Confession: WanderChic spends more time thinking about the beauty of great clothes and less time weighing the downsides of a stuffed closet.
But recently I came across this article on Culture-ist about the environmental costs of fast fashion. Then a few clicks led me to this April 2012 report about water pollution in China, where over half of the entire world’s textiles are made.
Like many people, I’m drawn to a bargain, especially when it comes to clothes. The freedom to resell or donate a blouse when I’m tired of it is exciting. The opportunity to stay in step with trends without making a serious investment is habit-forming. Though I’ve started shopping with an eye more toward “investment pieces” for my wardrobe, this has only come in the wake of landing my poast-grad-school Big Girl job.
In the Culture-ist article, writer Frances Du reports on Greenpeace’s investigation of major fashion companies’ environmental footprint. In spring 2012, Greenpeace found that products from fast-fashion giant Zara had one of the highest concentrations of NPE, or nonylphenol, an endocrine disruptor. Du points out that NPE is a hazard not only when clothes are made, but when they’re washed.
After pressure from Greenpeace to “detox” its manufacturing process, Du reports Zara’s pledge to get rid of “all discharge of hazardous chemicals from its supply chain and products by 2020” and to disclose “data about the release of hazardous chemicals into the environment in developing countries in Asia, Africa and South America where they have production facilities.” More good news is that Levi’s and Mango have also signed on to Zara’s detox efforts.
Zara and other retailers are taking steps in the right direction. Du includes other Greenpeace studies of wastewater treatment plants in China, where the fight continues to track the source of toxic chemicals and hold manufacturers accountable.
As we look toward a new year, one of my goals is to learn more about the environmental and ethical dimensions of fashion. Stay tuned as WanderChic shares ways to be well dressed and well informed.
Photo above from deviantART