Thursday, April 11, 2024 | 2 a.m.
Powered by Goodwill of Southern Nevada
Fast fashion may compel consumers with its affordable nature and accessibility, but the cost to the environment is substantial. The Resource Recycling Systems noted that the growth of textile waste in the United States is outpacing every other major category of waste, including plastics, and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reported that clothing production doubled from 2000 to 2015. And it’s not just the clothing waste tossed in landfills causing problems—textile and clothing manufacturers are some of the worst environmental polluters. Add to it a history of labor concerns within the global garment industry, and it’s hard to argue in favor of fast fashion. Enter: thrift shopping, an eco-friendly way to find affordable, on-trend styles.
Understanding the crisis
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average person throws away 81 pounds of clothing per year in the U.S., which contributes an estimated 11.3 million tons of textile waste to our landfills. Many synthetic textiles, such as polyester and nylon, can take 30 to 40 years to decompose. Cotton and wool take months to years, depending on conditions, and silk requires more than four years to decompose.
The fashion industry is also the second-largest polluter in the world after the oil industry. Clothing and textile production require huge amounts of water, power and other resources, many of which also result in harmful waste.
A look at water waste
For Southern Nevadans, water waste is often top of mind. We’re thoughtful about watering schedules, have converted unusable grass to turf, and look for other sustainable water-use options. However, we may not be thinking about the amount of water wasted during clothing production. The World Wildlife Fund reported that 713 gallons of water are used to produce a single cotton T-shirt, which is enough water to sustain a single person for about 900 days.
26 billion pounds
The amount of clothing that ends up in landfills annually. Goodwill diverted 3 billion pounds from this fate in one year alone. The more shoppers utilize thrift stores, the narrower this margin can become.
Breaking the cycle of clothing waste
One of the best ways to help combat the environmental effects of clothing overproduction is extending the lifecycle of your garments. Clothing and textiles are nearly 100% recyclable—whether you’re using a product as-is or converting a product into something else.
The most sustainable way to shop is to buy clothes from thrift stores, which gives garments a second life and avoids unnecessary landfill waste. It’s also affordable, often on-trend, and guarantees special, unique items. There are few places better for vintage looks and inexpensive designer finds than your local thrift store.
Consider upcycling your thrifted goods, or simply upcycling what you have at home. Textiles can be used for many things, and with a little cutting, sewing or tweaking, you can repurpose garments into something totally new.
If you can’t avoid buying new, consider how many times you’ll wear the garment, and choose clothing that you plan to wear more than 30 times. Look for brands that produce high-quality items to extend garments’ lifespans and avoid fast-fashion retailers. Be sure to consider retailers that use sustainable production methods.
As the fashion industry is tasked with moving toward a sustainable model and consumers are more conscious of their buying habits, the market for thrifted and sustainable clothing continues to grow and thrive. Thrifting offers shoppers a truly ethical approach to style.
