What does fast fashion mean?
Fast fashion is a model in which products are manufactured, consumed and disposed of constantly and very quickly. This industry was born out of the oil crisis in the 1970s, when textile companies created a new production strategy to escape the crisis and manage to dispose of products.
Companies that apply to the fast fashion model analyze consumer trends in luxury brands and make similar, cheaper and lower-quality models on a large scale. In this way, they guarantee that their products will be consumed.
Despite the benefits it can bring to the market, such as greater profitability, generation of jobs and affordable products, it is necessary to look at the system responsibly, aware of the impacts it can cause on the environment and consumption habits.
Although this model is relatively recent, it is already possible to identify numerous problems at an environmental and social level.
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from Fuzzable
What is the environmental impact of fast fashion?
The fashion industry has become the second most pollutant in the world, thanks to the excessive use of natural resources, low-quality dyes and products based on heavy metals. The manufacture of synthetic fabrics derived from fossil fuels also contributes negatively to the planet, thanks to carbon emissions and toxic gases in the atmosphere, increasing the amount of plastic in the oceans.
Fast fashion pieces are used less than five times and generate 400% more carbon emissions than ordinary pieces, which are used 50 times. With such a short life cycle, many fast fashion pieces will quickly stop at landfills and dumps and, taking into account that the textile fiber most used in the production of these pieces is polyester - a plastic -, they take about 200 years to decompose. Even at home, when we wash clothes made with synthetic fibers, microplastics are released into the washing machine, which, in turn, end up in the sea and, consequently, in salt, food, air and water.
In addition, the massive production made by the fast fashion model encourages slavery, especially in Asian countries.
from Green Glamor Clothing Exchange
How can we reverse the situation?
Often, when we do a clean out closet, we end up with a pile of clothes that, for some reason, we no longer use.
Excessive consumption and purchase of clothing influenced by the fast fashion industry is the main reason why we have so much unnecessary clothing in our closets. We are constantly encouraged to follow the new trends and seduced by the low prices that the industry in question proposes to us, and we end up buying parts that we don't even need.
We already understand that fast fashion is a problem. Now we still need to know how to solve it.
1. PURCHASE LESS
There are always pieces that catch our attention and that we see our favorite celebrity wearing and, therefore, we want to use them too. However, don't buy something that you don't really need.
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Most of us are guilty of buying more things than we need. Instead, try to prolong the life of the clothes you already have. Wash your clothes less and according to the label. This will not only reduce your environmental footprint, but will also make your clothes last longer.
two. GIVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STORES IN SECOND HAND
With trends constantly emerging and the changing seasons, garments are being produced far too often.
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Shopping at second hand stores is the best way to reduce your clothing footprint. It is a great way to find high quality and unique garments at affordable prices, as if you were buying new clothes.
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Sometimes it takes longer to search for a piece of clothing that we really like. However, when we find it you will know us much better than when we go to a fast fashion store to buy unsustainable and standardized pieces.
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When we buy in second hand stores, in addition to finding unique pieces, we will be sure that we are being eco-friendly .
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If you are looking for second hand stores in Lisbon, we know some of them: Espada das Espadas , Retro City Lisboa , Electric Tiger Vintage Shop , The Other Face of the Moon and Heartcore Vintage Clothing .
3. SUSTAINABLE WAY TO BUY
Research and buy in eco-fashion stores that are pursuing clothing production with more environmentally friendly methods. Examples of this are companies that are trying to be more sustainable and make use of materials that are recycled.
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How important it is to support national brands, we leave here some Portuguese brands sustainable fashion: Plus Belle , Rags Conceived , Zouri , Naz , Byou , NAE , Captain Tom .
Other brands: The nude label , Asket , Lefrik , House of Sunny , Everpress and Boody .
4. DOA CLOTHES THAT NO LONGER USAS
The Human , for example, is a non-profit association working in favor of environmental protection through the textile reuse. Currently, it has 950 containers for the collection of clothing, distributed from North to South of the country, where approximately 3,400 tons of used clothing are collected.
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Used clothing collected in Portugal is sent to the Preparation Centers for Reuse, where the garments will be selected and categorized.
14%
will stop at Humana's second-hand stores in Portugal
37.5%
are reused outside Portugal
7%
are taken to waste treatment centers
40%
are reused outside Portugal
1.5%
improper waste
5. CREATE YOUR OWN CLOTHES
Even if it is not in your plans to start making dresses from scratch, you can use clothes that you already have in your wardrobe and, with the help of a YouTube tutorial and a sewing kit, you can make your own creations.
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Clothes are often discarded for the tiniest reasons, such as length or a less favorable neckline. Don't be afraid to hem, replace buttons, make decorative designs on your pants ...