The culture of fast fashion focuses on delivering clothing items inspired by the latest trends in a speedy manner, which does not actually bode well for our environment. This phenomenon, which caters to all demographics, has seen the production of clothes double over the last 15 years, and sadly, levels of global waste have skyrocketed in parallel. A shock-inducing 235 million items of clothing were sent to landfills around the UK in 2017, while over 15 million tons of textile waste continue to be generated in the United States every year. One could say it’s our love for fashion, and lack of recycling clothes that has trumped our environmental conscience.
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Fast and Cheap Fashion
The immense demand for affordable, fast moving, on-trend pieces fuels huge competition among the big-name brands to produce fast and cheap. Millions of laborers in garment manufacturing countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Cambodia are supposedly paid less than the minimum wage to make the clothes we pick up on the high street. The nature of the business means fast fashion brands want to keep their profits high and costs down, so they will move orders to whichever factory that will produce it cheapest.
To get the work, factories often compete to pay the lowest prices. They slash wages and cut corners on health and safety. Workers remain powerless. This fact alone should trigger the stark realization that we must take serious heed of the impact our wardrobes have on the planet. What can we do about it? The answer is simple, we must become conscious of the cause, and start taking measures and find different ways of recycling clothes and re-using them.
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Different Ways of Recycling Clothes
Recycling Banks
There are many local recycling banks where you can take your bags of used clothing and effectively have the pieces recycled. This simple and easy action can make the world a better place by reducing carbon footprint, freeing up land previously used for landfills, and conserving energy. Council for Textile Recycling disclosed that recycled garments can be turned into valuable clothing; almost half of the post-consumer textile waste is typically sold to developing countries to create local businesses.
Stitching
One way to keep money in the bank and save the environment at the same time is to learn the basics of ‘survival’ sewing, which is also a form of clothes recycling. A skill that was carried over from generation to generation to preserve clothing during times of ration is no longer considered an issue for millennials who can easily access cheap throwaway fashion at a click of a button. A simple stitch or two can ultimately renew a broken sweater and if you’re creative enough, you can become a ‘self-taught designer’ and even craft your entire wardrobe using existing worn-out garments and produce one-of-a-kind statement pieces that proudly have your blood, sweat, and tears entwined.
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Resell
eBay is a great trusted e-commerce marketplace to sell your old clothes instead of chucking a sweater in the bin. Who knows what the bidding can amount to? You may be potentially throwing away more money than you originally bought the piece for. As for “out of season” designer items you envisioned you would wear every day but evidently only wore once, consider dropping them off at a consignment second-hand designer store or thrift boutique. Designer label lovers will thank you for it and so will the planet.
Donate
Whilst helping to protect the environment through recycling clothes you can also help others in need with regular donations. If you have items of clothing that are in ‘good condition’, consider taking them to a local charity or homeless shelter. Whilst we may enjoy the financial luxury of keeping up with seasonal trends, others do not even have the means to afford clothing. Look to helping as many people in need as possible by donating to different causes, from disaster relief to shelters and hospitals, there will always be someone out there who will cherish your clothes.
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About the Author
Alana Sorokin is the Founder of Joseph & Alexander
About the Author
4 Comments
Greatly helpful post. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure… thank you for dropping by…
I try to fix and sew my clothes to keep them longer.
That’s a great way to keep them longer. Thanks for stopping by 😉