Fashion & Sustainability: Can it be done?

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Let’s be honest, fashion is fun, expressive, and ever-evolving. But the environmental cost of fast fashion? Not exactly runway-worthy. The good news is there’s a much cooler and more conscious way to build your wardrobe: secondhand style.


The Problem With Fast Fashion

Fast fashion is all about producing trendy clothes quickly and cheaply, but it comes at a serious cost to the environment. According to Earth.org, the fashion industry is responsible for about 10% of global carbon emissions. That's more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined.

The water usage is just as shocking. It takes about 700 gallons of water to make a single cotton shirt and nearly 2,000 gallons for one pair of jeans. And the waste? Of the 100 billion garments made each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills. A lot of these clothes are made with synthetic fibers that don’t break down, contributing to long-term pollution. David Suzuki Foundation highlights just how unsustainable this cycle really is.


Why Thrifting is the Future

Thankfully, we have a more stylish and sustainable option. Thrifting isn’t just budget-friendly, it’s also environmentally smart. Buying secondhand reduces the demand for new clothing production and helps cut back on textile waste. According to Give It 2 Goodwill, shopping secondhand can dramatically reduce your carbon footprint.

No extra water, energy, or resources are needed to create those clothes, because they already exist. That means fewer pollutants and less pressure on our planet’s resources. Thrivability Matters breaks it down simply: thrifting is one of the easiest ways to live more sustainably.


It’s Not Just Thrifting

Beyond shopping secondhand, there are tons of creative ways to stay stylish and sustainable. Clothing swaps are a fun, social way to freshen up your wardrobe without spending a dime. Communities around the world, like Radical Clothes Swap in LA, are proving that you don’t have to buy new to look great. The Guardian recently covered how these grassroots movements are gaining traction and helping people rethink how they shop.


Final Thoughts

So, can fashion and sustainability go hand in hand? Absolutely. By choosing secondhand over fast fashion, you're not just curating a more unique wardrobe, you're also making a real difference. The next time you're craving a closet refresh, try thrifting or swapping instead. It’s affordable, eco-friendly, and honestly, way more fun than fast fashion ever was.