After recently compiling a survey about fast fashion and greenwashing for a university module, I discovered that most people around me don’t actually know what fast fashion is or how it’s a problem. 90% of the survey answered that they were unsure what fast fashion is and of what the effects of fast fashion were. I assume people try not to think about it or maybe haven’t had chance to stop and think about it, so they just continue with their daily routine. I personally never used to think about the consequences of fast fashion either till I started studying fashion design and ethical fashion. I am very curious as to why there is such a lack of knowledge on the topic, therefore I want to use my blog to help people around me to get a grasp of the problem and to learn how, little by little, we can be the solution to this problem.

‘90% of the survey answered that they were unsure what fast fashion is and of what the effects of fast fashion were’

There are some people in the fashion industry are currently working towards ‘closing the loop’. The lifecycle of a garment has a beginning and an end and some designers are working to encourage businesses to start using more eco friendly fabrics, so that when the garment is disposed of it can be recycled and remade into something new instead of being waste. It’s hard to know what fabrics are more eco friendly however as natural fabrics aren’t always the way forward. Natural cotton uses 20,000 litres of water per kilogram. That is the equivalent to a single t-shirt and a pair of jeans.

‘Natural cotton uses 20,000 litres of water per kilogram. That is equivalent to a single t-shirt and a pair of jeans’

How can you make changes to the ways you buy new clothes? A good place to start is by changing the stores that you shop in. Try to avoid fast fashion brands if possible and maybe try using thrift shops and charity stores instead. This is a good way of giving old clothes a second chance and supporting a charity in the process. Sometimes the clothes in charity stores can be a bit outdated for some people, so if you’re searching for a younger trendier style, then you could give websites such a depop a chance.

Another way of making a healthy change towards textiles waste is to change the way you buy, you don’t need to try and keep up with fashion trends, try to create your own style instead, trends change so quickly that they will constantly need updating. Being stylish is much more admirable than being a sheep and following trends anyway.

Shop more expensive clothing. Sometimes spending more on your clothes is a good idea, pricier garments are generally better made and because you’ve spent more money, you’re much more likely to look after the garment and keep it for longer. However if you’re planning on spending more money, try researching the brand first, sometimes when clothing is more expensive, you’re spending the extra money on the brand rather than the quality.

You could also try supporting more sustainable designers that are working on closing the loop or making big changes towards helping the environment. Adidas have partnered with Parley and have managed to create trainers and clothing that is made from plastic debris that has been collected from beaches.

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What changes can you make when discarding of your old clothing? Handing your old clothing into the charity shops seems like a great way of disposing of your old clothes. Unfortunately, everyone else has also had the same idea, which means a lot of charity shops are over run with donations, which means that some of the older things that get donated are still taken to landfill when the charity shops no longer have room for the items.

If you’re throwing away an item of clothing because it has a fault of some sort, such as a rip, then you should first try to fix the garment, if you’re unsure how to fix it, try researching it on Youtube. Youtube is filled with great DIY ideas. If you no longer want the garment because it doesn’t fit and you don’t wear it anymore, you should try asking your friends and family members if they want it instead or if that’s not an option, then you could sell the items online or at a carboot sale.

If none of those options above are of any use to you, then you could take the clothing to a store such as Adidas. Adidas have clothing drop off points in their stores where you can take any of your old clothing too. A company then takes the clothing from Adidas and sorts it so that a lot of the old fabrics can be recycled.

Spread the word to other and make sure everyone understands the impact that fashion is having on our world. If it’s too much to explain share my blog along for them to read. Once more people are aware, i’m sure we can make big strides towards making positive changes.