The Impact of 'Fast fashion'

Practicing an eco and environmentally friendly way of life has now become more important than ever. 

In fact, it's our responsibility, rather than simply a trend. Brands are under considerable pressure to adopt new practices, paving the way for more sustainable fashion industry, as well as acting as role models for other businesses and consumers alike.

As many of you know 'fast fashion' has a huge impact on the earth.

Let’s start with what fast fashion is. The term ‘fast fashion’ has become more prominent in conversations surrounding fashion, sustainability, and environmental consciousness. The term refers to ‘cheaply produced and priced garments that copy the latest catwalk styles and get pumped quickly through stores in order to maximise on current trends’.

Why is this bad?

On average, 85% of all textiles produced in a single yearend up in landfill. The manufacture of mass produced textiles leads to mass pollution of the worlds waterways- even washing garments post manufacture releases 500,000 tons of microfibres into the ocean each year. That's the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.

Emissions from textile manufacturing alone are projected to skyrocket by 60% by the year 2030.

Let's look at the environmental impact of fast fashion a little closer.

Water

It compromises the depletion of non-renewable sources, emission of greenhouse gases and the use of huge amounts of water and energy. The fashion industry is the second largest consumer industry of water, requiring about 700 gallons to produce one cotton shirt and 2,000 gallons of water to produce a pair of jeans. Also, textile dyeing is the world’s second-largest polluter of water, since the water leftover from the dyeing process is often released into ditches, streams or rivers.

Energy

The production of making plastic fibres into textiles is an energy-intensive process that requires large amounts of petroleum and releases volatile particulate matter and acids like hydrogen chloride. Additionally, cotton, used in a large amount of fast fashion products, is not environmentally friendly to manufacture. 

What's the solution?

On a personal level, one of the easiest ways to help the environment is by choosing eco-friendly lifestyle accessories. 

Plastic pollution is no joke. Take single use carrier bags as one example. Discarded bags litter our oceans, streets, and even drift into the air. The worst part is, they take up to a thousand years to decompose, creating an ever-growing problem for future generations.

However, all is not lost! There are a multitude of brands in the fashion industry that offer completely eco-friendly bag products. One of which is Whistler Tree.

While not all eco-friendly bags may fit your style, or be considered 'stylish', Whistler Tree have been able to fuse sustainability, durability and style into a single range of products. With a huge choice of different designs, styles, sizes and colours, there is really is something for everyone.

Whistler Tree products are made from Grade A Portuguese cork. Cork leather, as it is commonly known, is sustainable, 100% vegan and as durable as any cow hide leather, without any of the harmful chemicals commonly used in tanning practices.

To explore the Whistler Tree collections today, simply click here