Fast Fashion & Faster Destruction
Our world is changing right before our eyes. According to NASA, these changes include rising temperatures, big shifts in precipitation patterns, more droughts and heatwaves, stronger hurricanes, rising sea levels, and a melting arctic. We may not be able to completely control the Earth’s warming, but we can make a difference by slowing down the process, which may make these changes a lot less dramatic.
The fashion industry is the world’s second largest polluter, coming in right after the oil industry. The industry causes vast and unnecessary environmental harm, including polluting rivers with toxic substances like lead, mercury, and arsenic. This pollution damages both aquatic life and the health of nearby residents. The industry also uses excessive amounts of fresh water with a staggering 200 tons of water needed per every ton of dyed fabric.
Additionally, farmers must use up to 20,000 liters of water to grow just 1 kg of cotton in warm environments. The fashion industry thus uses 1.5 trillion liters of water annually. Beyond water waste, microfibers in our synthetic garments also make their way into the ocean every time we throw our clothes in the wash. Small fish then eat these microfibers, slowly adding more and more plastic to our food chain (Sustain Your Style).
If that isn’t enough, ten percent of the world’s carbon emissions come from the fashion industry. Many factories in China, Bangladesh and India power their clothing manufacturing with coal. Because of cheaper labor production, these are the top three places our clothes are made globally.
Luckily, there are many steps we can take to use our power as consumers to make an impact. Most notably, we need to stop supporting fast fashion by shopping at more local places where you know and trust that they are practicing ethically. One big way to accomplish this in a [different way] is going small. Using a smaller wardrobe with pieces that mix and match well with each other is the simplest way to curtail unnecessary purchases. Getting clothes secondhand is a great way to add to our closets when we need to, or if you are gracing a big event, try outfit rentals. You can rent anything from formal gowns to purses and even jewelry. To limit your water usage (and make your clothes last longer), try re-wearing your outfits as much as possible before putting them through a wash cycle.
We need to start understanding the value of paying more for higher quality and a lower quantity of rather than wasting money on cheap products that won’t last us more than a few washes. And, perhaps most importantly, we need to do more research on the places that we shop and try not to get carried away by fast fashion trends. I use the Good on You app, which ranks clothing companies’ environmental impact using a 5-star sale. Another great way is to shop local from people you know are practicing ethical fashion supply chain. Now, there are so many options for sustainable fashion and many more companies popping up quickly to meet the demand. The change we need to see in the world starts with us and our everyday choices. I believe with all my heart that we can make a difference for the future of our planet and the generations to come, and it starts with a simple choice.
By Parinaz Kassemi
Hamline Grad Student, model, teacher, & ice cream’s biggest fan.