The fashion industry is draining our planet from water, creating mountains of waste and polluting our air, water and land with toxic chemicals. Something has got to change and changes CAN be made. Say no to fast fashion. Choose your garments wisely and befriend the sustainable brands. Buy clothes second hand and borrow clothes from your friends or from rental businesses like, MyCloset Budapest. Such an easy and small change that means together we can make a difference to Mother Earth!
The fast fashion industry is bolstered by a growing influencer culture, in which social media celebrities collaborate with big fast fashion companies as “brand ambassadors” to somehow seamlessly intertwine these brands into their everyday lives. These fast fashion brands provide accessible garments, and with the help of online shopping, consumption is even easier. As a result, clothing production has doubled between 2000-2014, and the number of garments the average consumer purchases a year has increased by 60 percent. People want their clothing cheap and trendy, and they want it quick.
However, trends die quickly and with that comes waste. Clothing produced by fast fashion brands are oftentimes made from cheap materials, like polyester and acrylic, and not built to last: The average North American throws away 80 pounds of clothing every year. We’ve been conditioned to believe that buying a garment and wearing it once is justifiable. It’s not. Due to the growing demand in the fast fashion industry, we see a vast overproduction of clothing; for example, the Copenhagen Fashion Summit reports that fashion is responsible for 92 million tons of solid waste dumped in landfills each year. This cultural shift on how we consume clothing is leaving a huge mark on the planet.
The one mark that attracts consumers to fast fashion is its affordability. It should concern consumers, though, just how a garment can be that cheap. There are ethical implications with affordability. The majority of these garments are produced in countries like China, India, and Bangladesh, where workers undergo extremely poor work conditions. Over 50 percent of clothing manufacture workers are not paid minimum wage. Work conditions in sweatshops are destitute, and workers are exposed to high chances of injury and mistreatment. Think twice before falling for the affordable price tags at Zara, H&M and many of the others found in your nearest shopping mall.
Luckily, here in Budapest, there are alternative solutions that one can take part in to become a more conscious consumer. Sustainable consumption comes with knowledge and awareness. Put simply, though, just buy less and borrow smart. Visit us at MyClosetBudapest!