How does fast fashion affect the planet?

What does this have to do with Climate Change?

However, now you know, you need to know the effects.

Pollution to our waters, environmental costs of transportation and the resultant waste. The disposing of dyes used in clothing products are expensive and therefore many companies will choose to pollute local waters as a dangerous alternative.

As many clothes are made across the world, these need to be transported to the retail stores: Trucks to planes to boats to vans until they finally reach the shop. Finally, after all that you buy it. You wear it for a while, it goes out of trend. It ends up in the great Atlantic garbage patch.

What can you do?

The global system that causes fast fashion is not your fault! However, there are things you can do to help reduce its impact and make fast fashion less attractive for big brands.

Here are 10 things you can personally do to help:

6. Shop sustainable brands. Choose ethical brands that care about the environment, pay their workers fairly, and are transparent across their entire supply chain – not just one part>
7. Shop for quality over quantity. Higher quality pieces often last longer. Check the workmanship of your clothing. Check seams and zippers. Shop with durability in mind even if it is somewhat more costly. Investing in well-made clothes will save you money in the long run by not having to keep replacing items.
8. Donate, don’t throw out. One person’s trash is another’s treasure. Donate  unwanted clothing to thrift stores or local shelters instead of throwing them out.
9. Sell unwanted clothing. Sell your clothing on online or brick and mortar resale shops. There are so many websites and apps which allow you to buy and sell used clothing.
10. Upcycle clothing. You can work wonders with a pair of scissors and a needle and thread and give new life to an old garment.

What can you do?

The global system that causes fast fashion is not your fault! However, there are things you can do to help reduce its impact and make fast fashion less attractive for big brands.

Here are 10 things you can personally do to help:

1. Shop second hand first. Buy pre-owned clothing from thrift shops, consignment shops, vintage sources, and online resale shops.
2. Buy fewer clothes. Value what you buy. Buy clothes you know you will wear many times because they look good and fit well.  With carefully chosen clothes, you can mix and match items to create many different looks.
3. Invest only in clothes you really like and need. Consider not what is being pushed at you by fashion designers but instead look at your own style and what you want to communicate.
4. Shop locally. Buy from local shops for clothes, buy from local craftspeople to accessorize your outfits and use your neighborhood tailor for adjustments.
5. Go natural. Buy clothing made with natural fabric fibers instead of synthetic fabrics. Natural alternatives to synthetic fabrics include cotton, linen, bamboo, flax, jute, silk, wool, and alpaca. Also look into low impact materials such as Modal and Lyocell.
6. Shop sustainable brands. Choose ethical brands that care about the environment, pay their workers fairly, and are transparent across their entire supply chain – not just one part>
7. Shop for quality over quantity. Higher quality pieces often last longer. Check the workmanship of your clothing. Check seams and zippers. Shop with durability in mind even if it is somewhat more costly. Investing in well-made clothes will save you money in the long run by not having to keep replacing items.
8. Donate, don’t throw out. One person’s trash is another’s treasure. Donate  unwanted clothing to thrift stores or local shelters instead of throwing them out.
9. Sell unwanted clothing. Sell your clothing on online or brick and mortar resale shops. There are so many websites and apps which allow you to buy and sell used clothing.
10. Upcycle clothing. You can work wonders with a pair of scissors and a needle and thread and give new life to an old garment.

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