Fast Fashion And Its Consequences → Impaac blog

Fashion is not a recent phenomenon however fast fashion is, that has led to disastrous consequences for our environment. A staggering figure induced problem that gives rise to over 80 billion garments a year that usually ends up in landfills. Fashion is an important aspect in an individual’s life and has been around for decades but in recent times has become more of a problem that needs to be addressed. The demand for fashion keeps on increasing as new trends keep emerging keeping the fashion industry on its toes. People without thinking of the environmental impact throw away clothes after a few uses leading to an insane amount of pollution. Individuals as well as Ngo’s have started looking into the problem seriously as we have started with the concept of Eco fashion which is ecological and can be used over and over multiple times.

Fashion matters in a way that it tells who we are or what we want to be. It is an important aspect that often transcribes our heritage, culture and ethnicity through our clothes, for eg; a person wearing a saree might be from India, hence fashion plays an important role in determining our identity as well. However, like any industry even the fashion industry has its dark side such as exploitation of garment workers, lack of diversity and environmental damage. Fashion doesn’t stop regardless; the only solution is to be conscious towards our fashion purchases and how we stop them from ending up in the landfill.

Fashion has become way cheaper leading to people purchasing more and more clothes and contributing to environmental degradation. This reduction in prices is only possible due to the reduction in production prices causing great harm to the planet, workers and our health. Most textile companies release toxic water containing lead, mercury and arsenic into the water bodies that pollutes it and is harmful for human, animal and plant life. The fashion industry takes up tonnes of water for dying and production purposes that might soon become the cause of drought and water scarcity in the world. Microfibers are released into the ocean whenever we wash our clothes that are then introduced in the food chain, air is also a carrier of microfibers that we inhale as toxins find their way into our body. Fibers take years to decompose and hence keep on polluting the environment until they do, these fibers are harmful to both humans and animals.

Some ways in which we can make less textile pollution is as follows:

• Shopping from sustainable brands that promote ethical fashion. These brands have taken an initiative to provide fashion but not at the cost of the environment and we as the general public should do our best to support them. Sustainable fashion is the next trend and we hope to see it in the long run being a part of our everyday wardrobes.
• Frequently donate your clothes to charitable organisations or thrift stores, these ensure that your clothes are being used to their fullest potential. It gives your clothes a second chance while also making it sustainable and easy on the environment.
• Repurpose old clothing by using them for other miscellaneous tasks around the house like using an old t shirt as a carpet or making totally new outfits from the old ones.
• Buy better quality clothes as they will last longer in your closet and not result in tear in a few months. Cheap clothes wear off easily leading to an increased demand for new ones.

About Impaac?

Impaac Foundation is a non-profit, technology-driven crowdfunding, social networking platform which focuses on bridging the gap between the people who are looking for help & the people who are willing to help. We are building a social community that depicts the values of social responsibility & help anyone, anywhere, anytime. We provide viable solutions to NGOs for different causes to run their system smoothly & effectively with non-profit intentions.