What's in Your Closet: the waste of textiles
Fashion is a part of who we are. We cannot escape its grasp, nor can we discredit its influence. With the rise of shops such as TEMU, SHEIN, and others, consumers can look like the pages of Vogue with relative ease, and minimal expense. This monetary convenience works well for producers and buyers, but wreaks havoc on our land, water, and air. Fast fashion is defined as low cost, low-quality clothing that lacks durability and is created rapidly to keep up with fashion demands. These garments are made of microplastics (e.g., rayon and polyester.) The manufactured clothes leave a large carbon footprint, and workers are only compensated with miniscule wages. In the event the garments are recycled, they can only be converted into automotive or construction materials. The excessive amount of fast fashion saturating the market has created a dilemma for buyers because our closets cannot accommodate this overabundance. We as a society, have developed a short term relationship with our clothing. The timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched with various other pieces has become a lost art form for many individuals. This has compromised our ability to think outside the box and appreciate the sustainability and versatility of what we wear from day to day.
How to End Textile Waste
As a culture, we are fixated on having the next best thing; and we need to be reminded that the best thing we could ever wear is confidence, and in most cases, something up-cycled from our closet. With social pressures equating labels and style to status and self-worth; how do we achieve "the look" without being indifferent to the waste we amass in our closets? Listed below are thoughtful ways we can enjoy our purchases, but also monitor and curtail the impact of fast fashion in our world.
- Buy less: a recent poll was taken and found that less than 30% of people wear what is already in their closet; couple that with the fact most Americans wear a garment 7 to 10 times before discarding it or choosing to never wear it again. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get creative! We have to relearn that noone judges what we wear more than ourselves. There is no violation for repeating yesterday's fashion today and again tomorrow.
- Rent clothes: There are companies that will allow you to rent formal, business, and even casual attire for a reasonable price. You wear it, enjoy it, and send it back with no strings attached. If you wish to free up space in your closet, while adding dollars to your bank account, vendors such as Vinted and Poshmark will offer good money for your gently used clothing. Consignment shops, similar to thrift stores, will give you a percentage of the sale, once your clothing item has sold. With these options, your closet and your pocketbook will thank you.
- Buy better quality: At the end of the day, we influence what companies place on the market. Instead of building a house made of sticks, we should always demand bricks. The same holds true with our clothes. Quality "pure" clothing looks and feels better than anything that is made with micro-plastics. Also, it's able to maintain its durability. If we vote with our wallets, the industry will eventually meet our demands for sustainable clothing and soon all garments will be created with TLC.
Deciding what to wear is the reward that everyone needs. The right to express one's taste in clothing should be afforded to each individual. In a world where so much of our life is dictated by outside forces, what we wear should be the hallmark of our independence. The question is, how do we ensure our wallets, closets, and environment remain healthy and intact? Well, the answer might be simpler than we think. A better quality of life, in any regard, is only given when we take action and start a movement. We must commit to this lifestyle daily, and eventually the industry will notice and follow suit. We must be intentional with our conversations, shopping habits, and our wallets. Finally, give yourself a nod when you look in the mirror, and tell yourself, you make the statement, not the clothes you're wearing.
