Before we jump into the nitty gritty, let’s get real here for a moment: We cannot deny that fast fashion brands have given us access to stylish clothes at a fraction of the price of designer pieces. A pair of jeans for less than a thousand? Nice. A new shirt for just a few hundred pesos? Cool. A cute and trendy dress under 100 pesos? What a steal! 

Fast fashion brands have also made it easier for everyone to shop with their own user-friendly e-commerce platforms. One can simply browse, add items to their cart, and proceed to check out all the items they fancy, as far as their pockets permit. Who doesn’t love convenience?

In this sense, fast fashion may seem godsent. But behind its appealing façade is a multi-billion-dollar industry that is doing more harm than good.

Why is fast fashion bad? Here, we’ll run you through some of the most appalling facts about the world of fast fashion and what you can do to fight these horrors:

The fashion industry is the second-biggest consumer of water

Just how big? According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the fashion industry uses up to 93 billion cubic meters of water annually—an amount that is enough to meet the consumption needs of five million people!

20% of global wastewater is the result of textile dyeing alone

Textile dyeing is named by UNEP as the second-largest polluter of water globally. Making a single pair of jeans alone requires over 7,500 liters of water.

Half a million tons of plastic microfibers are estimated to be released into the ocean every year through laundry alone

Pieces of clothing made with synthetic fibers like polyester, acrylic, and nylon are known for being lightweight, durable, flexible, and affordable. However, they are also heavy polluters, making their way to the food chain when microfibers and microplastics are mistaken for food by fish and other marine animals.

About 1 out of 3 Filipinos have tossed an item of clothing after wearing it just once

In 2017, YouGov Omnibus — an international online research data and analytics technology company — found that 29% of Filipinos have thrown away a piece of clothing after one wear. Meanwhile, one in five (21%) Filipinos dispose of their clothes because the pieces have become unfashionable or out of season.

Filipino workers are among Asia’s most underpaid in the garment industry

Based on the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Official National Labour Force surveys conducted over various years, the Philippines has the highest non-compliance rate with the minimum wage in the garment sector, at 53%. There is also a 14.3% compliance gap between male and female workers, as women are more likely than men to be paid below the minimum wage.

A good fraction of pieces produced by fashion brands are products of forced and child labor in developing countries, including the Philippines

In a 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Labor that aims to raise public awareness about forced labor and child labor around the world and to promote ways to combat these ill practices, it was revealed that Filipino children under the age of 18 are employed to make fashion accessories. The U.S. Department of Labor also found evidence of forced and child labor in neighboring countries like Vietnam and Indonesia, among many others.

More than 2,400 chemicals are used in the production of garments

In a study, the Swedish Chemical Agency estimated that about 10% of these chemicals contain hazardous properties, exposing those involved in the manufacturing process to high levels of toxic elements.

And while we’re on the topic of chemicals, here’s another baffling fact for you from the circular economy advocacy group Ellen MacArthur Foundation: Production processes of clothes like dyeing require as much as 43 million tons of chemicals per year.

According to UNEP, the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles ends up in a landfill or is burned—per second

At this rate—and if no action will be taken—by the year 2050, it is projected that the fashion industry will consume a quarter of the world’s carbon budget. Currently, the fashion sector produces two to eight percent of global carbon emissions.

Not all hope is lost, though, as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation found that 75% of consumers believe that sustainability in fashion is important and about a third are willing to purchase from brands committed to environmental and social improvement.

Now What?

8 Ways You Can Consume Fashion More Sustainably

As a consumer, you can take measures to reduce your environmental impact when it comes to fashion. Here are some doable practices you can apply today:

1. Consider thrifting clothes

Hitting thrift shops or your local “ukay-ukay” for fashion pieces isn’t just wallet-friendly, it’s sustainable, too, as you redirect clothing that’s supposed to end up in a landfill to your wardrobe for reuse.

2. Borrow

If you need an outfit for a one-time thing, it might be better to just borrow than buy a new set of clothes.

3. Buy only what you need

If borrowing is not an option, resist temptation (a.k.a. the call of budol) and buy only what you need.

4. Timeless over trendy

Invest in classic quality pieces that won’t go out of season and can be used for a long time.

5. Be brand-conscious

Meaning, be conscious of the practices of the brand you’re buying from. You can check if their workers are well-compensated and are working in humane conditions; if they sustainably source their materials; and if they have systems in place to repurpose unsold pieces with minimal impact.

6. Think twice before you update your wardrobe

Also, try to avoid buying pieces on impulse.

7. Spread the word

Spark discussions about the environmental implications of fast fashion. It could be as simple as telling a friend that they don’t need another pair of jeans from XXX brand, and then sharing with them hard facts about the fast fashion industry.

8. Get to know slow fashion

If there’s fast fashion, there’s also “slow fashion”—a movement that advocates for the ethical and sustainable approach to producing clothes. One way to engage in slow fashion is by supporting local artisans (like crocheters and hand-knitters) who consciously make their pieces last for years to come.

Do you have any sustainable fashion tips? Share them in the comments!