In 2022, the fashion industry had a global market value of more than $1.7 billion. Much of this revenue comes from “fast fashion,” a term used to describe cheap, on-trend clothing that takes popular ideas from celebrity culture. Fast fashion is far from ethical, and it does more harm to the environment - and to humanity - than you might realize. Fortunately, shopping for ethically manufactured clothing is the best way to reduce this harm.
Fast fashion’s impact on the planet is both environmental and personal. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) points out that the fashion industry is the world’s second-largest consumer of water. It is also responsible for an incredible 10% of the carbon emissions around the world, which makes it a leading contributor to global warming and climate change. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change estimates that these emissions will climb 60% by the year 2030 - a dangerous and frightening prospect.
Fast fashion also negatively impacts people and communities. In 2018, the US Department of Labor linked the fashion industry to child labor in several countries, including Indonesia, China, India, Turkey, and more. In Bangladesh, women earn an average of only $96 a month making garments, which is 3.5 times less than what is required in that nation to live above the poverty
You can do your part to reduce fast fashion’s social and environmental impact by searching for and buying ethically manufactured clothing. There are five major reasons to say goodbye to fast fashion and hello to garments that are socially and environmentally responsible.
Shopping for ethically manufactured clothing is one of the best ways to reduce fast fashion’s global impact. From reducing carbon emissions and water consumption to providing countless thousands of employees with a livable wage, ethical clothing has the power to change the world for the better.
