By: Jamie Georges, Follow South Jersey Community Journalist
The manufacturing of new clothing requires a great amount of water along with energy. Thrifting, a resource for second hand shopping, uses less natural resources by extending the life of clothing or an item.
Overconsumption and fast-fashion markets are highly dependent on natural resources, at a rapid rate at which these supplies can’t be restored or replenished. The fast-fashion business has also raised concerns in the ways they produce clothing in growing economies that promote child labor.
There are growing trends to be more conscious of water waste, when it comes to cutting down shower time or turning off running water. However, considering the amount of water used to make a cotton T-shirt, is not typically thought about and might make one reconsider their shopping tendencies.
Creating a cotton T-shirt requires more than 700 gallons of water to make. Not only does growing cotton use large amounts of water, but creating clothes as a whole is a water-demanding industry.
Textiles is a cloth or fabric used in designing clothing items. To create clothing with intense colors or an eye-catching piece, textiles go through a dyeing process that is completed by the use of chemicals, like synthetic dyes for texture and color purposes. The maintenance of textiles and dyeing them, also increases water contamination. Waterways are then filled with gallons of toxic chemicals from clothing manufactures that utilize these methods.
On top of using environmental resources to create clothes, the fashion industry distributes huge amounts of pollution. These carbon emissions disrupt clean air along with our rivers, when textiles are being disposed of.
According to United Nations News, Elisa Tonda the leader of Industry and Economy Division at the UN environment programme said, “If we carry on with a business-as-usual approach, the greenhouse gas emissions from the industry are expected to rise by almost 50% by 2030.”
The passion behind thrifting derives from the awareness that goes into creating new clothing and new items that negatively impact essential resources. Thrifting creates intentional habits like donating items and reducing waste for products that go unwanted. By giving clothes and household items a second chance, it reduces the amount of pollution that would have gone into buying a new item.
Besides, shopping does not need to be complicated or expensive. Thrifting allows for an environmentally friendly alternative, at a reasonable price, with unique clothing styles you would not see in your average mall or even online. Making the decision to consider the environment influences small changes that are truly the beginning to a larger impact.
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