It’s that time of year when a shift in seasons is very obvious - from warm and cozy (and it’s been really warm this year!), to cold and nasty. And with every change in season, you might think to yourself: "I have nothing to wear!" Again 🫣.
Now open your clothing cabinet and browse through your clothes. How many times did you wear them?
Did you know that the number of times a piece of clothing is worn has declined by around 36% in the last 15 years? So before you rush out discount-hunting for that next piece of fast fashion, here's a crazy thought - why not organise a clothes swap with your friends and family to freshen up your wardrobe?
Clothes have become more affordable. That's a fact. With additional discounts on days like today (you know what we mean, right?) that dirt cheap t-shirt or little black dress is … tempting. But this hoarding of clothing in our closets has become a big problem. Here are a few facts about fast fashion that might make you think twice before giving in to the feel good discount.
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FAST FASHION INDUSTRY
is responsible for nearly 10% of global carbon emissions with a projected increase of up to 50% by 2030.
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92 MILLION TONNES
of textile waste is produced every year, ending in landfills or being incinerated. To put things into perspective: a truck full of clothes ends up in landfills every second.
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AROUND 100 BILLION
pieces of clothing are produced each year. And the average consumer in the United States throws away around 37 kg of clothes every year.
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THROWAWAY CULTURE
The number of times a garment is worn has declined by around 36% in 15 years. Throwaway culture is on the rise, as at the moment, many clothing items are only worn seven to ten times before being thrown away.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global waste water due to dying and finishing (coloring). These processes alone are responsible for 3% of global CO2 emissions.
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WATER CONSUMPTION
We all know the impact of synthetic clothing on our oceans (accounting for 35% of microplastics in the oceans), but cotton is not innocent as well, as it takes 20.000 litres of water to produce one kilogram of cotton. To put things into perspective - production of one t-shirt requires appr. 2700 litres of water. That's three years of drinking water for one person.
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RECYCLING? NAH …
Maybe the worst aspect of the throw-away culture is the fact that only 12% of clothes being tossed away get recycled. Why? because most of the clothes we wear are a complex blend of synthetic and natural fibers, textures and accessories and are thus extremely difficult to recycle.
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DOUBLE THE TROUBLE
There are twice as much clothes being produced today compared to the year 2000. Imagine how many pieces of clothing are never worn or only worn a couple times before being tossed in the trash. Add to that the fact that, as a study estimates, 15% of fabric used in production of clothes is wasted.
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Not all discounts cause mindless consumption
It's a fact that many of us wait for an essential product to be discounted. Like a new kitchen appliance or a mattress. And discounts are a way to acquire things that otherwise wouldn't be affordable.
So if you have waited for Black Friday to get something essential, there's no shame in that. But when it comes to fast fashion, purchases are often caused by desire rather than necessity. So when you have a shopping cart full of clothing that you "might wear one day", check your clothing cabinet again. You just might find some forgotten pieces that you'll love!
Clothes are a necessity
That's a fact. And unless you're part of a nudist community, you need clothes - for work, for every day life. To keep you warm, protected, and - let's not fool ourselves - to make you look good.
A troubling fact today is that over 60% of clothes are synthetic. And when you wash these clothes, the fabric sheds tiny plastic microfibers that eventually land in the environment. In the oceans. Some might say "ban synthetic clothing". Easier said than done, as the world has become too dependant on these durable and affordable fabrics. So let's at least try to lessen the impact that washing of synthetic clothes has on nature.
PlanetCare microfiber filter is a simple device that attaches to your washing machine and it effectivelly catches 98% of microfibers before they end up in nature. And the cool thing about it? The fibers are collected for free and stored for recycling.
YOU MADE IT TO THE END!
Did you know that you are 1 out of every 10 people that actually reads blog posts till the end? We respect that. It takes effort to read (what a strange thing to say, but let's face it, we're in 2024). A big thank you for reading this important piece of content! And because you made it to the end, we would like to give you a little reward.
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A 10% DISCOUNT on the PlanetCare microfiber filter - perfect for those of you who wash less than 4 times per week.
Use coupon code FASHION at checkout.
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Or ONE MONTH FREE on the PlanetCare Go Easy subscription - perfect for all of you who wash a lot, because you get as many clean cartridges as you nee at no extra charge! And you pay for your filter monthly, so it's easier to manage your budget!
Use coupon code SKIPONE at checkout.
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