Op-Ed Article - Removing Fashion From The Fast Lane

"What do I wear today?" is the ever-ruling question that strikes the mind of almost everyone every day. This question is part of a much larger discussion that touches base on how the clothes we wear affect the health of our environment. 

Our society feeds off a culture that praises overconsumption and materialism[1]. Every piece of clothing we wear goes through a life cycle that includes a prominent three-stage process consisting of the following:

Fast Fashion exasperates this cycle as it's an industry based on the quick consumption of clothing created for short-term use due to poor quality and rapidly changing fashion trends[2]. This industry is the opposite of being sustainable, as it produces ridiculous amounts of waste and pollutes our ecosystems.

The lifespan of clothing begins with the production process, where the clothing materials and fibres are manufactured. These materials can either be artificial or come from natural sources. With modern clothing requirements requesting mass manufacturing to compensate for industry standards and consumerist demands, these fabrics, whether synthetic or natural, are leaching toxic environmental impacts.

Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, a form of plastic made from mineral oil, consume an excessive amount of energy that requires significant amounts of fossil fuels[3]. This process also pollutes the air by emitting volatile organic compounds, particulate matter and hazardous gases[4].

Even natural fibrees such as cotton and wool have consequences since they stem from plants that require large amounts of water and pesticides, which can cause harm to the surrounding ecosystems[5].

After production, the clothes are ready to be sold and purchased by consumers. Unfortunately, wearing and using clothes also leads to more environmental consequences. 

More particularly, this issue worsens when they are composed of synthetic fabrics. Every time a synthetic article of clothing goes through the washing machine, microplastics get released into marine ecosystems. One-third of the microplastics released into the ocean are due to the clothes we wear and create one of the most prominent contributors to the accumulation of plastic in oceans[6].

The accumulation does not stop in the ocean, as the final stage for clothing is its disposal. Fast Fashion should paint a picture of a landfill as it's where 75% of disposed clothing accumulates.[7]. 

This excessive buildup makes the degradation process of clothing waste challenging. Significantly, clothes made up of synthetics such as polyester will not degrade as quickly or easily because the material is composed of plastic. 

Comparatively, the degradation process of natural fibres is simpler and faster because they come from environmental sources; some fibres come with their own consequences. For example, wool material will degrade with ease. Still, it will produce methane in the process, which is a strong greenhouse gas that can stimulate global warming when in excess[8].

With the understanding of each stage and how each has consequences on the environment, it is crucial to understand that the clothes we wear impact more than just ourselves. Is this to say we should never buy clothes made of synthetics or never clean out the closet?

The answer is simple: everything we do will almost always have a consequence, but the goal is to minimize the consequence's environmental impact. Making educated and conscious decisions on how we make, buy, use, and dispose of clothing is the first step toward making this cycle more sustainable.

[1] Cobbing, M., & Vicaire, Y. (2020). Timeout For Fast Fashion. GreenPeace.

[2] Legere, A., & Kang, J. (2020). The role of self-concept in shaping sustainable consumption: A model of slow fashion. Journal of Cleaner Production, 258, 120699. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120699

[3] Claudio, L. (2007). Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry. Environmental Health Perspectives, 115(3), 449-454.

[4] Claudio, L. (2007).

[5] Caniato, F., Caridi, M., Crippa, L., & Moretto, A. (2012). Environmental sustainability in fashion supply chains: An exploratory case based research. International Journal of Production Economics, 135(2), 659-670. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2011.06.001

[6] Boucher, J., & Friot, D. (2017). Primary Microplastics in the Oceans: A Global Evaluation of Sources.

[7] Legere, A., & Kang, J. (2020).

[8] Cuc, S., & Vidovic, M. (2014). Environmental Sustainability through Clothing Recycling. Operations and Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 108. doi:10.31387/oscm0100064