Planet

Between the years of 2000 and 2015, the overall production of clothing increased twofold and, with industry output at an all-time high in 2023, we have yet to see a deceleration of this trend.

Fashion has become a distraction from more salient issues that we are facing in our lives; people are no longer shopping out of a necessity for clothing to survive harsh winters, or in order to cover up in a world in which wearing clothes is a legal obligation, or perhaps due to a sincere love and admiration for the art — they acquire and obtain, but often by virtue of vanity, giving rise to overconsumption.
Unfortunately, excess somewhere generally creates deficiency elsewhere. In this case, the cultivation of certain plants and the breeding of livestock for leather, fur and textiles in general, eminently threatens the future of crucial natural resources such as water and soil, as well as the quality of our air. The damage has been and continues to be done; as of right now, the fabrication of 1 kilogram of clothing requires approximately 100 to 150 litres of what frequently happens to be drinking water, which, in the process, is invariably made unfit for human consumption due to the chemicals used to dye the fabrics. Eventually, the resulting wastewater may sometimes be diverted back into the environment, poisoning flora and fauna alike.

We should try to minimize our impact on the planet by incorporating a circular economy approach into our everyday lives. Circular economy is a model of production and consumption that makes an attempt to maximize the use of natural resources by repairing, refurbishing, leasing, sharing, recycling—essentially reusing—pre-existing items for as long as possible, rather than unnecessarily manufacturing them anew.

Sustainable fashion is the future and the only way to prevent irreversible damage from being inflicted upon the environment. Being sustainable by choosing ethical brands that use recycled or responsibly sourced materials and non-toxic chemicals, as well as making the decision to purchase our clothing from second-hand markets, where garments are commonly either almost unworn or in very good condition, is the best path to take in tackling this issue. Sustainability starts with the brands and ends with the consumers and their conscious choice to be a part of the solution rather than being a part of the problem.

“Clothes touch us all. We may not all be interested in fashion, but we can’t avoid getting dressed, which means that every time we gaze into our wardrobes wondering what to wear, we could be making a choice that has a positive or negative impact.” (de Castro, 2021)

Additionally, the United Nations have set 17 sustainability development goals that intend to achieve an improvement of some of the enviromental, political and humanitarian issues with which we are currently confronted. Point № 12 in particular, which pertains to the ensurance of sustainable consumption and production patterns, is directly related to (as the biggest polluter in the world) the fashion industry and its increasing overproduction.

“We are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path.” (UN) These changes are much needed and its very important that every country is included and together we can set on a better path before it’s too late.

Bibliography:

1. de Castro, O. (2021a) ‘Chapter 1’, in Loved clothes last: How the joy of rewearing and repairing your clothes can be a revolutionary act. London, UK: Penguin, pp. 1–1.

2. Transforming our world: The 2030 agenda for sustainable development | department of economic and social affairs (no date) United Nations. Available at: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda (Accessed: 09 October 2023).

3. Domenech, T. (2023) Explainer: What is a circular economy?, The Conversation. Available at: https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-a-circular-economy-29666 (Accessed: 09 October 2023).

4. Miller, B. (2023) Redesigning the fabric of Sustainable Fashion • Green Business Journal, Green Business Journal. Available at: https://greenbusinessjournal.co.uk/redesigning-the-fabric-of-sustainable-fashion/ (Accessed: 09 October 2023).