Fashion designers used to present seasonal collections to introduce new merchandise. But over time, the desire for newness caused the frequency of introductions to compress down dramatically. New drops started to occur monthly, then weekly, then in some cases even daily. Prices got cheaper. Fads became fleeting. Clothing became disposable. Enter the world of fast fashion.

For many, buying new clothes and switching up styles is an obsession. But at what price?

The Problem with Fast Fashion

It is reported that the fashion industry puts out 150 billion clothing items a year. According to The Business of Fashion’s Sustainability Index 2021 Report, most clothes in the world are made using fossil fuels. Oil-based polyester is the most used fabric in the world with nearly 60 million tons produced in 2019. Fashion’s second-favorite fiber is cotton, a product with a complicated environmental footprint with past and current links to modern slavery.

Research administered by McKinsey and Company found that the fast fashion industry is responsible for around 8% of the world’s total greenhouse gases. According to the United Nations, the fashion industry is also one of the largest contributors to the micro-plastic pollution that is impacting our oceans and marine life.¹  60% of all garments end up in landfills or incinerators within the year that they are bought, which proves how often consumers are utilizing the low prices and on-trend looks of fast fashion.²

The negatives of the fast fashion industry are vast, and they cover more than just pollution. The factory workers who create the clothing work in subpar conditions. Even with the threat of contracting COVID-19, the garment workers are continuously working in crowded factories that lack protective necessities.

Gender rights are also an issue, with 80% of the 40-60 million fast fashion employees being women.³  The owners of these companies are usually males who believe that women are more likely to work longer hours for smaller amounts of pay.

Fashionably Aware

Thankfully, there are organizations and nonprofits that are raising awareness for the negative effects of the fast fashion industry. Sustainability has become more than a fleeting headline; instead, millions of people are now beginning to take social and environmental issues seriously.

Here are some organizations that are making an effort to analyze, report, and spread conscientiousness about the fashion industry’s environmental and social impact:

Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)

Originating in San Francisco, the SAC envisions an apparel, footwear, and textile industry that produces no environmental harm and has a positive impact on people and the communities around them. The SAC was born out of a partnership between Walmart and Patagonia in 2009 where the two companies sought to create an index that would measure the environmental impact of their products. As a result, they devised the Higg Brand and Retail Module (Higg BMR).

The Higg BMR allows companies to monitor their sustainability journey by identifying opportunities for advancement along their global value chain. From the beginning of the creation of a material to the end of its use, the Higg BMR identifies the entire life cycle of a product, while determining the sustainability risks and impacts. For example, the Higg BMR analyzes the management system, supply chain, packaging, use and end of use, retail stores, offices, transportation, and distribution centers.

Today, consumers are becoming increasingly more curious about the origin of their clothes. Businesses using the Higg BMR can now be more transparent about the life cycle of their garments, which helps support how they value their customers’ opinions. The assessment that the Higg BMR administers also helps brands connect by promoting social responsibility strategies and practices that advocate for the well-being of workers and the planet.

Additionally, the Higg BMR evaluates 11 environmental impacts:

• Animal Welfare
• Biodiversity
• Deforestation
• Energy/Fuel Use
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG)
• Air Emissions (non-GHG)
• Solid Waste
• Hazardous Waste
• Chemical Hazard
• Water Use
• Waste Water/Water Pollution

More than 250 global organizations are part of SAC. You can download its brochure and become a member by filling out a simple survey on its website.

The Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC)

Since 1989, the CCC has dedicated its time to ensuring that workers in the garment industry have safe working conditions and that their fundamental rights are respected. They seek to educate consumers, businesses, and even governments.

The CCC is a global network that brings together nearly 230 trade unions and NGOs that cover a multitude of perspectives and interests, including women’s rights, poverty reduction, and consumer advocacy. It also coexists with many similar labor rights campaigns.

Several regional coalitions have become aware of pressing issues within their territories and are actively seeking support from the CCC. Currently, these regions are The European Coalition, The South Asian Coalition, The South East Asian Coalition, The East African Coalition, and other groups and organizations in North America, Central America, and Australia.

You can show your support of the CCC’s mission by visiting its website, where it invites guests to take action by posting on social media to spread awareness.

Cleaning Up Your Closet

Aside from supporting well-vetted impact organizations, it is important to reevaluate your clothes shopping patterns and usage behaviors. Here are a few tips that can help you move toward a more sustainable closet:

1. Buy Less
   Most fast fashion pieces aren’t meant to last, which is why the majority of garments are thrown away after a few uses. Instead of buying a ton of pieces that you’ll barely wear from a fast fashion company, purchase fewer pieces from a brand that is transparent and makes excellent quality goods.
2. Upcycle
   Instead of tossing a garment to the side because you wore it once for the Gram, upcycle it into something completely new and highly usable such as a quilt, dish towels, or drink koozie.
3. Resell
   Post the items you no longer use on websites like Poshmark where you can make a few dollars for your unwanted clothing.
4. Donate
   Donate used clothing to your local charity. Charity shops use and recycle around 90% of clothing received.

Giving Back is Always in Style

Humanist Beauty is committed to the highest standards of social and environmental impact. Learn about founder Jennifer Norman’s From My Closet campaign which gifted the community over $20,000 worth of merchandise from her closet to help raise funds for charity. Check out more about Humanist Beauty’s mission and commitments here.

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References:

https://www.thewellessentials.com/blog/what-is-fast-fashion-how-your-clothes-are-hurting-the-planet#:~:text=When%20Did%20Fast%20Fashion%20Start%3F%20Fast%20fashion%20can,from%20design%20to%20stores%20within%20two%20weeks%20time. [1] [2]

https://cleanclothes.org/fashions-problems [3]