Is a garment really sustainable if the fabric is sustainable but the trims aren't?

Something I've been thinking about while looking at sustainable fashion supply chains is how much attention goes into choosing the main fabric, while things like buttons, zippers, thread, labels and elastic are often treated as an afterthought.

For example, a brand might use organic cotton or another lower-impact textile, but then use conventional polyester thread, plastic buttons and synthetic components throughout the garment.

I'm not saying every synthetic component is automatically "bad" — performance, durability and cost obviously matter. But it does make the overall sustainability claim more complicated.

For designers and small fashion brands, how do you actually approach this?

Do you evaluate:

• buttons and fasteners separately?
• sewing thread?
• labels and packaging?
• zippers?
• elastic/interlinings?
• recyclability at the end of the garment's life?

And how do you balance sustainability, durability, availability and cost when sourcing trims?

I'd also be interested to know whether anyone has a practical checklist they use when selecting trims for a new collection.

It seems like the main challenge isn't finding one "eco-friendly trim", but making sure the whole garment makes sense from a materials perspective.