Back in high school, I remember getting my first paycheck from my job, going to the mall with my friends, and spending it on poorly made clothes from places like Forever 21, H&M, Urban Outfitters, and American Eagle. The clothes at these places were cheap (apart from the glorified rags they sell at Urban Outfitters), and that was the appeal. Cheap clothes that always seem to keep with the "trend." That is the definition of fast fashion. Fast fashion wreaks havoc on our environment, yet it isn't commonly thought of when people talk about climate change. Why is this? Using plastic single-use water bottles, driving a car, or littering, are often correlated with negatively impacting the environment, but people don't normally bat an eye when it comes to buying clothes. Where the clothes come form, and where they go when we get rid of them, are details that many never consider. It is something we definitely should think about, because the textile industry is playing a large part in hurting our planet. The House of Common Environmental Audit Committee reported in 2019,
"Clothing production is the third biggest manufacturing industry after the automotive and technology industries. Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined."
Not only is this industry harming our planet, but also the people who work in these factories making the clothes. Fashion Checker, a highly reputable website, reported in 2020 that,
"93% of brands surveyed by the Fashion Checker aren't paying garment workers a living wage."
Any statistics or facts I provide in this post are taken from Good On You, which provides citations for every claim made.
My journey to becoming more fast fashion aware started after viewing the documentary "River Blue," a very compelling tale that journeys to some of the world's most beautiful, but polluted rivers. The film shows dyes being dumped into roaring rivers, dead fish belly-up on sandy shores, textile workers working in nightmarish conditions, and landfills of textiles so high that it looks like they could touch the stars.
I felt utterly ashamed after viewing this documentary. I was so angry with myself and the human race for adulterating our beautiful world, all for such a shallow reason of fashion. Fashion can be a form of self expression, but to do so at the cost of destroying our home wasn't enough to convince me that what we are doing is remotely ok. I was also specifically frustrated with western civilization, and how we turn a blind eye to the destruction that we are ultimately funding. We outsource textile production to poorer countries, exploiting their labor and their land. We see the end product, hanging behind glossy windows and handed to us in glossy bags, but we don't see its journey to this place, or where it will end up. Before watching "River Blue," I didn't really think about what an impact the clothes I buy have on the environment. When you are so removed from the impact, (landfills, pollution, factories, etc.), then it is really hard to identify that there is even a problem. That is exactly what fast fashion companies rely on - Our ignorance. Many people in affluent countries don't have to live in the pollution and destruction that they have a direct role in creating, so they either aren't aware of the consequences of their actions.... Or they are and they choose to turn a blind eye. It is exactly like the animal agriculture industry. When people find out about the inhumane treatment of animals in this industry, they either become vegan, or choose to consciously ignore reality because of their ability to remain disconnected from the cruelty that happens behind closed doors. Most of us don't have to ever visit or work in a slaughterhouse, much like we don't have to work everyday or live in places where the textile industry is destroying our environment, so because of this lack of exposure, many are able to live peacefully in willful ignorance.
I am a strong proponent of the idea that your actions should align with your beliefs. Where one chooses to spend their money is an action that can have a big impact. I don't support animal cruelty, so I do everything in my power to not give my money to companies that exploit animals, (meat and dairy factory farmers). Similarly, I do not support the pollution of our environment, so I do my best to not give my money to companies that wreak havoc on the natural world, which includes fast fashion companies. Perfectly aligning your actions with your beliefs isn't the goal, it's about doing your very best to do so.
After watching River Blue, I wanted to try and make a real change in my buying habits. I was never an excessive clothing spender, but I wanted to make sure that when I did buy something, it wasn't having a negative impact on the environment by supporting fast fashion brands. I think quality over quantity is very important, so I decided that instead of buying numerous amounts of cheap fast fashion clothes, I would invest in smaller amounts of sustainable, high quality pieces. I would still be spending the same amount of money overall, I would just have less clothes at a higher quality that would last longer. Fast fashion clothes are designed to have a shorter life so that you are encouraged to buy more to replace them. By investing in a few high quality pieces, you will be doing your pocket and the environment a favor!
I recently decided to make a goal for myself regarding my clothing purchases. I want to almost completely eliminate my purchase of fast fashion clothes. These are the guidelines I set for myself in 2021:
Any clothes I buy...
50% sustainable certified companies
40% thrifted
10% other places, but still no well-known fast fashion brands
I broke up my consumption like this because I need to be realistic. Setting unrealistic standards for myself, such as buying 100% second-hand clothes is not realistic right now for me, and I know I won't stick with it. Creating healthy habits that you will actually do is so important. When I went vegan, I went completely vegan overnight. I knew that I could do this because I felt with every fiber in my being that it was the only way for me to live. With fast fashion, I still feel so strongly about the environment, but if I am being completely honest with myself, I know that it is a harder feat for me to go all in on because of where I am at in life right now. I don't go shopping often in stores anymore because of the pandemic, so thrift stores are harder for me to get to. There are a lot of online thrifting options, but I prefer in-store. So for right now, I am focusing on lowering my consumption of clothes overall instead of adding to my collection. Adopting a more minimal lifestyle has always been a constant goal of mine, and it goes along with my anti-fast fashion mindset that I have developed. I have a little bit of wiggle room with my 10% free card in my breakdown, because again, I am being realistic. Perhaps I will progress and lower that percentage every year.
At the end of the day, we should all just do the best we can. For me, complete veganism is my best, and being as sustainable as I can in my clothing choices is also my best. Every positive move we make, big or small, makes a difference. At the same time, every negative move we make also makes a difference. Life is all about weighing our actions, and making the positive choice whenever we can.
Stay tuned in for a post about my favorite sustainable clothing brands!