Fast fashion, though loved for its affordable prices and trendy styles, has a dark side. Its increasing growth as an industry is causing considerable harm to our environment. Consider this, annually, the fashion industry is responsible for producing about 10% of global carbon emissions.
The production of cheap, disposable clothing is a large contributor to landfill waste. Fabrics like polyester, a staple of fast fashion, can take hundreds of years to biodegrade. Additionally, the water consumption involved in producing a single piece of clothing is astronomical. For example, to produce just one cotton t-shirt, it takes around 2,700 litres of water, which is about what a person drinks in two and a half years.
What’s even more surprising is that many of those flimsy little garments end up barely worn or untouched in our closets. Have you ever considered how many times you wear a single item of clothing before it gets discarded? The concept of re-wear, reuse and recycling is often forgotten when it comes to our wardrobes.
In your opinion, do you think it’s possible to enjoy fashion responsibly without aiding the detriment of our planet? Could steps be taken by individuals, brands and/or governments to curb the environmental impact of fast fashion? What do you think about the concept of a “capsule wardrobe” and shopping less but better? Looking forward to your thoughts and insights on this.
