Fast fashion is the common term that you hear these days right?
I must say that most of the world’s population derives their fashionable or stylish brand created by fast fashion trends worldwide.
What is the Fast fashion industry?
Fast fashion is the common term used to describe trends created by clothing companies by their spectacular or stylish designs in the market that are observed moving very quickly from the catwalk to the common stores to gain maximum advantage in the industry.
It is one of the fastest-moving industries as it provides quick, easy, and cheap clothing designs for consumers.
What are the dark secrets of the Fast fashion industry?
Well! We all are very attracted to the designs and costumes of the fast fashion industry and there is perfectly no reason not to be.
The current trends and modern people just walk parallel with each other.
However, there are dark secrets of the fast fashion industry that particularly involve cruel systems of slavery in this modern 21st century forcing labor, underpaid workers, and even child laborers.
What are the negative impacts of the fast fashion industry on environmental issues?
- The heavy chemicals and pollution from the process of manufacture to the dumping of those clothing textiles lead to the destruction of the habitat.
- Accumulation of toxicity and microplastics in the flow of waterways.
- It fuels global warming through GHG emissions as well as crowding the landfills with huge amounts of waste.
- It is also considered to contribute 10% of the global carbon-dioxide emissions escalating the Global Climatic Changes.
Let’s discuss the impact of the fast fashion industry on this planet;
Contribution to the GHG (greenhouse gases)
You know, waste generation from the fast fashion industry in each of their steps of the manufacturing process is causing a big issue globally.
It affects the wildlife and their habitats most severely by the mass deforestation threatening the existence of the balance in ecosystems.
It further adds more detrimental effects to all kinds of pollution in the environment.
It contributes to 10% of the global carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere.
Huge animal-based textiles like natural wool incorporated in their industry abuse animals for business as well as increase greenhouse emissions.
Deforestation for the industry is the most direct link that reduces oxygen and increases carbon dioxide in the environment.
Impact on water quality
The stylish brands and clothes we daily purchase without even having a single thought are actually causing a huge waste production of the textile industry.
You know, these beautiful dresses unexpectedly cost our clean water and air in the environment.
The region where the factory is established severely pollutes the water quality in the area like rivers and streams and gradually dries up the water sources in that region.
You know, the most interesting part is that washing clothes in the manufacturing factories generates 500,000 tons of microfibers into the ocean each year which is equal to 50 billion plastic bottles.
Still, there is no awareness of the creation of wastewater and contamination of groundwater through the manufacturing processes
If we keep track of our clothes, then the estimation of figures circles around 80 billion new clothing garments per year.
The True Cost of Modern Clothing
Do you know the waste production of average Americans due to the textile industry is 82 pounds per year?
You know, this figure is actually more than thrice if we compare it to two decades before in the clothing industry.
I wonder what the figures are for other countries and their combined effect on the natural environment.
Another harsh reality lies in the leather industry where its production process costs more energy and fatal damage to the natural resources.
Do you feel bad when you buy leather products?
The answer is not important but to be aware of the cruelty done to animals just for the sake of our pleasure is not right. Every living being has equal rights on this planet.
Fashion stealing wildlife on the planet
You know, the fashionable clothes we are wearing today directly impact wildlife on this planet.
Deforestation and habitat loss leading to the mass extinction of the species cause serious interference in the surrounding biodiversity.
It is estimated that more than 150 million trees are chopped down for clothes every year.
You must know that animals are the most affected victims of this fast fashion industry.
Wild species like foxes and mint are reared in captivity and killed in the fur industry. Even crocodiles are not spared for their skins.
These innocent animals are paying for our fashion trends and clothes at the cost of their precious lives.
The fast fashion industry further contributes to the killing of endangered animals which hurts the environment.
Impact on the Aquatic Environment
We might forget to discuss the impact of fast fashion on aquatic life but we cannot ignore its consequences in the future.
Toxic chemicals used in dye methods of fast fashion contaminate the underground water and other water resources.
Huge dump of all waste production lands in the ocean eventually from all around the world.
Microplastics accumulated from synthetic polymers and plastic-based materials immensely pollute the aquatic environment.
What difference we can make to reduce the effect of the Fast fashion industry?
You don’t have to move mountains or make big sacrifices in this case just be mindful while buying new clothes reminding yourself of its dire consequences.
Awaken yourself to the deadly situation of our natural environment and its effects in the present and future.
Sustainable living and a Zero waste lifestyle can be a switch to your new mindful life and to become responsible towards the natural environment.
Do not let the Fashion trends fool you at the cost of innocent lives and future generations.
Address yourself enough towards this significant cause so that your awareness can educate others too.
