cycle of sustainable fashion
resource extraction
textile production
design
manufacturing
Advocate for equity in international trading partnerships through dialogue, transparency, and respect.
Discontinue use of harsh chemicals and unsafe production practices along with eliminating waste.
We can feed, educate, clothe, and entertain ourselves better without torturing and killing animals.
Cotton is a very universal textile resource; to grow enough cotton for one t-shirt 700 gallons of water is needed as well as 1/3 pound of pesticides. Cotton sourced for textile production is primarily from China and India. Farmers work so hard to yield plentiful crops to be able to support their families, however, there is a large global market, causing prices for cotton to plummet and leaving farmers in incomprehensible debt from all of the necessary resources. As a result, on average one Indian cotton farmer commits suicide about every 8 hours.
Textile production factories have such poor conditions for workers. In 2013, 1,130 people died and 2,500 were injured as a result. A run-down 8 story factory complex making clothes for Western brands collapsed, exposing the immense dangers of the industry in Bangladesh. Supposedly, fire and building safety conditions have improved since but worker conditions remain bleak due to the constant pressure to increase output.
Presently the fashion economy has heavily increased, in just 10-20 years. There is a new trend or style released weekly by big fashion retail companies such as Forever 21, H&M, Mango, Urban Outfitters, etc.
The manufacturing aspect of the fashion industry is veiled from the public as far as possible. Factories are all over South East Asia, spanning from the Middle East to Hong Kong. In large, opening factories in countries with little no to labor laws or employee benefits is very cheap for big corporations. Average pay for factory workers in the textile industry is less than $1 a day. Majority of employees are women and children, having to work as long as 16 hours a day.
From the factories to the company to the retailers, is a hefty use of natural resources. Depending on the area and part of distribution, boats, planes, trains, and trucks are used to transport, which all require fuel.
The consumer appeal to fast fashion is the frequency of new collections and the cheap price . This creates issues with fashion brands of higher quality or more sustainable practices because of the price difference. In turn, better quality clothing becomes out of reach to low-income families.
The average person wears only 20% of their wardrobe. From the 1980 to now, we consume more than twice as much as we used to. This is all a product of the fast fashion industry: mass producing less durable garments, lowering the value price, and encouraging consumers to return more frequently.
Recycling textiles can be done in many ways, also depending on the type of garment or textile there may be a specific way to recycle. An easy way to recycle unused garments is to take them to local shelters, resale shops, or second-hand stores. If your garments are unusable, check with a nearby Goodwill to recycle your garments.