SAVE THE WORLD
Have you ever considered where your clothing comes from?
Or what happens after you dispose of it?
Please engage with the resources below for an introduction to the global impact of the modern-day fashion industry.
Then join us in making a difference.
VIDEOS
'THE TRUE COST' DOCUMENTARY TRAILER
'RIVERBLUE' DOCUMENTARY TRAILER
THE LIFE CYCLE OF A T-SHIRT
HOW FAST FASHION ADDS TO THE WORLD'S CLOTHING WASTE PROBLEM
A WORD FROM THE DIRECTOR OF 'THE TRUE COST'
INFOGRAPHICS
ARTICLES
WASTE COUTURE: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY
Environmental Health Perspectives
How does a T-shirt originally sold in a U.S. shopping mall to promote an American sports team end up being worn by an African teen? Globalization, consumerism, and recycling all converge to connect these scenes. Globalization has made it possible to produce clothing at increasingly lower prices, prices so low that many consumers consider this clothing to be disposable. Some call it “fast fashion,” the clothing equivalent of fast food.
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES IN TEXTILE AND APPAREL SUPPLY CHAINS
'Sustainability' Journal
Incorporating sustainability into the supply chain is becoming a key priority for many textile and apparel companies. For example, H&M, Patagonia, and The North Face have incorporated various approaches to enhance their levels of sustainable supply chain management. This paper summarizes the key findings and future research directions in the area of textile and apparel sustainable supply chain management.
THE APPAREL INDUSTRY’S ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT IN 6 GRAPHICS
World Resources Institute
Roughly 20 pieces of clothing per person are manufactured each year. Growth of the multi-trillion-dollar apparel industry has been fed by “fast fashion,” which makes clothing cheaply and quickly with a low price-tag. These visuals illustrate why the apparel industry must embrace a new approach to sustainably meet demand in tomorrow’s markets.
"Wow! We've all been contributing to a devastating global issue! So now that we know,
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?"
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Shop resale whenever possible
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If you must buy new, buy ethically (see examples below)
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Look for textiles made from recycled or organic fabrics
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Do your research and understand where your clothes are coming from
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Instead of throwing clothes away, repair, donate, recycle, or reuse them as cleaning rags
35 FAIR TRADE & ETHICAL CLOTHING BRANDS BETTING AGAINST FAST FASHION
On April 24, 2013, the Rana Plaza tragedy killed over 1,100 garment workers in Bangladesh and wounded over 2,200 more. The incident left consumers all over the world questioning who makes the clothes we wear everyday and in what kind of conditions? Documentaries like The True Cost shine a light on how the fast fashion industry depletes the earth’s resources and leverages slave labor to pass on a "cheap" cost to the end consumer.
NON-FAST-FASHION BRANDS THAT ARE JUST AS GOOD AS ZARA
You've done the research, talked to some friends about it, and decided it's time to quit fast fashion once and for all. Like any obsession (yes, those too-cheap prices and fast-moving trends can be addicting), it's not going to be easy to stop cold turkey. But, it will be worth it.