Today we can purchase blouses, t-shirts, shirts, trousers, shoes for nearly the same cost as a McDonald’s burger and fry. It seems fantastic, right? The incredibly low prices are attractive to everyone! Save money on clothes and use that money for something else; it makes total sense. Unfortunately, no one seems to worry about how these low prices are even possible and what consequences are partnered with them. This unawareness from all of us as  consumers is exactly how the fast fashion industry gained so much power within the past 20 years. Consumers now buy more clothing than ever.

WHAT DOES IT ACTUALLY COST?

62% Of clothing produced is made from synthetic materials – mainly polyester, polyamide (nylon and perlon), polyacrylic and elastane.

The most commonly used synthetic material is polyester. Polyester consists of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), of which the basic materials are petroleum, hard coal, limestone and natural gas. The production of polyester alone requires 98 million tons of crude petroleum every year. This currently corresponds to about 1 % of the oil produced worldwide. And the trend is rising. If the fashion industry remains on this course, consumption could rise to 300 million tonnes of oil by 2050, and would be responsible for 26 % of human Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2050. Currently this figure is 10%, which is more than all international flights and sea shipments together 5 %.

WHAT ARE SYNTHETIC FIBRES?

WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF MAKING SYNTHETIC FIBRES?

HEALTH RISKS: - Synthetic fibres not only damage the environment but also have health risks attached to them, they are made from polyester which is a by-product of petroleum(a scarce resource). Polyester has strongly been linked to hormonal disruption and even the formation of breast cancer cells. These health risks are not limited to the consumers but also the workers.

IS FAST FASHION AN ENVIRONMENTAL CRISES? 

More than 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away every year, with most of this coming from household sources, according to the Indian Textile Journal. Textiles make up about 3% by weight of a household bin. Textile waste is also the third-largest source of municipal solid waste in India. Their production also requires large quantities of water, and the contaminated water is flushed into waterways after usage. Synthetic fibres are a long-term threat to our environment.

The model of fast fashion is designed to be consumed quickly, instilling in consumers' minds that fashion is meant to be disposable. The large production of garments and quick change in the collection is leading to massive landfill disposal. The fast fashion cycle is far from sustainable, it is depleting earth’s resources at an exponential level. Fast fashion is the quick availability of products on a large scale at low prices. It focuses on speed and low costs, pushing new inventory almost monthly at a large scale The synthetic materials used for fast fashion are extremely harmful to the environment.

 

CLOTH LIFECYCLE

Some of the chemicals of the manufacturing process are waste products and are washed into our water bodies. Synthetic fabrics are big contributors of the global discharge of microplastics in to the ocean, over 30% of microplastics released to oceans globally originate from washing synthetic textiles. Plastics are also a by-product of petroleum and it is known to be non-biodegradable, hugely impacting marine life.

WHAT YOUR SYNTHETIC CLOTHES HAVE TO OFFER?  HOW TO SHOP FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE WARDROBE?

Many Congratulations for choosing a sustainable wardrobe you have taken, as the first step. Now let us help you make it easier for you on what to pick on your next shopping trip. Just remember the following:

WHEN?

It is certainly the most important rule for a sustainable wardrobe to only buy new clothes when it is necessary. Spontaneous purchases – just because an item is on a “fake” sale– are not typically sustainable. Therefore, it is better to buy less, but better (and more durable) quality – and above all only when a new item of clothing is really needed.

HOW?

You should invest in good quality and timeless classics so that your clothes last longer. Fair Fashion brands are especially suitable as their collections are typically better made and last longer than fast fashion (or even designer) products, as well as being ethically produced.

Fair Fashion often seems expensive compared to clothing from cheap chains. But if you compare their prices with global brands, prices are often similar. So, it is better to invest in sustainable clothing than in branded items, which are often produced in the same questionable conditions as clothing from fast fashion giants.

Support Made In India sustainable brands that means less transportation hence low carbon foot print. One who use minimal packaging, moreover whatever they use should be re-used or it is recyclable.

WHAT?

Fabric is important, when buying your clothes, pay attention to the fabric. One rule of thumb here: cotton is better than polyester! Cotton clothing is usually more environmentally-friendly as cotton is biodegradable. Cotton garments are also softer on your skin. One can also go for other natural fabrics that are available like hemp, bamboo etc.

Recycled fabric, recycling is always a good idea, recycled pet bottles or fabric like cotton not only reduces waste but control CO2 emission to great extent.  In addition, recycled polyester can contribute to reduce the extraction of crude oil and natural gas from the Earth to make more plastic.

Moreover, try and buy from the brands that practice ethical manufacturing practices or have a certificate of the fabric or a garment. I know to ensure that you have to walk an extra mile but it be worth it.

FEW EXTRA EVERYDAY CHANGES

Wash Less:

Sometimes it is enough to air-out clothes or partially remove stains before putting them in the washing machine. Also, only wash when the machine is full and use bio detergent which does not pollute the waste water with chemicals.

Repair:

Don’t throw your clothes away immediately if they are broken, you can repair many defects yourself. But if you don’t have the time or the skills, you can also take your clothes to your local tailor who should be able to repair most defects for a reasonable price. 

“We have so much power to make the world a better place just by being careful about WHEN, HOW and WHAT”