What is wrong with the fashion industry, why it matters, and how you can help foster change

Concerns across the entire life cycle

With nearly 100 billion of garments produced annually and around 8.32billion of human beings at the moment of writing, fashion is one of the most wasteful and polluting industries of the world.

Responsible for up to 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions, it is additionally infamous for its voracious appetite for natural resources, and its toll on environmental and human life.

The story begins with the production of the raw material. Cotton crop is energy intensive and requires copious amounts of water and chemicals to grow. For 60% of new garments however, it all starts with fossil fuel. Man made synthetic fibres like polyester, nylon, elastane, or acrylic, have become the most used fabrics as they feed the shelves of fast-fashion items. It is important to keep in mind that these synthetic clothes also release thousands of micro particles of plastic in the waterways each time you do your laundry. This invisible pollution has been proven to be negatively impacting aquatic life all around the world. Additionally, animal protection associations have raised alarms regarding cruel practices and exploitation of various species for their skin, fur, or feather.

During manufacturing, dying and finishing process discharge toxic chemicals, dyes, and heavy metals in the waterways, contaminating drinking sources and negatively impacting aquatic ecosystems. 

Packaging is an essential component of the product's life as it is needed for protection and transport. The production of single use polybag exacerbates the issue of fossil fuel reliance and microplastics pollution in our environment. Because they are non-biodegradable and often not recycled due to a lack of infrastructure, these polybags will be incinerated or tossed in landfill. 

In a form of unhinged linearity, it doesn't get better at the end of a garment's life. Mass production generates monumental waste. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation tells us that over 92 million tons of textile waste are produced annually, and this number is expected to rise to 134 million tons by 2030. Northern countries produce the most fashion waste, with Germany ranking at the 5th place behind the United States and China, and 25% of unsold, discarded or “donated”* clothes are incinerated whilst most of the rest are sent away to southern countries. The overwhelming amount put strain on local communities and land, forming literal mounts of litters, with some being visible from space like in the Atacama Desert in Chile. If natural fabrics can degrade faster, synthetic clothing releases microplastics and toxins as they lay in landfills around the globe for hundreds of years. 

*Donation seems of good intention, but the amount of collection far exceeds the demand for second-hand fashion. The majority is still shipped overseas, consequently harming local textile makers and increasing pollution. If needed, get in touch with your community homeless shelter or clothing bank, donate to friends and family or even sell your unwanted items online.

The invisible hands of makers

This exploitative system falls heavily on the people working along the supply chain. In 2013, the Rana Plaza disaster brought its horrific consequences on the news when the eight-storey building collapsed, killing 1.134 factory workers. Countless stories report the inhuman working condition with excessive hours, low to no pay, a complete disregard to safety, from the use of toxic substances without protective gears to heat stress where workers have to endure a 48C factory furnace, and the list unfortunately goes on.

These hazardous conditions and lack of transparency also facilitate the issue of child labour. 2025 staggering data from the International Labour Organization and UNICEF revealed that almost 138 million of children from age 5 to 17 are still engaged in working activities that are likely to harm their health, safety, or morals. 

Information is power

In light of these facts, the demand for conscious clothing grows, and we gear into change. If some brands are by-passing ethical judgment and ripping profits of unaware customers, using “green collection” and other loads of greenwashing marketing, there is still hope. 

Consumers and actors in the industry are actively participating in challenging the status quo, questioning the very foundation of this inequitable and exploitative system. Organization like The Fashion Revolution of this phenomenon and work toward crafting a fashion industry that :

• Protect the ecosystems

• Protect Human rights

• Protect the heritage of knowledge and craft

A role to play

It is clear that, though the degree of affect might differ, the disaster of the fashion industry impacts us all. Whether it is through the harmful substances in our own clothing, or when cotton culture literally erased the Aral Sea from the surface of Earth. The sometimes insidious consequences of unsustainable and dangerous practices have brought us to an unequivocal conclusion and drive for a systemic change.

It highlights the tremendous necessity for circular designs, where clothing is crafted with genuine care and brands see beyond sales, taking responsibility from raw material sourcing to their product end of life. 

Accountability is essential and a collective effort. If it is obvious that we need policies to ensure workers well-being and sustainable practices along the supply chain, the impact of customer behaviour can't be overlooked. On average, clothing items are worn around 7 or 10 times before getting thrown away, and the UN Environment Programme estimate that today people buy 60% more clothes only to wear them for half as long. This indicates we must reflect on our own patterns and shift our inner narratives. Informed people are empowered to demand better, and in a prime position to strengthen the voices of ethical and sustainable companies. Adopting mindful shopping habits goes hand-in-hand together with setting transparency as a key stone for the new era of the industry. To build a better world for all, where fashion recognizes and protects its inherent bond to nature and human life.