Reasons to Avoid Fast Fashion

Many people use fast fashion to buy new clothes for a particular occasion or event. Fast fashion is very convenient; you can pick up new items quickly and at a very cheap price. However, fast fashion is bad for the environment and leads to issues worldwide. Here are some reasons why you should try to avoid buying fast fashion clothing items. 

They end up in landfill sites

Fast fashion items are made from cheap materials quickly and poorly. This means they often rip or tear more easily compared to items made from high-quality materials with quality control procedures in place. People often don’t see the point of repairing these fast fashion items because they’re cheap and don’t hold value. The result is they end up in landfill sites; even those who donate fast fashion items may find that once they’re donated, there is little or no interest, so they end up in the landfill. These clothes are often made from polyester that takes over 200 years to decompose, during which it leaks out harmful chemicals into the air and environment. Landfills are a huge contributor to global warming, as the materials that break down greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. In order to help the planet and future generations, people need to minimise the amount of waste sent to landfill sites. 

Polyester uses oil

Polyester is a common fabric used in creating fast fashion garments; this is a manufactured plastic fibre produced from oil. It requires a vast amount of oil to generate the amount of polyester used in clothing. The process of creating polyester and other man-made fibres also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The oil industry is responsible for almost half of the global greenhouse gas emissions. However, most of this is emitted when oil and gas are used for electricity, transportation and heat. A proportion is also released into the atmosphere when the oil is extracted from the ground. In addition, the oil needs to be transported over thousands of miles before it can be used to create polyester.

Water resource

The manufacturing of textiles is one of the industries that use the most water and produces the most amount of wastewater. The high usage of water means there is less available for drinking; this can cause issues in some countries where water is scarce. In addition, wastewater is often inadequately treated and ends up in the rivers and seas, further polluting the environment. There are sustainable fabrics you can buy that use less water to produce. Many companies that sell women’s clothing in Australia are working towards reducing their environmental impact by stocking more environmentally friendly options. 

Microplastics

When artificial, plastic-based fibres are washed, they release small amounts of plastic, called microplastics. These do not easily biodegrade, and they end up polluting the seas and water supplies. When fish and other animals ingest microplastics, it can damage their health; it can be very serious and even lead to premature death in some animals. Microplastics have also been found in the human body, but the extent to which they cause damage is not yet fully understood. 

Pesticides

Even using cotton has an environmental impact. Fast fashion uses genetically modified cotton that can be sprayed with pesticides to increase the yield of fibre. Pesticides kill insects and other pests in the area where the cotton is being grown. Insects are vital to our ecosystem; they pollinate plants which helps food grow for human consumption. In addition, they also help the breakdown of organic matter into soil that humans can use to grow more crops. Protecting insects is one way that people can help to conserve the planet. 

Fast fashion might be cheap to buy initially, but it also needs to be replaced more frequently. Instead of buying cheap items that are poorly made, you should opt to purchase items that won’t need replacing as often and can last for years in your wardrobe. By choosing items made from sustainable fibres and clothing that will last, you can help protect the environment and save money. Well-made sustainable fashion items also look much better when worn, the fabrics hang well, and they’re constructed to flatter and fit the body properly. 

Resources:

• Clothing Store - Business.blog
• Womens Clothing - Ameba Ownd
• Clothing Shops - Hype.News