Fast fashion originated to satisfy the excessive demand for new clothing among consumers. But this solution comes at a huge environmental cost. Just below the oil and food sectors, fast fashion is the third most polluting industry in the world, contributing 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of water pollution. Collectively, these pollutants cause the planet to become more toxic by the day. Think climate change.

Sadly, most consumers don't consider the environmental impact of fast fashion.

What is Fast Fashion?

Think about the incessant buzz around fashion; from new fashion trends to hip-hop culture and lifestyle magazines, there's a plethora of triggers driving consumers to purchase new garments even before consuming what they already own. To meet this demand, the fast fashion business model was created.

Fast fashion is so-called because it involves producing large volumes of cheap clothes at a fast rate to meet the ever-growing demands of consumers.

The high demand and supply also require humongous amounts of raw materials to be fed into the textile factories, depleting natural resources, releasing toxic gases, and creating waste.

But it doesn't stop there.

Fast fashion has not only an environmental impact but also a social one.

To make clothing more accessible to everyone, fast fashion brands set up factories in low-income countries, exploiting garment workers—especially young women—and subjecting them to unfair wages in order to minimize production costs and make more profit.

Now, let's consider the environmental and social impact of fast fashion in detail and why sustainable block print clothing can be the ideal solution.

The Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion

The environmental impact of fast fashion includes the depletion of non-renewable resources like fossil fuels, emission of greenhouse gases, and piling of textile waste in landfills.

It Consumes Too Much Water

The fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water, according to the UN Economic Commission for Europe.

Producing a pair of jeans uses more than 9000 liters of water. To put things in perspective, that's enough to satisfy an adult for 10 years (~2.4L/day). In 2018 alone, over 4.5 billion pairs of jeans were sold globally. That's enough to satisfy the thirst of 4.5 billion people for 10 years!

That may not seem significant but news flash: about 2 billion people worldwide do not have access to a clean water source.

Solution: To solve the water consumption challenge, we must shift towards sustainable fashion, such as block print clothing. These block print garments are made of sustainable fabric like organic cotton, which does not require irrigation, fertilizers, or pesticides to grow, as opposed to conventional cotton used in fast fashion.

Depletes Non-Renewable Resources

Fast fashion garments are made from synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and acrylic, which are derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource.

What's more, producing synthetic fabrics requires energy-intensive processes that rely on fossil fuels. Apart from depleting our fossil fuel reserves, fast fashion releases harmful gases when these fuels are burned. Additionally, conventional cotton production requires great amounts of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, which poses health risks to the farmers and neighboring residents.

Solution: Block print clothing is made through completely eco-friendly and manual processes, solving the environmental impact of fast fashion. The fabric is organic, meaning oil reserves are not converted into polyester and other synthetic fibres during production. That it is organic also means the clothing is biodegradable, preventing the need for incineration.

Generates Tons of Textile Waste

Fast fashion clothing does not last because low-quality materials are used to reduce production costs and enhance accessibility. As a result, large volumes of the products end up in landfill quickly. Also, new trends emerge and we discard those we haven't worn more than a few times. Even during clothing production, cutouts are discarded since they can't be used for anything else.

The waste generated from fast fashion is monumental.

Since fast fashion garments are made with synthetic materials, they are either incinerated or continue piling up in landfills for years. Incinerating fabrics poses a risk to human health and releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, leading to global warming.

Solution: Sustainable block print clothing is biodegradable, solving the waste challenge posed by fast fashion.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

The fast fashion industry constitutes about 10% of the global CO2 emissions, more than the aviation and shipping sectors combined, according to the UN.

That's not surprising, knowing that thousands of garments are produced rapidly using mechanical means in factories all over the world. Fuel is heavily burned throughout the supply chain, as materials are constantly sent to and from the factories. Plus, most of the products end up in landfills and are incinerated, releasing more carbon emissions. Indeed, the fashion industry plays a huge role in the climate crisis we've found ourselves in.

Solution: Producing organic cotton releases 94% less greenhouse gas emission than fast fashion's conventional cotton. Organic cotton has arguably the least environmental impact of all fabrics. And our block print garments are made using organic cotton and other highly sustainable materials.

Water Pollution

To lower the prices of clothes, manufacturers turn to cheap synthetic materials such as polyester, spandex, and acrylic. These materials contain microplastics or microfibers, which leach into water when you wash your clothes (azo-based dyes do not bind to fabrics). These plastic fibres find their way into the ocean, posing an environmental health risk to aquatic life.

There are trillions of microplastics in the ocean. According to a 2017 report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 35% of the microplastics in the ocean are from the synthetic textiles we wear.

But that's not even all.

Synthetic dyes cost less than natural plant-based dyes, making them a staple in fast fashion. Synthetic dyes contain toxic chemicals which also pollute our waterways. Approximately 20% of wastewater comes from textile dyeing.

Solution: As opposed to fast fashion where toxic synthetic dyes are applied, block print clothing employs eco-friendly plant-based dyes. To reduce the environmental impact of fast fashion, we have to start turning to sustainable options like block print clothing.

The Social Impact of Fast Fashion

The social impact of fast fashion involves subjecting workers to poor working conditions.

In addition to harming the natural environment, a core issue with fast fashion is its exploitation of workers. Manufacturers set up garment factories in low-income countries and pay meager wages in order to keep prices cheap while making substantial profits.

While fast fashion provides us with highly affordable pieces of clothing, we must realize there are people paying the price with their sweat while earning unlivable wages. Brands pull in huge profits on the backs of these garment workers.

Solution: Sustainable clothing is the answer. As much as we care about our budgets, we must also realize the people making our clothes deserve better too. While sustainable clothing may come at a slightly higher price tag because of the conscious effort that goes into each fabric, it's worth the investment. By so doing, you're helping to save the planet and promote fair labor practices while enjoying durable, high-quality clothing you'll be proud to wear again and again.

What is Block Print Clothing?

Block print clothing is a sustainable and eco-friendly fabric choice known for its unique designs, durability, and incredibly low carbon footprint. Block print fabric is made by cutting patterns into wooden blocks and embedding the pattern onto the fabric using natural dye or ink.

Block printing is an ancient printing technique predating industrialization. Hence, the process doesn't require synthetic materials or chemicals that may be toxic to the environment.

Because block-printing each garment takes time and effort, only a few can be made at a time. But each piece of clothing is unique—one of a kind that will last you for years to come.

Of course, sustainable fashion focuses on quality, not quantity.

Fast Fashion Vs Block Print Clothing at a Glance

The Bottom Line: Why Your Choices Matter

The environmental impact of fast fashion is highly concerning as it drains non-renewable resources and contributes to climate change while exploiting workers. As consumers, we must be conscious of how our fashion choices impact the world we call home. Hence, we must take responsibility to help reduce the environmental damage of fashion by choosing sustainable clothing.

When it comes to sustainable fashion, block print clothing stands out as one of the most ethical choices—it’s handcrafted, long-lasting, and supports small artisan communities.

By choosing block print fabrics, you’re making a conscious decision to reduce your carbon footprint and promote fair labor practices.