Fashion Detox: How Families Can Escape the Fast Fashion Trap
Fast fashion is a term used to describe the rapid production of inexpensive clothing that can react quickly to current fashion trends. While it may seem convenient and affordable, fast fashion has significant negative impacts on both the environment and people's health.
Environmental Impact
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the global annual carbon footprint, which is more than the emissions from all international flights and maritime shipping combined1.
Fast fashion consumes vast amounts of natural resources, using 141 billion cubic meters of water annually. It is the second-largest water-consuming industry 4. It takes about 700 gallons of water to produce one cotton shirt and 2000 gallons to produce a pair of jeans.
Today's clothing uses materials such as polyester, nylon, and acryl. Discarded clothing made of non-biodegradable fabrics can sit in landfills for up to 200 years4 and about 35% of all microplastics found in the ocean comes from laundering theses synthetic textiles.
Making plastic fibers into clothing is also very energy intensive. Large amounts of petroleum are used, as well as other chemicals such as hydrogen chloride.
Social impact
75 million people are making our clothes today, and 80% of apparel is made by young women between the ages of 18 and 245.
Garment workers, primarily women, in Bangladesh make about $96 per month, while the government’s wage board suggests that a garment worker needs 3.5 times that amount to live a “decent life with basic facilities”5.
Workers in the fast fashion industry are paid as little as $1.58 per hour1.
How to make better fashion choices
Choose Sustainable Brands - Look for brands that prioritize sustainability in their production processes.
Buy Secondhand - Purchasing secondhand clothing is a great way to reduce waste and extend the life of garments. Thrift stores, online resale platforms, and local swap events are excellent places to find gently used clothing.
Opt for Natural Fibers - Natural fibers like organic cotton, hemp, and Tencel are more environmentally friendly than synthetic materials. They require fewer chemicals and less water to produce.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Teach your family the importance of the 3 R's - reduce, reuse, and recycle. Reduce waste by making conscious decisions, reuse items whenever possible, and recycle clothing that can no longer be worn.
Sources:
1 Fast Fashion Statistics 2025 | UniformMarket
2 Fashion and a circular economy | Ellen MacArthur Foundation
3 The global environmental injustice of fast fashion | Environmental Health | Full Text
4 Fast Fashion and Its Environmental Impact in 2025 | Earth.Org
