FAST FASHION SUCKS

The nightmare caused by the fast fashion industry is something that I have been aware of for quite a while. Somehow time moves on and the information you learnt in the past doesn't seem to have an effect that is quite as strong as it once was. Scary hey? That our brains get used to the idea of the the pollution and water waste.. you know it’s there and you know it’s bad but yet your favourite brand just bought out their new season and you just can help but fall for the current deal. After all it’s too cheap to say no: & so the vicious cycle continues…

“The US only makes 3% of its clothing. Developing countries outsource the other 97%. Bangladesh is one of these main countries. They are highly under paid & earn around 2$ per day, for hours of sweat, blood & tears.”

- Rocket & Honey

The Beginning Didn't Include 52 Seasons

I first discovered the truth about the fast fashion industry when I watched The True Cost back in 2017. Before that I was completely oblivious. I had no idea where my clothes came from, or had even had a second thought about how they were mede, let alone where they would end up. This documentary was a real eye opener for me

We have somehow got to a point in society where it seems to be ok to have 52 seasons in a year rather than just 4. Fast fashion giants are bringing out new collections every week and they are making the offers so ‘great’ that they are hard to ignore. Of course behind the scenes people are working longer days, at a faster pace, with cheaper materials, poorer working conditions and lower wages. This is having an effect on societies and the products that are being products.

We need to take a step back in time and go back to caring about how our clothes are made and the work that has gone into them.

“Using 5 trillion litres a year, fabric dyeing accounts fro 20% of global water pollution and countless health issues from the 8,000 chemicals used”

- Sunday Projects

The Way Forward

So you might be sat here wondering what you can do to cut down on your fast fashion addiction… Well we are here to help you out.

1. Unsubscribe from fast fashion email subscriptions (Out of sight out of mind)

2. Walk a different way to work! (I used to walk through the high street in Melbourne everyday for work and I couldn’t help but go into the highstreet shops EVER . SINGLE . TIME… I was broke!)

3. Focus on buying statement pieces only or having a casual wardrobe (this includes statement pieces that you can mix and match)

4. Each time you wear and item of clothing hang it up at the front of your wardrobe, every few months go through your wardrobe and whatever is at the back is clothes that you don’t wear… (Give them to charity or thrift them online!)

5. Follow The Thrifters (There are so many epic accounts on instagram these days that are selling second hands goodies, make sure you’re following them)

   • Just Thrift Away

   • Little Jungle Co

   • @_platties_

   • Sunday Thrift

   • @crushes_shop

100% Second Hand?

The best thing we can do for this planet is to reuse what we already have. Up-cycle materials, shop second hand, cut down on the rate at which you purchase.

If you can’t not buy 100% second hand then focus on supporting small, local businesses that use organic materials and are fair trade. Materials that use natural dye are even better! These products may be more expensive, but it will make you appreciate them more and actually care about the items of clothing you do own.

#NONEWNOVEMBER

We were recently inspired by a post put up by @sundayprojects_ to start a campaign called #nonewnovember our aim it to get people thinking about the rate at which they are buying clothes and how many times it is used. To even out the amount of C02 emissions giving off by making one t-shirt, you need to wear it at least 30 x times! Have you worn each item of clothing you own over 30 x times? Do you still have clothes in your wardrobe that have the tags on? Think about your consumption…is it kind?

“The fashion industry creates about 10% of the global CO2 emissions - more than aviation and shipping combined”

- Sunday Projects

Share #nonewnovember with your friends and family to get the ball rolling.

Not only will you save money but you will be making a difference to others peoples lives and our environment also.

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Read my original blog post written in 2017 over on Rocket & Honey:

Sweat Around The World | The Eco Friendly Way

MUST WATCH DOCO’S

The True Cost (NETFLIX)

River Blue

Minimalism (NETFLIX)

The Machinists

Machines

Bitter Seeds

I hope you have learnt something from this blog post. We love hearing what you guys think so please comment below and let us know any thoughts or relevant advice you may have for those that are fast fashion obsessed

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Love Annie // @ethicallyso

xxx