It takes more water than a human can digest in over 3 years to produce one single organic cotton t-shirt.
Put into context, it has been reported that England will run short of water within 25 years.
Polyesters are made from man made, fossil fuels yet they are more easily recycled, take less time to produce (less energy) and last longer than cotton.
As consumers are we asking the right questions?
Having heard that the Swedish Fashion Council has cancelled Stockholm Fashion Week, Extinction Rebellion want to “shut down” London Fashion Week. Extinction Rebellion announced plans to carry out “creative disruptive actions” throughout September’s London Fashion Week. Details of the disruptions remain scarce but a Facebook event calls on supporters to attend a “funeral for LFW” signalling a symbolic death of the status quo.
Sara Arnold of Extinction Rebellion’s Fashion Boycott team told Euronews Living: “We don’t want business as usual”. She stated that previous action at February’s Fashion Week had led to engagement on the issue from the British Fashion Council (BFC), including an invitation to deliver a talk on fashion’s role in the climate emergency. Arnold added that Extinction Rebellion wants to “divert attention from the action” toward the problem. “People think we’re just campaigning for climate change, they don’t realise the impact of fashion on biodiversity”. The statement calls London Fashion Week a “theatre of excess” and claims that the fashion industry is one of the world’s most polluting. Which of course it is.
As someone that has lived more than half their life in the fashion industry, I know only too well the impact fashion / retail has on the economy and our mental health. Yes, mental health. We in the UK, when we’re feeling low, or down, we go shopping, we buy cheap nonsense because for a fleeting moment it makes us feel better, and yet our addiction is killing the planet.
So what do we do, do we buy organic or man made? Or do we do the “One Year No Gear” challenge?
Or will you just ignore this and buy a new top the minute the girls say – “drinks night, my place!”
Yes we need to shop less, learn to mend stuff like our grannies did after the 2nd World War, but you know what, it’s just not convenient. So what is the answer?
The answer my friends is to save up, look for someone that makes clothes, a local designer, buy something that you’ll take great care of (because it was damn expensive) and cherish it, be proud of it and learn to style it with different things. And if like most of us you don’t have a lot of cash, head to the charity shops, believe me, they’re getting better.
The biggest hurt of all – Unfollow those Insta “influencers” that flog their own brand “T’s and Sweats” – yep, you know the ones, sticking their arse out, pouting under huge sunglasses – they have to make a living, why does it have to be at the expense of your mental health and the planets extinction?
So what do you think, are you up for the challenge?
One year, no gear?
(*Polyester)