Having just celebrated Earth Day, it’s time to think green. Everyone loves affordable clothing, but is the risk worth being cheap?
From Shein to Temu, cheap wholesale websites have been taking over the internet with near-zero prices and fast shipping. Unfortunately, the internet is not the only thing they’re taking over. The impact of fast fashion is rapidly increasing, and it’s negatively affecting the environment.
Fast fashion refers to clothing that is designed and produced quickly, with no real intent for the material’s longevity. This business model is made to encourage overconsumption for revenue—and social media makes it much easier to accomplish.
Trends are ever-changing, and the more celebrities flaunt their pieces from well-known fashion houses, the more people desire them. But as time goes on, even high-end brand names are affected by the growth of the fast fashion industry.
Not only are the designers affected, but the environment as well. The process of manufacturing cheap clothing uses an immense amount of energy and resources, contributing to environmental degradation such as climate change and microplastic pollution.
According to The Roundup, “87% of the materials and fibers used to make clothing will end up in either incinerators or landfills.”
With that information in mind, The True Cost writes, “The world now consumes about 80 billion new pieces of clothing every year. This is 400% more than the amount we consumed just two decades ago.”
“Clothing sales doubled from 100 to 200 billion units in a year, while the average number of times an item was worn decreased by 36% overall,” Earth.Org states as number one on its “10 Essential Fast Fashion Statistics” list.
This indicates that people are wearing fewer of the items they buy. Trends go as fast as they come, which leads to consumers wearing an item less and less until it’s discarded altogether.
This cycle of buying and discarding is extremely harmful, especially knowing that the production of these garments consists of turning fossil-fueled resources into synthetic fabrics.
“Not only does the production of these fabrics emit greenhouse gases,” The Plastic Collective states, “but the use of synthetic fibres means they may contain plastic, which is typically non-biodegradable.” Even after being thrown away, the environment is still greatly impacted by the habits of consumers.
The statistics on this subject are alarming—but not impossible to fix. Sustainable fashion, which is fashion made to last longer and with less environmental damage, is the way to go. Although these items cost slightly more, they are more likely to be made of cleaner materials that reduce the destruction of the environment.
The Plastic Collective also addresses this topic, offering alternatives to obtain sustainable clothing at affordable prices. Along with the government attempting to tackle this prevalent issue, they say that “secondhand clothing is an option for those looking to reduce their consumption of brand-new items.”
It’s imperative that companies are held responsible for what they produce and promote to the public. Until then, consumers can play a role in decreasing the growth of fast fashion by switching to garments that are environmentally friendly and made with care.
Try shopping at a local thrift store or from brands that are eco-friendly, while paying closer attention to the materials they use. Stay green and Happy Earth Day.
