The LIDN Weekly Roundup #59
When the UK high street opened for shoppers again, long queues could be seen snaking out of Zara and other fashion outlets. But during COVID-19, the industry as a whole has suffered tremendously.
McKinsey has forecast the $2.5tn global fashion industry will contract by 27–30% in 2020. Stores have permanently closed, and many thousands of workers around the world have been affected.
But maybe this provides an opportunity for the fashion industry to rethink. Our “fast fashion” approach makes clothing cheaper, but has a horrendous impact on the environment and its workers.
The fashion industry produces 10% of all humanity’s carbon emissions, is the second-largest consumer of the world’s water supply, and pollutes the oceans with microplastics. New clothes bought in the UK produce more carbon emissions per minute than driving a car around the world six times.
80% of garment workers are women, mostly in India and Bangladesh, and are often paid less than the minimum wage and toil under awful working conditions.
So today I’m highlighting some further reading on the impact of fast fashion and how to move to an industry that is more sustainable, with more of a positive impact on the development of people in low-income countries, the climate, and our wallets.
- Something to read on the impact of COVID-19 on the fashion industry
- Something to watch exploring the impact of fast fashion on people and the planet
- Something to listen to exploring how technology could shift the environmental impact of the industry
- Someone to follow who challenges the “necessity” of fast fashion
- Something to do if you want to see how your favourite clothing brands rank on various sustainability indicators
