08 May The Clothes You Wear Are Killing Your Home
Bershka advertising promotion sales in their store on Oxford Street. By Lauryn Pierro
“Ugh, I have nothing to wear!” Is a statement most of us have probably thought to ourselves at some point in time, whilst in reality your is closet overflowing with more than you could wish for.
Most high street fashion brands are considered to be part of the ‘fast fashion’ trend and you may not even realise it. Popular shops such as H&M, Zara, Forever 21, Primark (the list goes on) have mastered their advertising skills, hypnotising our society to become addicted to shopping for clothes that we simply do not need.
New Look attempting to lure customers into their shop located on Oxford Street. By Lauryn Pierro
A fashion student, Lia Pierro, 20, said: “if I had the money to buy the correct clothing [mainly designer] I certainly would, as I know where the clothes come from and who makes them.”
With new fashion trends changing in the blink of an eye, it’s hard to remain content with the clothes we already own when we are constantly being faced with an array of temptation and choice, for cheap. But so what, you may ask?
Known to be the biggest culprit of them all! Primark attracting customers on Oxford Street. By Lauryn Pierro
One out of many high street fashion stores participating in the fast fashion industry. By Lauryn Pierro
These brands are using cheap labour which is often sourced from sweatshops in countries such as Bangladesh and India. Employees are forced to work in inhumane conditions, long hours and being paid wages that are impossible to live on. For example, workers in Bangladesh will earn as little as $33/ month when the living wage is around $60/ month.
According to a charity, ‘War On Want- Fighting Global Poverty,’ since 1990, over 400 employees have died and thousands more have been injured in 50 major factory fires in Bangladesh. On top of this, factory management implements steps to prevent the formation of trade unions which would give the workers the opportunity to defend their rights and child labour is also prevalent in sweatshops. If this wasn’t shocking enough, what you may not know, is that fast fashion is actually killing our earth.
In order for the creation of vibrant colours, fabric finishes and prints garments, the toxic chemicals used can enter our bodies through our skin, do harm the workers and are ultimately neglected into rivers in surrounding areas, causing pollution to the water.
Fast fashion is so cheap and disposable that consumers are tossing old clothes away at ridiculously high rates. In 2017, some journalists in Denmark revealed that H&M are burning unsold (out of trend), damaged clothes purely to prevent them from appearing in the second- hand market, rather than recycling. Since 2013, 12 tonnes of clothing has been burned per year in Denmark, according to Greenspace international.
Bershka proudly informing their customers about their sustainable fashion changes in store. By Lauryn Pierro
It is reported that the clothing industry is the second largest polluter in the world after oil. So in essence, the clothes you are wearing are killing your home. To put it into perspective, in order to produce a single t-shirt and a pair of jeans, it requires over 5,000 gallons of water! Shops such as Bershka have begun working with pieces that are made from recycled, ecologically- grown cotton and wool textiles that may have potentially ended up in landfill, polluting the earth we call home.
It’s finally happening. Bershka is one of the few high street fashion stores to implement sustainable fashion within their brand. By Lauryn Pierro
“We have to do better and create a more sustainable fashion industry,” concludes Lia Pierro
This harsh reality is devastating. However, we must also understand that in order for a global change in the fashion industry to occur, it will take time and commitment from all aspects of the industry. It will not happen overnight. It is easy to think, “well why can’t they [brands] just invest more money into the manufacturing of their clothing?” Life is not as simple as that, and people still need work, no matter the consequences it may bring.
So how can we change?
Reduce, refuse, repair, reuse and recycle your clothes!
Here is the full interview with Lia Pierro.
