Understanding the Environmental Toll of Fast Fashion Practices Today

1. The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment As usual, when we stroll into a shop and buy a few items at the mall, a question that may pop into our minds is how it is actually possible for such cheap clothing to be made in large numbers. Of course, the fast fashion industry and its associated factories found a solution. Among the many problems related to fast fashion, the environment’s detrimental effects are still of major concern. In this article, Jesse Keyes will reveal the far-reaching impacts of fast fashion on our surroundings and the urgent need for change. What Is Fast Fashion? The phrase ‘fast fashion’ has become more common in debates about fashion and environmental consciousness. The term means to ‘cheaply manufactured and priced clothes that copy the hottest looks from the runway and get hyped quickly through stores in order to capitalize on current trends’. It was first seen at the beginning of the 1990s, when Zara landed in New York. The New York Times used the term “fast fashion” to define Zara’s goal of having a garment go from design to retail in just 15 days. The leading brands in the fast fashion world include Zara, UNIQLO, Forever 21 and H&M.

2. 1. Excessive Water Usage When we think about the clothes we wear, we might not realize how much water is wasted making them. But the truth is, the fashion industry uses a lot of water. Imagine this: it takes a whopping 10,000 liters of water to produce just one kilogram of cotton! That’s like filling up more than 5,000 large buckets with water. And if we break it down even further, it takes about 3,000 liters of water to make just one cotton shirt. That’s enough water to fill up a small swimming pool! When they dye clothes, they use chemicals that end up in our oceans. In fact, around 20% of all the wastewater in the world comes from dyeing textiles. And here’s the thing: many factories that make our clothes are located in countries where there aren’t strict rules about how they handle this wastewater. So, unfortunately, a lot of untreated water finds its way into the oceans, harming marine life and polluting our beautiful waters. 2. Plastic Microfibers Do you know what microplastics are? These are tiny pieces of plastic that are smaller than a grain of rice. And guess what? A big chunk of these microplastics comes from the clothes we wear! How does that happen? Well, it’s all because of synthetic materials, like polyester. According to Jesse Keyes, when we wear clothes made from synthetic fibers like polyester, they release these tiny plastic fibers into the air. And when we wash these clothes, even more of these microfibers get into the water. These fibers don’t break down easily. Instead, they hang around in our oceans for a long, long time, causing all sorts of problems for marine life. Imagine this: you’re at home, doing your laundry, and every time you wash your clothes, you’re unknowingly adding more and more plastic into the water. Sounds pretty scary, right? But here’s something we can do to help: try to wash full loads of laundry whenever you can. That way, you’re using less water and reducing the number of microfibers that end up in our oceans.

3. 3. Excessive Clothing Consumption Have you ever noticed that there are always new trends popping up, telling us what’s “in” and what’s “out”? These trends can make us feel like we need to buy more and more clothes to keep up. And because clothes are often so cheap these days, it’s easy to fill up our closets without even realizing it. In fact, did you know that in 2019 alone, people around the world bought a staggering 62 million metric tons of clothes? But the fact is that a lot of these clothes aren’t made to last. They’re cheaply made and wear out after just a few washes. So what do we do with all these worn-out clothes? Well, sadly, a lot of them end up in landfills. And when landfills get too full, some of the trash gets burned. But burning trash releases harmful gases into the air, which can be really bad for our health and the environment. Instead of throwing away our old clothes, we can donate them to people who need them or find ways to reuse the materials. 4. Usage of Viscose Viscose is a type of fabric made from wood pulp, and it’s used to make all sorts of clothes, from shirts to dresses. The problem is that the process of producing viscose is not very eco-friendly. When companies make viscose, they use a lot of harmful chemicals. And not only that, but the process of making viscose also releases a lot of greenhouse gases, which can contribute to climate change. But that’s not all—the chemicals used to make viscose can also be harmful to the people who work in the factories where it’s produced. So, while viscose might seem like a good alternative to cotton, it’s not as environmentally friendly as we might think.

4. Closing Remarks In closing, fast fashion takes a heavy toll on our environment, from excessive water use to microfiber pollution. Urgent collective action is vital for a sustainable fashion industry. We must prioritize environmental and social responsibility in our fashion choices. Jesse Keyes concluded that consumers should choose quality over quantity and support companies that uphold moral standards. Let’s embrace a fashion culture that respects both people and the environment, paving the way for positive change.