How Clothing Choices Affect The Environment

Everyone wants to do their bit to improve their environmental impact. But one place many people overlook is their wardrobe. Surprisingly, the fashion industry uses more energy annually than the shipping and aviation industries combined. Between 2000 and 2015, clothing production has doubled, whilst the average number of times a piece of clothing is worn has decreased by 36%. An increase in demand for cheap and fashionable pieces has meant that fast fashion brands have flourished. Fast fashion leaves consumers constantly chasing after the next trend, which causes them to collect an increasingly large wardrobe. In fact, a lot of the clothing in our wardrobes remains untouched, with one survey suggesting that for the average person in the UK, 73% of their clothes haven't been worn in the past year.

The environmental impact of a piece of clothing depends on the material that it's made of. Polyester and nylon are both made from petrochemicals and require a lot of energy to produce. You might think that a more natural material like cotton is more environmentally sound, which would be correct. However cotton consumes more pesticide than any other single crop - so even though it is only grown on 2.5% of the planet's agricultural land, it accounts for 16% of all insecticide use worldwide.

So what can we do to cut down on the environmental footprint of our fashion, if it is damaging regardless of the material used?

Shop second hand - whether this be by visiting charity shops in the borough such as Cancer Research UK or checking out second hand apps like Vinted. By buying clothes that have already been worn, you're giving them a new lease of life and aren't contributing to the demand for new items to be made.

Create a capsule wardrobe - Instead of chasing new trends, try to create a capsule wardrobe that allows you to create a variety of different outfits with a small selection of clothes. Capsule wardrobes typically have classic pieces composed of neutral colours that don't go out of style and are interchangeable pieces that compliment each other.

Shop high quality - In an ideal world, we would all shop high quality items that would last longer so that we buy less. However, these items can come with a steep price tag, so instead try to be mindful when you're buying clothes as to if you think the item will wash well and last (e.g. If a top is see through then it's likely to be low quality).

In general, it's good to be mindful about what you're spending money on. If you use this approach to clothes by taking a minute to think how much wear you'll get out of an item and how much you really want it, which should help to cut down on the amount of clothes you purchase. This approach will be kinder to your wallet and to the planet.