Today there are so many factors that contribute to climate change that it can be hard to decide what to focus on. After all, we can’t all walk to school, only eat vegetables, and never use plastic. An easy way to help the planet is to watch which clothes you buy. Here’s the rundown on fast fashion.
Fast fashion is made because of fast changing trends. After a trend is out of style, tons of clothes are thrown away, making fast fashion responsible for 8-10% of global emissions. According to the United Nations, every second the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or burned. If we continue buying clothes without considering the consequences, carbon emissions, micro-plastics in the oceans, and many other pollutants will just get worse. However, it’s hard to be both eco-friendly and fashionable. To make shopping easier, the BBC recommends three easy steps: buy second-hand, rent your clothes, and simply buy less.
In Vestal, there are many secondhand shops like Plato’s Closet and Style Encore. Facebook Market and Ebay also have easily accessible used clothing to buy for discounted prices. For trendier clothing, renting from Rent the Runway, Nuuly, Gwynnie Bee, and others can give you access to nicer brands like Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Ralph Lauren. Renting costs more, but offers newer, more expensive clothing options. Finally, the easiest solution is to buy less clothing. Instead of buying lots of clothes every time you shop, just pick pieces that you really like. By being more mindful of what you buy, everyone can make a difference.
There are brands that have started to “Go Green” and focus on being sustainable and environmentally friendly. While many brands are still not good for the Earth, there are great advances happening right now. Patagonia makes fleeces from recycled bottles and will mend and recycle older items. Ecoalf, a Spanish clothing brand, makes shoes, clothes, and bags from recycled plastics and algae. The Cambodian brand, Tonlé, uses surplus fabric from mass clothing manufacturers to create zero-waste fashion collections. Many brands have started to rethink how they affect the climate. To read more about different brands, check out the United Nations Environment Programme.
It feels hard to make a difference in climate change. After all, we are just high school students with limited voting power. But being conscious of the clothes you buy, and the brands you use are important ways to make an impact.
