UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEMS

So, now let’s understand the problems related to fast fashion, the exploitation which is happening in fashion industry in all the countries. The problem is that the fashion industry has become world's second largest industry causing environmental problems. If you've read my previous blogs you must know that fashion production makes more than 10% carbon emission, 85% of textile ends up in landfills and is also responsible for drying up of rivers.

By now we all are aware about the concept of fast fashion which is making trendy garments in bulk, trying to attract the consumers with the low prices. It has come to the point that the garment quality is declining day by day, and as a result these items gets worn out very easily. It's not just about the quality of the garment it is also about how is the garment made, what all chemicals they use, what all machinery are they using for the process of production.

Fast Fashion brands like Zara and H&M tend to use synthetic fibres, chemical based coloring techniques and a lot of machinery to produce their clothing line. The use of these materials and practices ultimately drops down the cost of their product and who pays the actual cost? The environment pays the actual cost.

 The problems related to synthetic fibres which are man-made fibres such as polyester, nylon, rayon, acrylic, spandex, latex, kevlar, etc. which uses chemicals in it. Most of them are prepared from raw material petroleum called petrochemicals. These fibres are obtained from artificial or man-made sources and that's why they are cheaper and easy to produce in large quantities. However, the major drawback of these fibres is that they produce an overwhelming amount of chemicals, waste and carbon emissions. And yet, still we continue to produce millions of tons of clothes from these fibres every single year.

Why is that a problem? According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 35 percent of microplastics that enter the ocean come from synthetic fibres. Every time we wash clothing made of these fibres, they shred. Up to 728,000 fibres can come off at once, spilling into waterways and contributing to the pollution of our ocean and environment.

Overall, microplastics from fashion could be even more damaging than plastics from the food or packaging industry.

 

SYNTHETIC FIBRES VIDEO

After watching this video and having a peep at how clothes are produced, and also learning about the effects of the chemicals that are used in the process on the workers and environment, I am sure most of us will be against fast fashion. The constant demand for materials by the fast fashion industry puts immense pressure on the non-renewable materials needed to produce those products—It is also worthy to note that the proper system for disposing waste material from fast fashion is complex and not attainable in areas where these products are made. Some of the negative impacts of the fashion industry can be directly understood and seen below-

 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FASHION INDUSTRY-

1)  WATER POLLUTION 

2)  WATER CONSUMPTION

3)  MICROFIBER POLLUTION

4)  WASTE PROBLEM

5)  HARMFULL CHEMICALS

6)  SOIL DEGRADATION

7)  RAINFOREST DESTRUCTION

 

It's high time that we stop buying the brands involved in fast fashion and consider before investing in the brands that are engaged in the fast fashion production. The brands whose only motive is to get maximum sale and not good quality. And the brands who engage in the practices of harming the environment just to save a few bucks, just to maximize their own profits. All at the cost of our environment. 

Now that we all know what the problem is, it becomes somewhat easy to find out the solution. Wait for my next blog on - FINDING OUT THE SOLUTION.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Giddens, J., 2017. The conversation. [Online]
Available at: https://theconversation.com/read-this-before-you-go-sales-shopping-the-environmental-costs-of-fast-fashion-88373
[Accessed 6.12.2020]

Image Search: https://theprettyplaneteer.com/fast-fashion-brands-to-avoid/

 

Reference: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2019/six-things-you-didn-t-know-about-the-true-cost-of-fast-fashion.html https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2019/six-things-you-didn-t-know-about-the-true-cost-of-fast-fashion.html

 

Reference: https://youtu.be/W-V1GH4Gt2I

[Accessed on 6.12.20]