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[Free report]: Fast fashion fabrics |
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by Oksana Zavaliy | 06-08-2020 20:48
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Fashion industry is considered one of the most polluting industries in the world. Manufacturing certain fabrics causes water and soil pollution, desertification, greenhouse gas emissions. Most clothes are now made with synthetic fabrics which are not biodegradable; they are almost never recycled and release microplastic in water with every wash. In this report I would like to see how sustainable some of the most popular fabrics are.
In 2015 the most commonly used fabrics were: polyester (55%), cotton (27%), cellulosic fibres (7%). Based on my recent trip to a shopping centre, I can say that the numbers have not changed much in these 5 years. I found entire shops in my city with tons of synthetic clothing, cotton is also pretty frequent and sometimes it is mixed with viscose (one of cellulosic fibres). 1. Polyester  Many things are made of polyester (PET) nowadays: clothes, bottles, containers, etc. It has become an essential part of today's fast fashion. PET makes clothes cheap, elastic, wrinkle-free. However, PET fabrics are obviously unsustainable. Every wash releases microplastics into water and soil which can end up in drinking water and food chain. Moreover, it is not biodegradable. PET clothes can be recycled but fashion companies are not interested in doing it. The good thing about PET fabrics is that some companies use plastic waste to create PET clothes, thus cleaning the ocean. 2. Cotton  Despite being a natural fabric, cotton cannot be called sustainable. It requires a great amount of water and relies heavily on pesticides and insecticides. As a result, the soil becomes infertile after repeated use which can lead to desertification. What is more, making one cotton T-shirt requires almost 3,000 litres of water. However, now we can find clothes made from organic and even recycled cotton. Organic cotton is grown without additional chemicals and uses less energy and water. Such clothes must have one of these certifications: USDA-Certified Organic, Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS), Organic Content Standard (OCS), Better Cotton Standard, Bluesign, and Oeko-Tex 100. 3. Viscose/rayon  Viscose is a semi-synthetic fabric; it is made from wood pulp which is soaked in chemicals to make fabric softer. It is a popular alternative for silk, and is sometimes used instead of cotton and PET. The chemicals used in production of this fabric make it unsustainable. It is reported that they increase the risk of heart diseases, skin conditions and cancer for people who work with it as well as people who live nearby. Needless to say, these chemicals can easily end up in soil and water. In conclusion, I higly advise to read the labels when you are shopping for clothes. Organic linen is one of the best options we have in stores but there are many vegan and sustainable alternatives in certain brands that can be found online. Sources:
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8 Comments
Greetings Oksana
I hope you are doing well
Thank you so much for this report
Green cheers
Keep writing
Regards
Asmita Gaire
Posted 20-09-2020 21:14
Hi Oksana Zavaliy, this is a mentor, Sang Su Lee.
Thank you for organizing some information related to sustainability of fabrics currently used in fashion industry. I did not know that so many fabrics that we use nowadays are not friendly to the environment. Yes, it is true that fashion industry is one of the industries that pollute the environment the most. However, it is essential component of our lives: clothes, food and house. I really hope that fashion industry develops in the way that copes with the environment.
Green cheers.
Posted 17-08-2020 00:11
Hello Oksana,
You have been writing informative and useful information for the followers of eco-generation. Keep writing.
Regards,
Shobita
Posted 12-08-2020 17:48
Hello Oksana
Greetings and Namaste from Nepal
Wishing you a safe stay
Thank you for your report on Fast fashion fabrics
Keep writing great reports.
We are eager to read more reports from you.
Green Cheers :)
Best wishes,
Kushal Naharki
Posted 09-08-2020 22:32
Thank you for the report!
Posted 07-08-2020 21:40
Hello Oksana,
I didn't know so much fabric materials are used in fashion industry. I think we have to be careful when we buy cloth products if we are concerned to environment.
Green cheers~
Posted 07-08-2020 17:50
Hello Oksana Zavaliy, this is mentor Taehyun!
Thank you for your environmental analysis of the various fabric materials used in the clothing industry. I didn't know that the fabric that is commonly used in clothing is so bad for the environment. Especially in the case of polyester, which is the most common of all the clothes I have, I didn't know that every time I washed it, it would release microplastics, but I'll have to buy more clothes of other materials.
Thank you for the report!
Green cheers!
Posted 07-08-2020 11:48
what about silk?
people usually advise to wear silk, what's your take?
Posted 06-08-2020 21:10