natural fabric and recyclable materials. Ethical fashion was once a niche but now it's a growing market attracting new skills.

HELEN MELON OWNER, HELON MELON STUDIO "Sustainability, in terms of jobs, we are looking at people that are now being employed to make incredible clothing and everybody is proud of what their manufacturing and proud of what they are putting through. So we do see a great sort of young crowd that is coming through and saying we are not interested in making hundreds and thousands of the same thing they would rather spend their time curating their product sourcing their fabric really carefully."

SONJA STANISLANJ-KAWDI-APING DESIGNER, LUNAR "It's a huge industry so it actually has the capacity and the power to make some serious change and because it is also a visual medium and it has so much influence in the modern world. I think it can also really be a driver be for social change and help people to change their minds about how they spend their money."

The move to earth-conscious consumerism is growing, albeit slowly, which is still a major concern as the impact of climate change is being felt more everyday. But Fashion is a massive industry that can make a major impact on the environment, the way we live and the way we dress. SN, CGTN, JHB, SA.