Increases in fast fashion appearing in stores is becoming a growing problem.
Citizens should consider donating articles of clothing to recycle, restore and repurposing opportunities both local shops and some major corporations offer.
Starting February 2013, H&M continues to run their “Garment Collection and Recycling Program,” which allows citizens to trade three pieces of used clothing for a 15% off coupon, giving customers opportunities to be mindful of where their pre-owned clothes are going, without throwing more into landfills.
According to the official Earth Day website, the lifespan of a clothing item in somebody’s closet is now 40% less than it was in 2010. These clothing items are often thrown either into the garbage or donated to thrift stores. With the large amounts of fast fashion and bad quality clothing appearing in secondhand stores, it takes away some of the benefits of buying pre-owned clothing. According to UCLA Sustainability, the fabrics of fast fashion are made from non-decomposable materials that end up polluting and filling landfills and water sources further. This does not solve the impending problem of sustainability and sourcing for low-income families. Sure, these stores temporarily recycle clothing back into the industry, but ultimately, it continues the cycle of excess materials until it is finally thrown into a landfill. However, there is a method to reduce the amount of clothing in landfills.
According to the California Academy of Mathematics and Science, the percentage of all clothing that gets recycled annually is 1%. If even half of that is recycled and repurposed, it is possible for clothes to go back to these fast fashion factories to be repurposed, and they could donate them back to thrift stores which would help these shops gain more clothes for sale. Additionally, implementing a clothing filtering system into landfills will also help decrease both the fullness and the amount of annual waste of fast fashion clothing produced and trashed in America alone.
Sustainability starts with customer mindfulness. Purchase long-lasting, natural fabrics and consider donating to these recycling programs.
