Episode 37: Sustainable Fashion

Today we are going to talk about sustainable fashion. This might sound like an oxymoron if you’re familiar with the enormous environmental and social impacts of the fashion industry. In this episode, I discuss the issues with fast fashion and some of the solutions to the problem. Textile manufacturing requires high volumes of water consumption, and oils, chemicals, and other harmful substances are used to produce cheap clothing. Moreover, we know that the working conditions in these factories are often hazardous and workers are frequently underpaid and overworked, which puts a social burden on this population and their families. The more we buy, the more is produced, and the more extreme the consequences are for the environment and the people manufacturing these products. As consumers, we can have a significant influence on the fashion industry by thinking twice before buying new things, and by purchasing quality products that last a long time. Be sure to join me for tips on making your closet more sustainable! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• While wearing nice things is important to us, we also have to think about the environment. 
• The fashion industry’s contribution to carbon dioxide emissions, water usage, and pollution. 
• Learn about the increase in clothing production and consumption over the last two decades.  
• The definition of fast fashion and why it poses such a severe threat to the environment. 
• The negative impacts of cotton production on the environment and the people working with it. 
• Hear about the oils, chemicals, and other substances involved in the production of polyester. 
• The environmental and human health impacts of textile, garment, and trims manufacturing. 

Key Messages:

1.  Fast fashion has a huge social and environmental cost. 
2.  Sustainable fashion supports the ethical production of clothing: environmentally conscious production and the fair treatment of workers in the fashion industry. 
3.  There are lots of ways that we can have a positive influence on greening the fashion industry while still looking stylish. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Kristina Hunter Flourishing

IPCC

The Guardian (Fast Fashion)

Nature Reviews (Price of Fast Fashion) 

Good on You (Sustainable Fashion)

OEKO-TEX

European Commission (EU Ecolabel)

Sustainable Apparel Coalition (The High Index)

Elle (Clothing Rental)

The Rana Plaza Accident

United States Environmental Protection Agency 

Patagonia 

Boden

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