“I am not going to buy any new clothes for the rest of 2020!”
I had heard these words come out of my friend’s mouth many times. She is the kind of person who will quite literally buy every item in whatever store she walks into. This declaration was often made when we were leaving the mall and she knew she had spent way too much. But earlier this year when she made this statement, I could tell she wasn’t exaggerating.
I remember asking her about her resolution and why she was stepping away from her love for shopping. She went on to tell me about how bad fast fashion was for our environment.
I remember just nodding my head while wondering, “What the heck is fast fashion?”
So, I went home that day and did some research on the matter.
Fast fashion is a term used by the fashion industry which refers to cheap clothing that pulls trends from the catwalk. Fast-fashion pieces are not meant to last, rather their purpose is to fulfill the need of a shopper who wants to keep up with the latest fashion fad. These clothes may be tempting to buy due to the low number on their price tag and intriguing style, but they are a big part of our pollution problem!
These pieces are cheaply made for a reason. After only a few uses, the pieces begin to lose their shape and tear easily. When they no longer look like they did when the buyer first purchased them in store, the buyer throws them out and runs back to the store to buy the newest trend. As you can probably tell, this becomes a vicious cycle that has negative effects on our environment.
Here are some jaw dropping facts about the fast fashion industry:
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On average, a garment is only worn 4 times. – Pretty Green Lily
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It takes about 2,720 litres of water to produce just one cotton shirt—a number equivalent to what an average person drinks over three years. – EJF
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Ninety-two million tons of clothes are thrown out each year – Pretty Green Lily
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“…85% of the plastic pollution in the ocean is due to microfibers [from synthetic clothing.]” – Dr. Mark Browne
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“Nearly 70 million barrels of oil are used each year to make the world’s polyester fiber, which is now the most commonly used fiber in our clothing. But it takes more than 200 years to decompose.” – Forbes
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“More than 90% of that cotton is now genetically modified, using vast amounts of water as well as chemicals. Cotton production is now responsible for 18% of worldwide pesticide use and 25% of total insecticide use.” – The True Cost
What can you do to help slow the effects of fast fashion? Great question! Here are some actions you can take to reduce your clothing waste!
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Buy clothing from quality brands. Think of clothes as an investment. Choose items that you know you will be able to wear for years rather than the cheap options that will be torn apart the first time you put them in the washer.
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Thrift.I am a frequent shopper at Goodwill! All of my favorite pieces hanging in my closet are ones that I’ve thrifted. Give it a try! I can almost guarantee that you will be surprised with all the good things you will find.
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Find other ways to use tattered clothing. Tear your old t-shirts up and use them as a dust rag. Cut tattered clothes into strips and make them into a rug. With a simple search on Pinterest you can find hundreds of ways to reuse fabric from clothing you are ready to toss.
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Give them to a friend. Before you throw out a piece you grew out of or just aren’t really wearing anymore, ask your girlfriends if they want it!
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Donate. When your friend passes on an item or you just can’t be bothered to attempt to reuse your old clothes, drop them off at one of the many collection bins around town!