Fast fashion has a huge impact on the earth. What do you think when you're eyeing a new top? You're most likely wondering if it really fits, and then whether or not you can afford it, before deciding that it's definitely worth spending a fortune on because you love it so much. We are constantly searching for new clothing items that keep up with the ever-changing trends and fast fashion that classify today's clothing industry. But what exactly are the effects that this consumerism has on the world around us? Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay The dictionary definition of carbon footprint is the total carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by a person, company, or community due to their activity. In this case it would be the fashion carbon footprint, i.e. the carbon footprint of the fashion and clothing manufacturing industry. According to the New York Post, the fashion industry creates more carbon dioxide than international shipping and flights combined. When looking at the carbon footprint of this industry it is almost impossible to calculate it accurately as there are many factors to take into consideration: agriculture, harvesting and manufacturing of materials, to name a few. However, there are solutions to reduce this carbon footprint. Sustainable textiles are becoming increasingly popular as many consumers and businesses are now much more aware of their impact on the environment. There are many alternatives to cotton and polyester that are widely used in the fashion industry. These fabrics include hemp, bamboo and linen. There's also a new fabric, recycled polyester, made from 100% recycled items, usually drinks bottles used to make hi-tech fleece jackets. These jackets can also be recycled, which is again good for the environment. So, next time you look at an item of clothing, think about whether you could alternatively buy it in a sustainable fabric and help the environment in the process of becoming fashionable. The term "fast fashion" may be a term you are becoming increasingly familiar with, and what it means is affordable designs that move quickly from the runways to the stores to capture trends and make them available to you, the consumer, at a low price . Since we constantly want to keep up with trends, we are buying this fast fashion. These fashion "fads" don't last long and we end up wearing an item only three or four times before throwing it in the back of the closet. Or you prefer to dispose of it because you no longer have any use for it. Due to the constant purchase and disposal of clothing, it is necessary to make more and more of it, thus contributing to the impact on the environment. Once thrown away, clothing typically ends up in landfill, where it takes a long time to decompose if it's organic – or never decomposes if it's not – and can emit dangerous chemicals in the process. This all adds up, meaning more space is needed to dispose of these garments and therefore more chemicals are released, meaning more global warming and air pollution. So, think about that the next time you make an impulse purchase that you know you won't wear more than two or three times. Fair Trade Brand There is an alternative to purchasing this fast fashion, and that is eco-fashion, whereby minimal damage is inflicted on the environment during the clothing manufacturing process. There are some problems with purchasing this eco-fashion, however. One of the biggest problems is that thepeople are less willing to purchase these items as they are usually much more expensive than regular clothing because they are produced using low-impact organic crops, which are not genetically modified and are not grown using pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which it means there is a higher risk of producing these plants and they also take longer to grow and therefore the price has to be increased to cover the costs. Overall though, eco-fashion is much better for the environment as it uses less water, produces less carbon dioxide and takes into account the environment and all the people involved in every step of the process, so instead try to buy eco-fashion in small quantities, versus fast fashion in larger quantities as you will benefit the surrounding environment and the people involved. In textile and clothing manufacturing, there are many ethical and social responsibility factors involved that you should consider when deciding which clothing items to purchase. The first is fair trade. This was established in 2009 and according to the Fairtrade website “serve[s] the interests and rights of farmers, workers and producers in South Africa” and was created to help producers in developing countries achieve better commercial conditions. You as a consumer can identify your clothes as Fairtrade by seeing whether or not they have the Fairtrade mark on them. Next is the Proudly South African campaign. This campaign addresses the issue of job creation and the support of local goods and services by individuals and organizations and encourages people to buy local products to improve the South African economy, create more jobs and restore pride in our country. To identify whether your clothing is made in South Africa, check whether it carries the Proudly South African mark, which means that "at least 50% of the production cost must be incurred in South Africa and there must be 'substantial processing' any imported materials,” according to the organization's Karamba Jabbie. The last factor that considers social and ethical responsibility is organic clothing that is produced using materials raised or grown with the standards of organic farming. It also means that the materials are grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides that damage the soil and the surrounding ecosystem. It can be cotton, silk, ramie, jute, hemp or wool. A fabric is considered organic if it is made from 95% organic fibers and materials. You want to have a positive impact rather than a negative one when you throw away your perfectly wearable and twice-worn clothes, recycle these clothes. Recycling doesn't necessarily mean sending it off to be dismantled and made into something completely different, it can mean a number of different things. The first thing you can do is resell. If your clothes are still perfectly wearable, it's quite easy to sell them, either by taking them to a thrift store or even using social media as a platform to sell them to the people around you. Another way is that you can benefit the lives of the most disadvantaged people by donating your clothes to a homeless shelter, organization, or your local church where they send them to people in need. You can also recycle your old torn clothes by cutting them up and turning them into rags to clean your house or car with. You can also easily make other clothing items using your old clothes and it is very easy to find these ideas on the Internet. However, there is also the possibility of recyclingactually your clothes, and there are many places that can do that for you. There are large organisations, such as H&M – where you can drop off your clothes in any shop around the world and they will be recycled –, Nike – which turns your old shoes into courts, fields, tracks and playgrounds – or North Face which recycle the your clothes of any brand in their stores. There are also a number of other companies that will recycle your clothes for you. Recycling your clothes is much better than turning them into waste! There are many celebrities who are trying to create awareness about eco-fashion and environmental protection with their clothing purchases. Many people admire these celebrities and so if they promote it, others will also join. Emma Watson is one of the most important celebrities of this eco-fashion movement. She has a site that promotes sustainable fashion and natural beauty, Feel Good Style. She also worked with high-end designer Alberta Ferretti to design an eco-friendly range called Pure Threads in 2011. Stella McCartney is an eco-friendly designer and perhaps the best known. His fashion house uses eco-friendly and sustainable business practices such as the use of organic fabrics and renewable energy, as well as not using leather or fur in any of its designs. It shows other designers and people in the fashion industry that it is possible to produce eco-friendly fashion that people will buy and also promotes other lesser-known brands that are environmentally friendly. Another eco-conscious celebrity is supermodel Christy Turlington Burns. Although she doesn't have an eco-fashion line, she is creating awareness through a series called "Threading: Driving Fashion Forward," which is about the living and working conditions of textile industry workers and the change that needs to happen. Emma Watson is a leader in eco-friendly fashion. Even if you're not a celebrity and can't influence hundreds of people, there are still ways you can make a difference as a consumer. Instead of buying more clothing, buy fewer, high-quality ones that will last a long time: quality over quantity. Also shop for classic-style clothing items, such as the little black dress, a blazer, a pencil skirt, a button-down shirt or dark wash jeans. These items will always be fashionable and can be easily combined with numerous other items of clothing. This way you will save a lot of money and consume much less. Another way is to buy from eco-friendly clothing stores: even if they are more expensive, buying the classic styles that are often sold there will benefit you and the environment in the long term. Also, don't buy clothing made from cotton as it requires a lot of water to produce and is therefore not environmentally friendly, instead choose one of the fabrics listed earlier in the article. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay Now that you are armed with all this overwhelming information, about carbon footprint, eco-friendly fashion, and sustainability, remember this the next time you go shopping. Think about the environment and the impact you have on it – surely you would rather have a positive impact than a negative one? And you can have the satisfaction of telling your friends that not only are you fashionable, but you're helping the environment by purchasing the clothes you wear - the true definition of "guilt-free" shopping! Works CitedCollier, R. (2017) . Fast fashion: a cruel trend. Journal of the Canadian Medical Association, 189(46), E1448-E1449.Fletchall, H. (2016). Sustainable fashion: consumer awareness and education. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 20(3), 297-313.Fletcher, K. (2014). Sustainable fashion and textiles: design journeys.., 25(1), 94-113.