Why Fast Fashion Is Ruining Our Planet And What You Can Do About It

Did you know that fast fashion is the world's second biggest pollutant next to coal? The average consumer shops at brands like H&M, Forever21, and Zara because the clothes are in style, and the costs are low. But  perhaps what you didn't know about these products, is that the convenience you opt for, has a price. Unfortunately, our purchasing habits as a society are affecting our precious planet, the people in it and our personal health!

OUR PLANET

Fast fashion significantly contributes to green house emissions because the materials used are often micro-plastics, and synthetic chemicals and dyes. Did you know the average person throws away 46 pounds of clothes per year? The fashion industry accounts for 10% of the world’s total carbon footprint. And what about your favorite pair of jeans? Well, consider this: almost  2000 gallons are required to grow enough cotton for one pair of jeans,. In fact, the fashion industry is one of the largest consumers of water in the world consuming up to  9 trillion liters of water a year. Manufacturing textiles are responsible for 25% of chemicals used worldwide. Not only are we polluting our precious oceans with harmful chemical dyes that affect our eco-system, but we do so completely unaware that the cute t-shirts and pairs of jeans we buy today may be the cause of our grandchildren's health problems later on. It is time for us to do something while we still have a chance.

Not only is fast fashion hurting our planet, but it's also affecting our health. Nonylphenol is an endocrine disruptor chemical , one of many chemicals that are found in our clothes! Although it has been banned in the European Union and Canada in detergents, it is not banned from our imported clothing and textiles. This chemical remains in our clothes and only comes out after a few washes. It is also estimated that around 1900 individual micro-plastic fibers can be washed off a single piece of clothing, and find their way into our oceans. Micro-plastics are also a problem. They are finding their way into our diet through micro-planktons who mistake them for food. Some of those plastics are made of chemicals harmful to humans which cause serious health side effects, or even terminal illnesses. Another health hazard is the fact that the fashion industry produces 20 per cent of global wastewater and 10 per cent of global carbon emissions - more than all international flights and maritime shipping. Polyester is also another culprit. It is the most popular fabric used for fashion. But when polyester garments are washed in domestic washing machines, they shed micro-fibres that add to the increasing levels of plastic in our oceans. These micro-fibres are minute and can easily pass through sewage and wastewater treatment plants into our waterways, but because they do not biodegrade, they represent a serious threat to aquatic life. 

So what can you do to protect the planet, its people and your own personal health?

Here are a few suggestions from our team:

1) Create a capsule wardrobe (free of dyes)

We really don't need that many clothing pieces anyway. It is estimated that people do not wear at least 50% of their wardrobes.  If you own 10 pairs of Jeans, do you really wear all ten of them or do you always gravitate to wear the same one or two pairs all the time? This is why capsule wardrobes were created! You only keep what you regularly wear, and you get to save space in the closet, and money in the process! There's lots of inspiration on youtube regarding capsule wardrobes. And if you'd like to be bold, and even make a greater difference, you can opt for an all black, or all white wardrobe and avoid dyed clothing altogether!

2) Thrifting

Thrifting is also an amazing way to shop sustainability because you are essentially rescuing items that could potentially end up in a land fill. Thrifting also allows you to come up with and create your own  unique sense of style outside of the latest fashion trends. You can focus on purchasing timeless pieces, and really getting to know your likes and dislikes. Not to mention that thrifting items allows you to buy high quality items from high fashion brands at a fraction of the price.

3) Online thrifting on websites like Poshmark

If you're an impatient shopper, you may not have the patience required to browse through thrift shops for your most coveted statement pieces. Lucky for you, Poshmark, an online used clothing database allows you to sell and purchase used clothing from the comfort of your own home. How cool is that?

4) Sustainable brands

Want to quit fast fashion all together? Maybe buy fewer pieces a year, at a higher price, but higher quality, that can last you a lifetime instead of a few washes. You don't have to increase your budget for clothing. Calculate on an average year how much you spend on clothes, and spend the same amount of money but on fewer higher quality items! Here's an article with a list of sustainable affordable brands.