"Circular Fashion": Tackling a Growing Waste Crisis
Created By RISC | 3 years ago
Last modified date : 2 years ago
Global fashion changes so fast it’s hard to keep up. But looking good can be bad for our planet.
Fast fashion focuses on mass production and low prices, whether in clothing, bags, or accessories. Entrepreneurs use psychology to get us to keep changing our wardrobe. Product life shrinks, trends change fast, and we soon tire of our purchases. We mightn’t be aware of it, but the environment pays a price too.
Rising production volumes need more intensive use of natural resources, such as water to grow cotton, which needs 10,000–20,000 liters of water for each kilogram. Polyester releases microplastics into streams and oceans. Pollution from dyes harms water sources. Each year we also produce 92 million tons of clothing waste. All these processes emit carbon into the atmosphere, fueling climate change.
The circular economy, however, is now changing the clothing industry, bringing "Circular Fashion".
Can circular fashion end fast fashion and our world’s clothes crisis?
Global trends are shifting to pay more attention to natural resources. Many clothing manufacturers are applying the circular economy, starting with reusing materials and making ecofriendly items including more recycled materials. Clothing design also prioritizes longevity. Many brands have launched campaigns to promote circular fashion among consumers. The second-hand clothing market is growing fast. Caring for the planet is now in fashion.
But consumers must also support sustainable fashion, beginning with simple behavior changes such as buying long-lasting clothes, being open-minded about second-hand goods, thinking twice before discarding or buying items, creatively mixing and matching our outfits, choosing ecofriendly garments, and helping re-create the fashion industry.
Story by: Tiptaptim Bhumibhanit, Senior Sustainable Designer, RISC
References:
https://www.sustainyourstyle.org/en/whats-wrong-with-the-fashion-industry#anchor-environmental-impact
https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-fast-fashion/
https://www.greenpeace.org/thailand/story/9381/fast-facts-about-fast-fashion/
https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/2019/09/12/fast-facts-about-fast-fashion/?_ga=2.152409913.1296580478.1648604009-1437459401.1648604009
https://marketeeronline.co/archives/4371
https://www.thaitextile.org/th/insign/detail.1122.1.0.html
https://www.thredup.com/resale/#size-and-impact