Are you aware of the destructive nature of the fast fashion industry? Or the irreparable damage it causes to the environment after clothes are discarded?
Fast fashion is the constant cycle of cheap, low-quality clothes, that are worn for short periods of time - when the clothes are in trend - before being neglected as new trends settle in.
The United Nations Environment Programme states that “the industry is the second-biggest consumer of water and is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions”.
There’s a danger that the impacts of fast fashion are going unnoticed by consumers, and this demands change.
With social media becoming increasingly significant in our lives, we are becoming influenced by others more than ever.
This is exactly where fast fashion is relevant.
By making the effort to shop less and more sustainably, you can consciously acknowledge the growing issue and have a more positive impact on our planet.
In Brighton, the town centre not only has an extensive shopping centre (Churchill Square), but we are also fortunate enough to have an abundance of charity shops.
As a consumer, when you shop at a charity shop, there are many benefits.
You are significantly reducing your carbon footprint, supporting the charity, and will no doubt find preloved treasures unique to you.
Another effective way to source secondhand clothes is through online marketplaces, including Vinted and eBay.
By selling or buying preowned clothes you are embodying an ethical approach to the future of fashion.
With fast fashion still on the rise, the total harm it has caused to the environment is not yet known.
However, we need to take more action on the swelling heaps of landfill that are being created as a result of the endless cast-off culture.
And the first step to this is understanding the problems associated with fast fashion.
