In the photo: Artist Jeremy Hutchison wearing a `fast-fashion zombie` costume made of used garments from second-hand clothing markets in West Africa, poses in front of a Marks & Spencer store during the British Textile Biennial in Blackburn, Britain, 28 September 2023. According to the fashion activist collective The Or Foundation, garments from Marks & Spencer are among the most frequently found washed-up items in Ghana. The third edition of the British Textile Biennial highlights creative works in textiles against the backdrop of the former cotton powerhouse of Lancashire. EPA/ADAM VAUGHAN
The fast fashion business concept has proven to be quite effective. According to Bloomberg, apparel manufacturers churn out new fashions on an ever-shorter cycle, giving them at such cheap costs — like $5 for a blouse or $20 for pants — that customers purchase more and more pieces, sometimes only getting a few wears out of them.
However, there is a downside: the expansion in garment manufacturing has raised carbon emissions and other environmental problems, as well as caused massive textile waste. Some customers say they want to purchase clothing that does less environmental harm, and firms in the $1.5 trillion fashion industry are beginning to commit to making so-called sustainable fashion. Nonetheless, quick fashion is on the rise.
What impact do clothes have on the environment?
Energy is often generated from polluting fuels such as coal in China and poor countries where the majority of clothing is manufactured. Each stage of the assembly process is often performed in a separate nation, increasing transportation emissions. According to the UN, textile manufacturing, driven by garments, accounts for up to 8% of global carbon emissions, outweighing the effect of marine commerce and international flights combined. Polyester and cotton account for 85% of all garment material, and both are harmful to the environment in different ways. The vast majority of polyester is derived from crude oil. Chemical dyes are often used in the cloth, contaminating groundwater. Polyester and nylon clothing drop particles that pollute sewage when washed. Cotton is a thirsty plant: A single T-shirt takes enough water to last a person three years. /BGNES