Ethical Consumerism

Ever thought about how much waste goes into that shirt you are wearing? How about the labor behind it? For most consumers, thinking about the ethical practices behind our clothing is an afterthought. I am sure many of us are guilty of not considering the unethical practices that may go into making our garments. Luckily for us, a lot of brands nowadays are steering away from this and preaching as well as practicing ethical and sustainable fashion.

Like many fashion lovers, we tend to lean towards fast fashion for exactly that, being a fast and convenient place to get that latest trends. Take Zara for instance. We go in, find 10 plus items that are not too high in price that are right on trend. Before we know it we have 3 bags in our hands as we leave the store. What if you knew about the hazards behind what goes into producing fast fashion? Would you the be walking out of fast fashion retailers with bags on bags on bags? 

I was also very unfamiliar with the dangers, so I took to the internet for some research. I stumbled across this Forbes article that definitely put things into perspective for me:

"The largely unregulated churn and burn of fast fashion is putting too much pressure on our planet. 12.8 million tons of clothing are sent to landfills in the US every year. This is a football field filled 14 ft deep with clothes. The fashion industry’s CO2 emissions are projected to increase by more than 60% to nearly 2.8 billion tons per year by 2030. Main cotton producing countries like China and India are already facing water shortages, and with water consumption projected to go up 50% by 2030, these cotton-growing nations face the dilemma of choosing between cotton production and securing clean drinking water."

It is insane that something we rely on, clothing, can have such an impact. Have no fear, for there are ways that we can be resourceful. Shopping at consignment or second hand shops is a great way! Second hand shopping doesn't always have the best reputation, but it is recycling clothing rather than dumping it in landfills. We would be decreasing the amount of clothing production that factories go through, minimizing the dangers to our world. Another way to help is to shop with retailers who's mission is to be sustainable. Brands like Eileen Fisher, Done Good, Asos Green Room do a great job of recycling materials as well as being aware of their emissions to help protect our environment. It is important to be mindful of the hazards that fast fashion is contributing to the environment. Let's be mindful and make a change!