The understanding that a new piece of clothing may be needed at any time, which has been taught for years, still has an impact on people. The only thing that has changed in clothes shopping has been the form of consumption, not the amount. The pandemic has increased e-commerce in the clothing industry, as in every industry. People continue to produce, buy, sell and throw clothes at full speed.
The problem of rapid change in the fashion of clothes is not only a situation directed by manufacturers, but also a process directed by consumption, namely retailers and brands. The urge to have clothes beyond the need, which is a taught reality, both leads people to spend unnecessary money and causes environmental pollution, which is the invisible face of the textile industry. The textile sector, which has a high demand for water, does not lag behind in greenhouse gas emissions. The textile industry, which is in the 4th place among the sectors producing greenhouse gases, is in the 5th place in the use of water. In other words, this unconsciousness in consumption primarily harms people, no matter how one looks at it. It negatively affects both the environment we live in and the financial power we obtain by spending our hours.
According to researches, while people do not use about a third of the clothes they buy, they throw most of them away after using them for a year. These data show that the solution to the problem lies with the consumers. While evaluating the clothes that can be worn without getting into a fashion frenzy, that is, not buying new ones if there is no need, and the demand for recyclable clothes, that is, at least reducing the waste of clothes, can be the pioneers of big changes for the environment, although it is small steps for consumers. Because consumers' demand for recyclable products will push textile manufacturers to produce goods that meet this demand. Thus, minimum clothing waste will be provided in the production and consumption cycle.
Achieving the zero clothing waste goal may seem far away for now, but at least asking the question "Do I need this?" while shopping will bring us one step closer to the goal.
Ress. Asst. Merve TOSUN
Resources
https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/paylas/eski-giysileriniz-ile-dunyayi-degistirebilirsiniz-2300
https://labfresh.eu/pages/fashion-waste-index?locale=en
https://www.brikasurdurulebilirlik.com/sifir-kiyafet-atigi-bir-utopya-mi/
