Fast Fashion vs Slow Fashion What is The Difference?

Fast fashion follows the linear economy model. What's the linear economy? The traditional model where raw materials are extracted, processed into products consumers use until discarded as waste, with no concern for their ecological footprint and consequences.

Fast fashion produces cheap products, which at first sight might seem as a bargain, however let's think of the major consequences these bargains cause:

1- Textile Waste:

“More than $500 billion of value is

lost every year due to clothing underutilisation & lack of recycling.” Ellen MacArthur Foundation

2- Carbon Emissions and Water Waste:

It’s estimated that more than two tonnes of clothing are bought each minute in the UK, more than any other country in Europe. That amount produces nearly 50 tonnes of carbon emissions, the same as driving 162,000 miles in a car.

In one month alone, the carbon footprint of new clothes bought in the UK was greater than flying a plane around the world 900 times.

Between dyeing and treating fabric, the fast fashion industry is responsible for around 20% of total global wastewater (World Bank). Just one pair of jeans requires 3,781 litres of water and just one cotton t-shirt requires 2,700 litres of water.

3- Exploitative Labour Practices:

While you may think that you have found an amazing bargain, have you truly considered what your purchase is financing?

Child labour, forced labour, insane work hours, abysmal pay, and exposure to toxic chemicals are what make that £8 dress possible.

4- Economic Impact:

Fast fashion has a negative economical impact. You will see your clothing costs increase due to having to purchase repeatedly as fast fashion products are designed to be durable.

Most brands that offer fast fashion are major brands monopolising the market, which means less independent brands, which in turns means wealth isn't being spread and only a few become wealthy while the majority struggle financially, this causes an economic discrepancy, where the rich become richer and the poorer.

Now lets talk about slow fashion also known as circular fashion!

As shown in the diagram above, slow/ circular fashion considers the consequences of it's production and implements strategies to mitigate them, such as recycling textiles, reducing water usage, using renewable energy, producing clothes that are easy to recycle and producing on demand, this means your product is produced once you order, it will take a little bit longer for you to receive your product, however it reduces unnecessary waste.

The benefits of slow/ circular fashion is mitigating all the negative aspects of fast fashion stated above, to in return live in a healthier, fairer world.

However without consumers making a change, the efforts are in vain. They must become aware of what they buy. How? Taking these small steps can help:

• Before buying, ask if the manufacturers used sustainable criteria to make the clothing.

• Be creative in combining garments and recycle them after they wear out.

• Repair clothing.

• Donate what you no longer use.

• Buy only what you need. In some countries, 40 % of purchased clothing is never used.

• Consider quality over quantity. Every additional year a garment is worn means less pollution. Cheap clothing often doesn't survive the wash cycle, meaning that in the long run you don’t save money compared with buying better quality garments?

• Buy second-hand clothing.

• Be a smart laundry manager — wash full loads and use non-abrasive detergents, for example.

What is new for Textiles 2030?

• Science-based foot printing tools

• Established collaboration through working groups

• Long term partnerships

• Carbon, water & waste improvements

with peer-reviewed evidence

• Government support

• Academic partnerships

• Delivering a circularity roadmap for UK textiles ahead of government policy measures

• Deeper collaboration across the sector

• Much broader participation across retail, textile and fashion brands

• Shaping circular economy instruments for the UK

• Pilot activity on innovative new business models

• Convening groups for access to pilot activity, funding and research

• Aligning sector targets with climate science and global targets

Our planet is in serious trouble and our nation’s addiction to new clothes is doing more harm than you may think.

11 FAST FASHION FACTS AND STATISTICS

• The world uses an estimated 80 billion pieces of clothing every year, a 400 percent increase from two decades ago. — The True Cost
  

• Textile production contributes more to climate change than international aviation and shipping combined. — House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019
  

• Buying just one white cotton shirt produces the same amount of emissions as driving 35 miles in a car. —WRAP
  

• By 2030, global apparel consumption is projected to rise by 63%, from 62 million tons today to 102 million tons—equivalent to more than 500 billion additional T-shirts. — House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019
  

• 75% of consumers believe that sustainability is important and one-third are willing to choose brands that help environmental and social improvement. — Ellen MacArthur Foundation
  

• The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions. — Morgan McFall-Johnsen (2020)
  

• Half a million tons of plastic microfibers are dumped into the ocean every year, the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles. — World Economic Forum
  

• Around 300,000 tonnes of textile waste ends up in household black bins every year, sent to landfill or incinerators. Less than 1% of material used to produce clothing is recycled into new clothing at the end of its life. — House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, 2019
  

• Clothing companies create more than 1 million garments every day. — Greenpeace
  

• Fast fashion emissions will grow by 50% by 2030, if current growth continues. — Ellen MacArthur Foundation
  

• Extending the life of clothes by just 9 months of active use would reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by 20-30% each. — WRAP

Sources: Oxfam and The World Bank

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Eco regards,

Rebecca Lyall

Eco.lure Eco and Ethical Fashion