...What if, instead, they were about the people who made our clothes, and the impact they have on the world and the way we all shop?
On April 24, 2013, 1,133 people died and another 2,500 were injured when the Rana Plaza building in Bangladesh collapsed. Most of these victims were young women making clothes for the west.
Right now, we are facing a global fashion crisis we can’t ignore, from sweatshops and child labor to pollution. It's easy to forget about the people who make our clothes, when they are being created on the other side of the world. The worst part is that the fast fashion industry is fueled by our demand for cheap, trendy clothing.
98%of apparel is made outside the U.S.
39.5¢is the average hourly wage for workers in Bangladesh.
70lbsof clothing are thrown away each year, per person, in the U.S.
400%more clothing is owned now than in 1980.
There is a solution. There is hope.
A lot of people are working to solve these problems, and that’s a great thing. In fact, we’ve even witnessed the impact change can have across similar industries like food and energy. You may have of heard that buying "Fair Trade" or "Made in America" clothes is the best solution. Maybe even the only solution. While it’s certainly a step in the right direction, we think it’s only solving half the problem.
The real key to slowing down fast fashion is to change the way we think about our clothes and address our shopping habits. So yes, it’s about choosing to support brands who are transparent about how their clothes are made, but it’s also about choosing to buy less and shop with purpose.
Fast fashion is a solvable problem, and when you create a capsule wardrobe, you are participating in the solution felt by those around the world.
One person can make a world of change.
Here are some simple steps anyone can take right now to help beat Fast Fashion:
- Create a capsule wardrobe and address your shopping habits
- When you shop, shop thoughtfully by replacing fast fashion brands with those that are transparent about how their clothes are made
- Document your journey, tell others, and encourage those around you to take reasonable steps toward simplicity and sustainability
If you need help creating and maintaining a capsule wardrobe, we make tools that can guide you.