I love fabric.
I love its drape, its versatility, its colors and textures. Clothing, therefore fabric, is a universal need. Its basic use is to keep us warm and protected from the environment. It also feeds our need for modesty. Beyond meeting Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, clothing defines who we are and ultimately, what we belief and stand for.
Producing clothes is a huge $2.5 trillion global industry and like any huge industry this proves both beneficial and detrimental. Here are some of the industry’s statistics:
Americans spent $380 billion on clothing and footwear in 2017.
It is estimated that between 80 to 100 billion pieces of clothing are purchased every year in the global market but 20% of that number does not sell and has to be disposed.
The clothing industry is second only to oil as the largest polluter in the world.
Clothing production consumes 25% of all the chemicals made.
Clothing production is responsible for nearly 20% of water pollution.
Americans discard 80 pounds of clothing per year. Worldwide 2.1 billion pounds of clothing is thrown away every year.
Lest you think it is all doom and gloom, consider these stats and concepts:
The fashion industry in 2019 employed 1.8 million people in the US only.
Some companies are now treating water through a biological treatment process that both saves water during production and ensures that water leaving the the factory is free of chemicals and dyes.
Manufacturers are implementing programs that preserve and reuse old materials.
Efforts are being made by individuals and other small design concerns to find new and unique solutions to reusing clothing. The most simple one being: buy less and using clothing longer. For example
Looptworks is turning old leather wallets into motorcycle jackets.
Discarded wet suits are made into laptop sleeves.
Rent the Runway is renting evening wear for women.
Eileen Fisher has started her Renew Project to re-service used clothing.