What is fast fashion? Let's explore the "fast" and the harmful consequences it has on you and the planet.
Fast Food/Fast Fashion
Everyone knows the cost of fast food. It’s not heavy in your pocket but it’s costly to your health and the health of the planet. Fast food is made from low quality ingredients and many artificial additives. Clothing which is designed to be worn for this season’s trends and then discarded is much the same. It’s made from synthetic fabrics using synthetic dyes and chemical processes and is poor quality - not made to last.
Your Health
The impact of fast fashion on your health may not be immediately apparent. But, stop to consider for a moment that your skin, your body’s largest organ, is in close contact with cloth all day and also while you sleep. And your skin is by nature absorptive. It not only absorbs what you put directly on it, like soaps, creams and perfumes but it can also absorb chemicals from the cloth you wear or sleep with. This means your skin is exposed to the chemicals in fabrics and from the detergents you use to wash them nearly 24/7 !
Your home, the Earth
The textile and fashion industries are among the most polluting in the world, right after the oil industry.(1) Textile production uses massive amounts of water and energy producing vast amounts of greenhouse gasses and pollutants which end up in our waterways and soil. Also many textile crops, like cotton require heavy use of pesticides which stay in the soil and are hazardous to the health of the people who grow it. On top of this, it is estimated that in the US alone, people throw out around 2,150 pieces of clothing each second.(2) The majority of discarded clothing ends up in landfill and since it is mainly made of synthetic fabric it does not biodegrade. Our “throwaway” culture of fast fashion is a huge contributor to climate change and we are literally drowning in our own clothing.
Your Choices Matter
As consumers, we have choices and our choices matter. You may feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems we collectively face in our world today, but remember that every small change adds up to a bigger change. So, if you are ready to consider how you can contribute to making a change in the way you view, use and wear textiles, you can begin right here.
Slow Fashion, a Different Story
Every month I will be sharing information, stories, practical tips, resources, how-to’s and further explorations in the world of Slow Fashion for you to read, digest, and consider how you interact with textiles and fashion and what small changes you can make.
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