When's the last time you repeated an outfit? Do you pay attention to where your clothes are made?
Do you keep an item of clothing until you've outgrown it, or do you switch closets every season?
These questions may feel exhausting, but they are becoming more common as Global Citizens everywhere pay attention to how they can shop more sustainably.
InsiderNotes
“The fashion industry is pumping out and selling more clothes than ever before.”
As fashion brands like ASOS, Fashion Nova, and Zara introduce new items online and in-store every week, the chances of you owning something that could be described as “fast fashion” are high.
But why does it matter?
The term fast fashion is used as a catchy way to describe the ultra-quick and cheap processes employed by the fashion industry that can have harmful effects on the environment.
Trending styles are designed, manufactured, transported, and sold by retail stores just in time for a new trend to come along to repeat the cycle.
Meanwhile, a study published by Labfresh found that 57.1% of fashion waste from 15 countries across the EU ends up in landfills.
While we can see the prevalence of fast fashion in our lives on social media and in our closets it’s difficult to know exactly how damaging the fashion industry is to the environment, making it harder for the industry to become sustainable.
According to Vox, we have few statistics about the fashion industry’s connection to climate change that are rooted in science, but we know there are issues.
Polyester, which is the most commonly used fiber in clothing, is made from plastic and will never fully decompose.
Instead, it acts like other forms of plastic, which are rarely recycled and will break down into microplastics for years to come, harming wildlife and emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The carbon emissions don’t stop there: From transporting clothing between manufacturing facilities and storefronts around the world, it’s no wonder that a 2021 report from the World #Economic Forum estimates the fashion industry generates 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, taking into account materials, manufacturing, and freight operations.
And sure, sustainability is on the rise, with more brands popping up to meet consumers’ demands for environmentally conscious clothing. But we can’t ensure sustainability without transparency, and, according to the #Fashion Transparency Index, fast fashion retailers are seriously lacking when it comes to disclosing their practices relating to human rights and environmental policies.
Change needs to happen at the macro level of the fashion industry, which can start with retailers sourcing sustainable materials and decarbonizing their supply chain.
But Global Citizens everywhere can avoid the damaging effects of fast fashion through their choices as consumers.
Check the complete story on my next blog.
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