Fashion Detox: Breaking Up with Fast Fashion for Teens

By Hannah Richards, Sarah Dettling, Alejandra Gutierrez, and Victoria Granados

The Authors: HANNAH RICHARDS

AleJandra GUtIeRReZ

VIctOrIa GranadOs

DettlIng

SarAH

THE STORY

Piper Popper the big time shopper

written and illustrated by sarah dettling

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to listen along scan the QR code above! recorded and sound illustrated by hannah richards

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Piper Popper was a big time shopper. Her closets were full and her wallet was low, She found $2 shirts online & thought wow that’s so cheap it should be a crime!

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She ordered, and ordered until her house began to fill. She had no space to walk, Or talk, Or drink, Or eat, Or sleep,

But she kept buying new clothes on repeat.

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Her friends and family begged her to stop, She got to the point where it was hard to move,

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So she stopped...

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And she eventually couldn’t even breathe, But in her last moments she bought the newest trends,

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The package is at the door now, Just waiting for us to unbox and unbend.

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Piper Popper shopped and shopped until she dropped... literally.

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THE INFO

WHAT IS FAST FASHION?

Large volumes of clothing produced by the fashion industry, based on trends and an invented need for innovation. This phenomenon contributes to fostering in consumers the need for constant replacement of garments.

The production takes place in countries that have precarious working conditions, such as Bangladesh, India, China, Malaysia, Cambodia and Indonesia.

It is a system that induces overproduction and consumerism.

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WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

Buy less and wear more

Read the labels

Think where you shop

Recycle the textiles of the clothes that you are going to throw away

Consume eCO friendly and sustainable brands

Research the manufacturing process of your favorite brands

Buy second hand clothes

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WHAT DOES IT DO TO OUR PLANET?

73% of the clothing produced annually ends up incinerated or in landfills, which contributes to land and air pollution.

Synthetic fibers, such as polyester, are plastic fibers, so they are not biodegradable and can take up to 200 years to break down. Synthetic fibers are used in 69% of our clothing

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At least 50%. of the clothes in our closet are not used 20% of industrial water pollution comes from the treatment of textiles and dyes

On Average, a garment is worn 7 times before it is thrown away

Every time we wash a synthetic garment (polyester, nylon, etc.), around 700,000 Individual microfibers are released into the microfiber water and reach our oceans.

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THE ACTION

Fashion Survey

This survey is for you to analyze the situation in which Piper Popper finds herself, and to give you an idea of the consequences it could have in the future.

Be honest with your answers to get a correct result!

Do you think Piper Popper was wrong to buy so many clothes?

Is Buying cheap and trendy clothes the best option?

Do you know the consequences of Piper Popper’s ACTIONS?

DO YOU KNOW WHERE TRENDY CLOTHES OFTEN COME FROM?

Yes NO Yes

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Yes Yes NO NO NO

Do you know the conditions under which fast fashion employees work?

Yes Yes

NO NO

DO YOU KNOW OF ANY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES PIPER MIGHT BE AIDING IN?

CAN YOU NAME ANY FAST FASHION BRANDS? Yes NO

Do you know of any alternatives to this type of shopping? Yes NO

It’s okay if most of your answers were No, that’s what we’re here for, to help you understand the magnitude of the problem we face today, and the irreversible damage it could cause. That’s why it’s important to answer all these questions.

In the following activity you will have to find hidden words, which are some of the unfortunate consequences of this industry.

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Word Search

Child labor, discrimination, global crisis, labor buses, plagiarism, short duration, Water waste, contamination, energy costs, health damage, Ocean damage, Poor quality, toxic dyes

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Cross word

Down:

1. A term used to describe clothing that is only worn a few times before being thrown away

2. A term used to describe the practice of copying designs from high end fashion brands

6. A type of material that is commonly used in fast fashion

Across:

3. The negative impact of fast fashion on the environment

4.A term used to describe the process of recycling old clothing to make new clothing

5. A type of production system used by fast fashion companies

7. A type of worker who is often exploited by fast fashion companies

8. The term used to describe clothing that is quickly produced and sold at low prices

1 2 4 5 8 6 7 3 24

Final quiz

It’s time for a trivia quiz, it is important that you answer the following questions with a lot of conscience, since we will let you know the answers later on, whether you answered them right or wrong.

How many liters of water does the fashion industry consume?

50 Billion 250 Billion 150 Billion 10 Billion 25 Billion 50 Billion 100 Billion

How many pieces of clothing are produced every year?

What age does the fast fashion industry target?

What industry produces the most pollution? 18 to 30 30 to 50 50 to 70 Aviation Clothing Shipping Tech 25

What is the most common reason we throw away clothes?

Fitting Never used Old trend

All of the Above

Who’s life is impacted by fast fashion the most?

Owner Consumer Manager You can find the answers in the Answer key on the next page! 26

Employee

Answer Key 1 2 4 5 8 6 7 Cross Word 3 Environmental Upcycling FAST Sweatshop Disposable D s o a b L K 0 k o f f P l y s t e r 27

4 Clothing

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6 Employee

Word Search Final quiz 250 Billion 1 2 100 Billion

18 to 30

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All of the Above

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