Extreme weather has been taking over the news headlines. Between devastating hurricanes, droughts and wildfires impacting the Earth more and more every year, the threat of climate change has struck our nation. With the fashion industry being ranked second after oil in terms of pollution, it is easy to assume that the fashion industry contributes to this phenomenon.
The fashion industry affects millions of people whether we realize it or not. 80 billion new pieces of clothing are sold every year, which is 400% more than we consumed 40 years ago.
With “fast fashion” increasing prevalence, consumers are purchasing articles of clothing faster than ever before. Some of your favorite stores, such as Zara and Forever 21 are big patrons for fast fashion. They both illustrate a quick runway to retail turnover. It has become an effortless operation with new designs appearing weekly to fulfill the latest trends. This new means of fashion has become about creating as many clothes as possible in a short amount of time, making it easy for consumers to buy a lot of clothing for a very inexpensive price. Not only has this significantly cut down on price and quality, but it has also led to unfair and unsafe working conditions, pollution and overcrowded landfills because of the quick disposal of clothing. Half of all clothes are being thrown away within one year, some without even being worn. Fast fashion has diminished individuality and everyone has started to look the same. This is becoming a huge issue when it comes to the environment.
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When it comes to the long and complicated life cycle of clothing, there are so many different stages that it goes through. Some of the stages include, fiber production or harvesting, manufacturing (textile dyeing, sewing, washing) packaging, shipping, recycling or disposal. These all have huge environmental impacts, because hazardous chemicals and pesticides are used during crop production, dangerous dyes are used, water usage and waste disposal all contribute to climate change through pollution, greenhouse gas and CO2 emissions. One kilogram of fabric produces twenty-three kilograms of greenhouse gas and textile production uses more carbon dioxide than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.
Nearly half of all clothing in use today includes synthetic fibers, because of their low cost, resilience and adaptability. One of the most popular textiles used is polyester, which drives the fast fashion industry. This fiber is a non-renewable resource and is not biodegradable, meaning that it sits in a landfill for hundreds of years before it finally decomposes. Other synthetic fibers used often are nylon, rayon, spandex and acrylic. People are not aware some of these fibers are made from a trees wood pulp. Every year, millions of trees are cut down to make clothing. When you see vibrantly colored garments, just know that it is achieved through toxic chemicals and harsh dyes. Dyeing is one of the largest polluters in the world and 40-80% of clothes carbon impact is through laundering. When we wash our clothes, microfibers are released and some are not captured by the washing machine filters. Instead, they find their way into the ocean where they are mistaken for food by marine animals because they are not biodegradable.
Greenhouse gases and CO2 emissions are what is causing climate change. Fast fashion is only speeding up this process and embedding a carbon footprint into our environment. Different types of gases in the atmosphere block heat from escaping, which forces climate change. A strong greenhouse effect will melt glaciers, and warm the oceans. The fashion industry affects more than the environment. It affects the air we breathe, the oceans we swim in and the water we drink. Our world is made up of natural renewable resources and we have misused and abused our power.
We have overly consumed, we have overly extracted and we have polluted the Earth that we live on, just so we can have endless clothes to wear one time just to throw it away after one or two uses. Climate change also affects weather patterns and extreme weather like the hurricanes, droughts and wildfires that our world has been facing more and more in recent years. With weather patterns changing, the winters are becoming warmer and summers are becoming hotter, therefore, creating less reliable seasonal cycles.
There is potential for catastrophic environmental damage if this continues. At the rate the fashion industry is going, in 2050 total clothing sales could reach 175 million tons. It is our responsibility to buy less, protect our resources and chose sustainability. Next time you go into your closet and say, “I have nothing to wear”, remember that every piece of clothing that you buy is contributing to climate change. Instead, recycle, pick up a needle and get creative or take unwanted clothing to a thrift store. Chances are that old pair of mom jeans will be trending again in the next ten to twenty years.
