Greenhouse gases, climate neutral, fossil fuels, rising sea levels, emissions and global warming are not words and phrases one would necessarily associate with clothing and a glamorous lifestyle. Yet approximately 10% of global emissions are produced by the fashion industry, which is neatly concealed behind attractive models, shiny fashion magazine pages, chic photoshoots and intriguing public relations.
It is not difficult to understand why the reality of the fashion industry using 2.5% of the world’s farmland to produce cotton, synthetic materials requiring up to some 342 barrels of oil every year to produce and the reality of fashion production utilising some 43 million tons of chemicals per year (many of which are toxic) is easy to ignore.
Our interest in how our clothes make their way to us is far less interesting as opposed to snagging up daily deals on Shein and Fashion Nova. Our insatiable appetite for our next fit is motivated by vanity, a pinch of greed and the fear of missing out. The low prices mean that almost everyone now has access to tend to their demons. On the other hand it fosters this growing attitude of misunderstanding of the true value of craftsmanship further forcing down a rabbit hole the managing of the delicate balance of producing sustainably and maintaining competitive advantage In the Caribbean, where the few designers are concentrated on custom orders and small-scale collections, the latter reality isn’t as disruptive when compared to other established markets. This tends to leave the influence of habit solely in the realm of consumers who are naturally frugal people. With inflation soaring, can anyone really blame them? This consumption rabbit hole leaves us with no satisfaction. A closet full of cheaply made garments, some unworn, further blurs a clear view of how we even interpret our own style.
As our screens get taken over with COP 27, I implore you to reflect on climate change and the choices we make that partly help to fuel our insatiable appetites.
Research your materials
Some clothing are cheaper to make because of what they are made from and usually the cheapest has the most negative impact. It’s hard to completely turn off from fast fashion, but at least when shopping try to use filters to reduce your carbon footprint. Clothing made from polyester and those which are heavily dyed are ones to stay away from.
Swapping and calculating
The culture of clothing swapping is still met with classist eye rolls but for those who hold strong sentimental value to their clothing and feel bad about hoarding, try arranging a swap with friends and family who hold similar values. It might also be a good time to calculate the money you have spent against the number of times you have worn the item. Most of us tend to resist buying luxury items we really like because we often compare the price to the use we can get out of it, when in reality we buy cheaply to only wear once. Engaging in clothing trades and constant inventory of your closet helps you to manage your style and filter effectively.
Track and trace
Most fast fashion retailers do have a sustainable line and while most of it is downright greenwashing some do provide a relatively credible overview of how their clothes are made and they get to you. Opting for slow fashion doesn’t necessarily mean you need to dress in earth tones and adapt a new aesthetic, it just means becoming more conscious of what you consume and how much of a contribution to climate change you are making.
