Twitch! Plus Fast Fashion - Your Random Topic

Heya, figured it was time to dive into a random topic. First and foremost, y’all have been incredibly patient during my launch and I appreciate it. I’ve been working on Pinching Tarts, Creature Sheets, Guard Cards, and a new-to-me project since February, but now that my game line has fully launched and my draft is complete I’m focused on other projects.

This week, I’ll be chatting on @hedgiecleric’s Twitch TV channel while finishing up my swoncho. See you there?

With that announced and out of the way, let me turn my attention to **spins the wheel of subjects** fast fashion. (Hey, I did tell you this newsletter would feature a random topic!)

Fast Fashion. What It Is. Why It Sucks.

The phrase “fast fashion” has multiple nuances, but the way I’m referring to it is simply this: low-priced clothing produced in high volumes. Some attach “trendy” to fast fashion, but I feel that minimizes the overall issue. Simply, there are more clothes being produced today than are being purchased, and this results in mountains and mountains of textile waste that, due to synthetic fabrics, does not decompose.

The situation is complex, because synthetic fabrics are not biodegradable whilst cotton, as a natural, degradable fiber, requires pesticides to produce. And, the issue with polyester is that it’s essentially plastic and those microplastics can get into your bloodstream especially if you have sensitive skin. A proposed solution to environmental impact is to use recycled or eco-friendly fabrics, but recycling polyester doesn’t solve the health-related issues. Another is to create building materials out of fabrics, but to date I’ve only heard of Fab Brick.

The primary driver for this issue, however, is the volume of cheap clothes being produced and distributed.

So what can you do? As a consumer? Anything that requires action, in my experience, is a complicated ask. People need to know a) what to do b) why they need to do it (or how that act affects them) and c) what the costs are. It takes time for people to read, learn, and figure out how to deal with any environmental issue, but textiles is especially complicated because the environmental impacts aren’t always perceived or felt by the consumer.

What You Can Do

What can you do? As with all my advice-related posts, your mileage and bandwidth may vary and I trust you’ll do what works for you. I do not believe for a second that any individual consumer is responsible for an entire industry’s waste—but I do think that, collectively, we can make choices for ourselves that put a dent in those landfills.

1. Read. There are a number of articles defining fast fashion and highlighting why it’s a problem. Of the ones I’ve read, Ethical Consumer’s article is thorough and addresses all of the issue’s nuances from factory to landfill. Once you agree it’s a problem, check out World Cleanup Day’s article about how you can reduce your textile footprint.

2. Identify Your Habits. Once you recognize fast fashion is an issue, take a beat and journal about your clothing. Do you buy new? If so, how often do you purchase? What’s your closet look like? How do you accessorize? What fabrics do you wear? Once you have a clear understanding of what you’re doing, then decide what you’re comfortable changing.

3. Make a Plan. Assessing your habits may take time, that’s why it’s important to make a plan that you can implement throughout the year, touching upon every season. If you need ideas, Green Matters and Sustain Your Style have a list of actions ranging from buying sustainable brands to renting clothes. Marie Claire and Recycle Coach touch on specific companies and brands, too. If you’re looking for my personal recommendations, check out ThredUp and Trashie.io.

That’s all I have time for today. Hope you enjoyed this random topic, and you’re thinking about your approach to clothing, fabrics, and fast fashion.

‘Til next time!