The cost of being stylish

Leela Stuepfert Leela Stuepfert

Fast fashion approaches clothing design, creation, and marketing with the intent to get the newest trends from catwalks to consumers as quickly and cheaply as possible. However, the cost of being stylish is far greater than the price tag of clothing anyone has had their eye on.

Many buyers are unaware that these tags do not include all of the environmental costs — the depletion of nonrenewable sources, emission of greenhouse gases and the use of massive amounts of water and energy.

“I was not informed about what sustainability actually meant up until a couple of years ago,” Evynee Yee, a senior at Carlmont, said.

Companies such as Zara, H&M, and Forever 21 play key roles in the fast fashion industry and are responsible for unethical environmental practices during production. Although these brands remain highly convenient for consumers, they are putting the future of our planet at risk.

“As students, a lot of us do not have a huge budget. At the same time, we are on social media and we are being exposed to all these new trends. Usually, those trends are bought from fast fashion companies,” Anika Bhatnagar, a senior at Carlmont, said.

These materials will not decay, nor will the synthetic microfibers that end up in the sea, freshwater, and everywhere else including the deepest parts of the sea and highest glacier peaks.

Nevertheless, the impacts begin when fibers for fabrics are grown and produced in factories. Pollution builds as clothes are fashioned from those fibers, taken to markets, and later laundered by users. Even the act of tossing out those garments at the end of their useful lives leaves a devastating cost to the environment.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, a staggering 85% of textile waste in the U.S. goes to the dump each year. This is equivalent to one garbage truck of clothing burned or dumped in a landfill every second.

The fashion industry is the second-largest polluter in the world responsible for environmental damage, coming in close second after the oil industry.

According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, it is predicted that the fashion industry will be responsible for a quarter of the world’s carbon budget by 2050.

Though consumers’ constant buying habits add to the detriment of our

environment, a significant part of the problem lies in the hands of manufacturers and brands who overlook sustainable initiatives.

However, consumers can impact the environment by making wise decisions on how and where they shop. After being educated, Yee decided to take their knowledge into action.

“I started using less plastic, trying to stick with eco-friendly packaging, researching the companies I buy from, and looking into small businesses,” Yee said.

Similarly, Bhatnager’s knowledge regarding the detrimental effects that fast fashion has on the environment has caused her to shop more cautiously and sustainably. She has started purchasing second-hand clothing and hopes her contributions will make an impact.

“I shop mainly at thrift stores or Depop. It’s hard to shop for trends when you want to keep up with them. It is better to buy second-hand clothes if anything or sell your own clothes through online sites,” Bhatnagar said. “Buying basic clothes that last a long time has helped me. That way, you own clothes that you will most likely use and wear for a while.”

Besides second-hand clothing, there are also a variety of brands that have shifted their focus to become more ethical, sustainable, and environmentally conscious by standing against fash practices.

Outerknown, a clothing brand created by surfer Kelly Slate, is one of the many that exemplifies a sustainability-forward company. By working with partners that offer fair wages, practicing sustainable production, and recognizing environmental impact, their actions are making progressive change against the dark reality.

Other sustainably conscious companies include Levi’s, Reformation, and Patagonia.

By ethically sourcing cotton, reducing water usage, and initiating eco-friendly denim recycling practices, Levi’s sets the bar high for other companies.

Reformation does their share by establishing timeless pieces that are seasonal fads and trends and creates products only from upcycled materials in a fair-waged environment.

Patagonia, one of the first companies to defend environmental ethics in fashion continues to prove their commitment to the environment by using recycled material, organic cotton, and focusing on durable items built to last.

According to the World Resources Institute, the “fast fashion” industry annually releases around 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

The Alliance for Sustainable Fashion states that if the current trajectory continues, the industry’s share of annual carbon emissions will soar to 26% by 2050.

Considering ethical and environmentally conscious brands, that support slow fashion and sustainability can make a huge difference in the long run.

As consumers, everyone has the power to change the world just by being careful with where they shop. The first step to slow fashion is asking “why,” before buying something. The future of the earth is in the hands of users to decide whether or not to buy responsibly.

Leela Stuepfert