We all love to add the latest trends to our wardrobe each season without breaking the bank, but what is this over consumption doing to the environment? Many of us give in to the latest trends and shop for fast fashion, or cheap clothes that are on trend from retailers who pump out new, inexpensive styles each season. For us, this translates into a fabulous, on-trend wardrobe that keeps people guessing because we don’t have to wear the same old thing all the time. For the environment, our overconsumption is a cause for concern.
Dr. Michael Cann, a chemistry professor and sustainability advocate at the University of Scranton, said people should look at clothing in terms of its life cycle, or from cradle-to-grave. He said clothing has the most impact on the environment during its production and post-use stages. During production, limited resources are used in the production of clothing, which also results in harmful emissions from clothing and textile factories. In post-use, many clothing items are thrown in the trash and make their way to a landfill.
To reduce your impact, Cann said to think outside the box when shopping for clothes. Consignment shops are a growing trend, and giving clothes a second life reduces the impact of clothing production.
“Why not go to a secondhand shop? The bottom line is it’s all new to you,” Cann said. “I think we now see a lot more of these secondhand shops, and people are shopping there more and more.”
Consignment shop finds may surprise you. Bring a friend along and you might even have some fun while hunting for fashion treasures that won’t break the bank or hurt the environment. Look for clothing made with recycled material, and don’t forget to recycle your clothes when you are finished using them. Sell them to a secondhand shop or donate to those in need. Also, don’t be afraid to spend a little more on higher quality clothes in classic styles that will last longer than fast fashion items of lesser quality.
According to the National Resources Defense Council, the average American tosses 68 pounds of clothing in the trash each year. When you are finished using your clothes, the NRDC advocates that, instead of tossing old clothes in the trash, donate them to a good cause, sell them to a consignment shop or bring them to a textile recycler.
*Dr. Cann leads the Task Force on Sustainability at the University. Check it out! http://matrix.scranton.edu/sustainability/taskforce.shtml