Fast Fashion

February 13, 2022

Written by: Caroline Kim

Fast fashion: the mass production of trendy clothing that cycles through many stores. We see it all the time in stores and on social media. Don’t worry, I get it too; only wearing sustainable clothing is difficult and may feel impossible, but here are some ways you can make little fashion decisions that can seriously help the environment. You can consider exchanging clothes, shopping from sustainable brands, or thrifting.

Here are some basics on the significance of fabrics in clothing. Factories often use many low quality synthetic fabrics in order to lower prices. Some fabrics to avoid include polyester, viscose, and nylon. And some fabrics that are more eco-friendly include organic cotton, organic hemp, organic linen, and bamboo. In fact, some come up with interesting fabrics that are better for the environment: tencel (from wood pulp), pinatex (from pineapple leaf), and qmonos (spider silk…yup).

One of the most obvious options to building a more sustainable close is simply shopping from brands that prioritize sustainability. These brands prioritize minimizing carbon emissions in factories, and their packaging and materials are often recycled. Many are also known to have fair working wages/conditions for their workers. But, the most relevant aspect is most likely the fabrics used in their actual clothes, such as the use of cotton and linen instead of fabrics such as polyester and nylon. Some examples would be Pact, Quince, Boden, and Outerknown. While these are great alternatives to fast fashion stores, you’ve probably never heard of them, and most of these stores can be much pricier. So, a much more common alternative is this: thrifting and exchanging. There’s most likely a thrift store near you where you can sell, buy, or donate clothes to. Or if you have friends who also have some old clothes, consider a clothing swap. In fact, if your school has an eco-friendly based club, consider hosting a clothing exchange (our green club is currently doing this). It’s a great way to grab some new clothes for free while upcycling your old clothes.

Sources:

Staff. “35 Ethical and Sustainable Clothing Brands Betting against Fast Fashion.” The Good Trade, The Good Trade, 11 Feb. 2022, https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/fair-trade-clothing.

Le, Ngan. “The Impact of Fast Fashion on the Environment - PSCI.” Princeton University, The Trustees of Princeton University, https://psci.princeton.edu/tips/2020/7/20/the-impact-of-fast-fashion-on-the-environment.

Rauterier, Solene. “What Are the Most Sustainable Fabrics?” Good On You, 31 May 2019, https://goodonyou.eco/most-sustainable-fabrics/.

Kaitlyn. “A Guide to the Most and Least Sustainable Fabrics.” Eco, 5 Dec. 2021, https://www.eco-stylist.com/a-guide-to-the-most-and-least-sustainable-fabrics/.