Fast Fashion

Everyone talks about electric cars, reducing plastics, recycling and utilizing reusable containers. There are many things we point and blame for about climate change (FYI I don't believe in society's idea of climate change but that debate is for another day). Day-to-day we know that reducing our meat and dairy consumption as well as our personal energy use helps in a big way to reducing the amount of negative output into our environment.

Though that is all good and dandy, we are forgetting to hold a large industry accountable. They contribute everyday to increasing our carbon footprint, yet they are looked time and time again. Honestly, I've never even herd anyone talk about them in debates or news stories about "saving the planet". They are, the clothing/fashion industry.

The Customer

The fashion industry, including the production of materials into clothing items, consumes more energy than the aviation and shipping industries combined. Responsible for about 10% of the global green house gas emissions, the clothing industry is not being held accountable.

Consumerism has rapidly grown in recent years which coined it's term "fast fashion". Describing how trends are appearing more quickly in stores and disappearing just as quickly. This model satisfies the customers being able to buy what's "trendy" for a relatively affordable cost, but bottom line is it's creating more waste. Since trends change so quickly, more clothes are being produced to satisfy projected demand and competitors, yet purchases are not equal to the number of clothing items manufactured. Consumerism is huge issue for our environment and it is not being discussed enough.

Although we may be taught to believe that clothing donations are great for people in need, and it is, but it is also become an excuse for us to feel less guilty when we practically throw away a quarter of our closets every year. Yes most of it gets donated but in reality, donation is only a means of temporarily removing the problem before filling that void again in a couple weeks. I GUARANTEE that everytime you finish cleaning out your closet, you say to yourself "wow, I have so much more space now... for more clothes". Doesn't that just defeat the whole purpose! The point of making space in your closet is to have space to see what you have. Not to have space to fill more clothes later! The majority of the clothes we get rid of don't even have anything wrong with them either! Other than the fact that we wouldn't see ourselves wearing it anymore, they still hold alot of value. Yet if we donate those clothes, than it's "ok" to get rid of perfectly good articles of clothing because they are going to people in more need. We are ignoring the real problem here!

I am not trying to say you need to keep everything you've ever bought in your life. And I am also not saying to throw away every item that isn't a "timeless piece". All I am saying is we need to be more aware of what we are buying, and where we are putting our money... but I'll get into that at the end. I still have some points to get to first.


The Industry

With more materials being made and circulating on this planet everyday, synthetics or natural, more waste circulation is inevitable. Donations are great for those who can't afford the clothes they need, but more often than not those clothes we donate end up going to thrift stores where the industry attempts to profit from our hammy downs and their materials, a second time.

We are buying 60% more clothing items than we were in the year 2000 which proportionally is a larger growth than that of the Earth's population. So this isn't a result of more humans walking into store, but in fact it's due to the abundance of options (in store and online) and the "can't-pass-up" affordable prices of these clothing stores who's business models is to sell, sell, sell; focusing on quantity instead of quality most of the time. They want to sell what's trendy right now to make the most profit. Not all clothing companies follow this business model but I hope you understand the larger point I am trying to make.

On top of all of that, many companies are notorious for using unethical practices for manufacturing their clothes. This comes to no surprise as it's been known that manufacturing in 3rd world countries is cheaper in terms of labour costs. Even worse for the environment is that in these countries, monitoring these manufacturing processes are rare, therefore in many instances, production waste is disposed of in less than favourable ways into the rivers or thrown into landfills. None of this should come as surprise to you either, but just because we know about it, and sometimes joke about it, doesn't make it right.


Our Environment

So what does this all actually mean for the environment because the clothes in our closest don't actually emit CO2? Well, the fashion industry is actually a big culprit of CO2 emissions through general production but more specifically through the labour and care of materials. Synthetic materials which are produced artificially are used more today than cotton, which grows naturally straight from the earth. Don't get me wrong, cotton is not blameless. It requires a large resources of water and land for production, needing about 1,000L of water for enough cotton for one t-shirt. Synthetics like polyester though are estimated to producing emissions of 5.5 kg CO2e per every t-shirt made. So which is worst? Truthfully, I honestly don't know.


There are so many more facts circulating the internet about this topic, as things can differ greatly from one company to the next. But the facts are there.

Credit: Fashionrevolution.org

The Solution

Now comes the part after the rant where I actually give you my 2-cent advice, and you can chose to take it or not, but I encourage you to say educated and aware of these issues as they will greatly impact our future and the next generations. That I can guarantee.

Let's make it as short and sweet as possible.

1. Purchase clothing items from companies that ethically source their materials and follow fair-trade production protocol (here are a list of such companies), I think you'd be surprised to find that many of your favourite clothing stores aren't listed.

2. Purchase only when you need. You don't need 3 pairs of running shoes (unless they actually all have different uses which isn't likely), and you don't need 5 black sweaters/t-shirts or whatever. If we buy less, industries will take note, their profits will decrease and production will reduce, which in tale will help reduce overall waste, but we all need to make a stand to make a change.

3. Continue to donate clothes!!! Although some re-circulate your donations for profit, many great organizations really do use donations to help those in need. So if you find something in your closet that doesn't fit you anymore and/or you haven't worn in over a year than I do think the best thing to do is donation. Donations bins are always better than trash cans.

I think my overwhelming key to take from all this information is to do your research. There are so many opinions out there about whether or not specific brands follow ethical practices. All of which enforces the fact that brand need to be more transparent with what they are doing behind the scenes.


The Change

Finally, in no way am I saying that I am turning my lifestyle upside down to conform to the solutions I've provided. That doesn't make me a hypocrite either, but it takes time to change daily habits and societal norms that I've followed, honestly, since birth. Where I can say I've changed is how much more aware and educated I am. Making better decisions about where I chose to spend my hard-earned money has made me feel just a little less guilty. Taking Victoria's Secret for example. That brand I've come to learn has horrible practices, their ex-CEO had horrendous ideologies about how to market his company, but overall the message they spread to society was not one I was proud to stand by. So as hard as it was to stop spending my money at an institution that I've been shopping at for almost 10 years, I did. And until I notice a change in their business model, they will no longer be receiving my business.

When given the opportunity, I put my money where my mouth is, and I encourage you all to do the same when you can. Also be mindful of the quality and quantity of purchases you are making. Before swiping your card or hitting the "Complete Order" consider whether you would be 'ok' with wearing, but more importantly advertising, for the brand as well as their message and business model. And consider what would happen to the item of clothing currently in your closet that you will start wearing less with this new addition.

Would you purchase and wear (with pride) a MAGA hat? If not, than how is that different than wearing a pair of shorts from the GAP, or Urban Outfitters, that was made by a mother of 3 children in Indonesia being paid 10 cents per hour, or 50$/month? Would you wear those shorts with pride?

Credit: Fashionrevolution.org

I am not perfect. And I am not trying to say that I am better than you. But educating myself recently has made me more conscious of what I buy, and where I chose to spend my hard earned money.

If you come across a brand or company that doesn't stand for anything other than sales or profits and disregards what humanity and community is built on, well it's up you to make the right choices if they won't step up. Because someone has to stand up for mother nature and/or any other entity who is too scared or too small to do so for themselves.

-Marie