The Lifecycle of Fashion: From Design to Disposal
- Nandana B.G
- Jan 18, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 10, 2024
The lifecycle of fashion encompasses various stages, starting with design and concluding with disposal, where sustainability plays a crucial role in mitigating it's environmental impact. The fashion industry contributes significantly to environmental degradation through various practices that harm ecosystems, exploit resources and generate excessive waste. As many may know, the fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters. This industry, including the production of all clothes which people wear, contributes to around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions due to its long supply chains and energy intensive production also this industry produces about 20% of global waste water. Dyeing processes and chemical treatments in textile production often result in the release of harmful pollutants into water sources. Factories emits pollutants during manufacture which contribute to air pollution, impacting both local and global environments. The production of textiles requires vast amounts of water, leading to the depletion of freshwater resources in regions already facing water scarcity. Intensive farming for natural fibres and deforestation for textile production contribute to habitat loss and biodiversity decline.
To expand, the global nature of fashion supply chains involves extensive transportation, contributing to the industry's overall carbon footprint. When synthetic clothing is washed, they release tiny microplastics called microfibres that make their way into the ocean and our drinking water. Also the use of hazardous chemicals in dyeing, finishing, and fabric treatments poses risks to both workers and the environment. Furthermore, 85% of textiles end up in landfills or are incinerated when most of these materials could be reused. 740 acres of land is occupied by waste clothes in the driest desert on earth, the Atacama Desert in Chile.
60,000 tonnes of clothes are dumped here [Atacama Desert, Chile] which doesn’t have any defects and the problem stems from the fashion industry rejecting those clothes.
Similar kind of a cloth dump is also found in Kenya. If we observe the fashion industry growth, we can clearly see the sudden growth happened after the year 2000. All this is because of fast fashion. Clothes are mass produced, cheap, flimsy clothes in response to consumer demand for inexpensive, trendy clothes. The worst part about fast fashion is that they are mostly made from polyester, which is a kind of plastic made from petroleum and it is impossible to recycle it. According to Watson & Wolfe (Watson & Wolfe), In Europe, in 2000, fashion companies would launch two fashion collections each year. But in 2011 this changed to five collection per year. The fashion industry giants, H&M offers between 12 and 16 collections annually and Zara puts out 24 collections every year. With new styles emerging, more sales and thus more profit for the companies. As a result of this system an average American wastes 30kgs of clothes every year, (Fashion Waste Statistics & Facts | Textile & Clothing Waste Facts). On the extreme end, many fast fashion brands will even burn their old stock and returned items instead of donating or reselling them to maintain the exclusivity. The fashion industry is also the second largest water consuming industry in the world. With the introduction of various clothing lines a year, this results in an average American consuming a large amount of clothes every year.
The t-shirt that you’re wearing right now has used almost 2700 litres of water for manufacturing it, which is equal to the amount of water consumed by a person for 2.5 years. (Chopra)
There are many reasons to avoid fast fashion including long-term financial loss, cookie-cutter style, the negative environmental
impact, and ethical and moral implications. There are many alternative options for fast fashion including shopping at second-
hand stores and charity shops which is sustainable, saves money and reduces waste, Repurposing old clothes, organizing a cloth swap,
renting clothes can also be a good step.
Remember “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Adopt slow fashion movement which is about buying fewer but better quality items that will last longer. We should also normalize repeated clothing. Moreover, changing your clothing habits begins by adopting 'The Five R’s of Responsible Style' is very important. (Hill)
By ditching fast fashion a huge burden off our planet would be lifted.
In summary, the conversation surrounding fast fashion and sustainable practices will eventually lead to the end of poor practices
within the industry. However, we still have a long way to go to reach a ‘slow-fashion’ norm. Therefore, before buying a garment, ask
yourself: Do I really need it? Why am I buying it? Will I use it long- term? Do I need a new one or can I buy it second-hand?
References:
“Fashion and Environment — SustainYourStyle.” SustainYourStyle, www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/whats-wrong-with-the-fashion-industry.
Chopra, Aarushi. “Did You Know It Takes 2,700 Litres of Water to Produce One Cotton Tshirt?” Medium, 23 Sept. 2023, medium.com/@aarushi.chopra/did-you-know-it-takes-2-700-litres-of-water-to-produce-one-cotton-tshirt-ebeaaf6e4d08#:~:text=It%20can%20take%20up%20to,requires%20vast%20amounts%20of%20water.
“Fashion Waste Statistics and Facts | Textile & Clothing Waste Facts.” Business Waste, 16 Jan. 2024, www.businesswaste.co.uk/your-waste/textile-recycling/fashion-waste-facts-and-statistics.
Wolfe, Watson & “The Environmental Impact of Fashion.” Watson & Wolfe, 22 Aug. 2023, www.watsonwolfe.com/2022/01/06/the-environmental-impact-of-fashion.
Hill, Madeleine. “The 5 Rs of Fashion: Reduce, Rewear, Recycle, Repair, Resell - Good on You.” Good on You, 20 Mar. 2023, goodonyou.eco/5rs-of-fashion.
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Email: nandana2007sns@gmail.com
Nandana.B.G, 16, India
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