A Fashion Issue: The Overview
Did you know that fashion is one of the most polluting industries in the world? I wasn’t aware of the negative impacts until I studied the sustainability of fashion in college. It opened my eyes + changed my view of the industry completely. It’s a topic not commonly talked about, although it is one that affects everyone. I want to spread awareness about the harmful effects of the industry to inform consumers that their buying choices directly impact people’s lives + the environment.
Before I dive into the details, please know that there is definitely a positive side to all of these crazy problems. We as consumers have the power to change the industry! 🙂
THE ISSUE
Producing clothing requires a multitude of stages. Each stage is required to use environmental resources + labor. Unfortunately, majority of the present-day fashion industry does not keep track of their impacts during these stages + countless negative results occur. The environment loses valuable resources, dyes contaminate water, + pesticides are harming field workers + animals. Garment employees have unsafe working conditions, work unethical hours, + have no protection from harassment. As a consumer who buys clothing, you are directly impacting what goes on in the industry.
You may ask, “How do I affect the environment + these people?” I’ll let you know! When you buy a product, you are telling the company that you agree with their business model. Your purchase is a vote to keep doing things the way they’ve been done. This is the very reason why the industry is how it is today. The majority of consumers don’t think twice about who made their product + what resources it used.
CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS
Today’s industry is based on money. Plain + simple. If it’s cheaper to make in China than the US, then it will be made there. If the pockets on a dress make the price tag look too expensive, the pockets will be removed for production. Things like this happen all of the time. Why? Consumers want a lower price. Think of Black Friday. People mindlessly buy things because the products are cheap + not necessarily because they need it. The only reason companies are making their prices lower is because they know that is what their consumer wants.
The price of a garment also affects many things. If there isn’t much money for the consumer to put on the table, the garment worker won’t receive a lot of money for their work. It is also proof that the garment was made with cheap methods. Majority of inexpensive processes are not beneficial to the environment. Dyeing, water usage, + other chemical washes are used to quickly produce a low-cost garment.
Consumers continuously crave different clothing. When visiting the same store from last week, consumers expect there to be new products. Think of brands like Forever 21, H&M, Zara, Primark, Asos, + Uniqlo. These kinds of companies are called “fast fashion” because instead of traditionally producing clothing every season, they are constantly making new styles.
Consumers buy clothes on a whim because the prices are so low. Unfortunately because this happens so often, the same consumers end up with clothes that they only wear once or twice. Clothing has become a disposable kind of product. People get rid of clothes as quickly as they buy them, which is another huge part of why the industry is so polluting: post consumer waste. Instead of donating or selling, people throw their clothes into the trash after use. All of this fabric ends up in our landfills + will remain there for years upon years.
But, my friends, as I mentioned above WE have the power to change this.
YOU HAVE A HUGE IMPACT
By knowing who made your products + buying with a thoughtful mind, you can start switching the way the industry perceives you as a consumer. If most consumers knew about this problem + cared about it, then the industry would not be how it is today. We can be the change!
This post is an overview of the modern day fashion industry. I will be writing more detailed posts about the topics discussed above; stay tuned!
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