Here are some facts that will probably hit your heart like they do ours!
#1 The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world, just behind the oil industry!!
#2 It takes an average of 7,000 litres of water to produce one pair of jeans. That’s about the amount of water you drink over the course of 5-6 years! 2 billion pairs of jeans are produced each year.
#3 Australians are currently disposing 6,000 kilograms of fashion and textile waste every ten minutes!
#4 Tens of millions of people are in slavery today of which nearly 1 in 3 is a child. Researchers estimate 40 million are enslaved. 50% of slavery victims are in labor slavery, this includes manufacturing.
#5 The wages of workers in garment factories can be as low as US$1-$3 a day.
#6 Fast fashion is designed to be replaced quickly, not so much by desire but by need. Clothing literally falls apart, meaning that it must be discarded rather than donated
#7 20% of industrial water pollution comes from the treating and dyeing textiles
#8 Only 10% of the clothes people donate to thrift stores or charities get sold, the rest goes to landfill.
#9 Australians are the world’s second largest consumers of textiles, buying an average of 27 kilograms of new clothing and other textiles each year.
So how do you support?
♡ Look for natural fibres such as organic cotton, wool, silk, linen and hemp. Yes, the cost will be more but the quality of the clothing will surpass and will last longer.
♡ Buy from local designers, who use organic fabric with natural dyes.
♡ Buy pre loved Vintage.
♡ Start thinking of your clothing as an investment.
♡ Wear your items multiple times. No more saving for a special occasion. Life is a special occasion!
♡ Recycle your clothing.
♡ Do your research, know where your clothing is made and if it is ethically produced.
♡ Say no to all fast fashion. By doing this these companies will have no choice but to make the shift to sustainability.
Sustainable fashion is about being conscious of our choices.
By looking for ethically-sourced items and consciously-created clothing we can all start to protect the environment a little more.
Nothing looks as good as sustainable feels!