The Real Cost of Fast Fashion

Juliet27

Callistemon
Yes, I watched the Simon Reeve programme too. Unbelievable piles of discarded clothes that stretched so far. Upsetting wasn’t it.

I've seen cliffs of plastic in Spain (discarded greenhouses), mountains of rubbish in 3rd World countries sent from the UK and other countries, islands of plastic floating down the Ganges but I'd never seen layers of clothes forming sand dunes in the desert.

Just horrendous.

At the moment I am trying to avoid buying anything made in China M0nica
Clothes which you might think are produced ethically, not cheap, throwaway clothing, eg Woolovers, Land's End etc, are produced in China and just as poor quality.
Woolovers garments don't wash well, don't last and need to be thrown away. We trust the charity shop sells them to the 'ragman' and they get recycled but I'm becoming more dubious about this.

Callistemon I think you are less than fair on Woolovers. I have never had any problems with the quality or durability of their clothes. I have, and am still wearing regularly, sweaters that I bought from them 4 years ago - which is why I haven't bought anything from them for a couple of years.

Living ethically is an aim rather than something rigidly applied, for the simple reason, that it is impossible. Possibly a better description is 'thoughtful' living. We try not to buy items made in China, when we can know in advance where something is made and where there is an equivalent not made in China equivalent.

Making a pair of jeans.
The overall process uses 2,600 gallons of water
Our most precious resource.

This is a link to the Channel 4 programme on Shein

www.channel4.com/programmes/inside-the-shein-machine-untold

I agree about your description ‘thoughtful living’ MOnica. Ethical shopping can be very tricky but we can only do our best, and buying less is one of the easier things we can do.

I know some ethical clothing companies that do use Chinese factories which are closely checked and supervised. They are not all exploitative or using forced labour, but they also have to be competitive on cost or wouldn’t survive because “we” have got used to cheap clothing.

MerylStreep

Making a pair of jeans.
The overall process uses 2,600 gallons of water
Our most precious resource.

At least jeans are hard wearing and last for years. I keep mine for a couple years then take them to the charity shop in first class condition.

Problem is toxic dyes, and carcinogenic chemicals flow in the rivers around garment factories where we have outsourced clothing production, poisoning the rivers, people and the environment.

Callistemon I think you are less than fair on Woolovers

I can only speak as I find, M0nica and I believe the quality of their goods has gone down considerably - perhaps a change of supplier? The sweaters I bought were washed exactly according to their instructions. They shrunk and felted.

They may claim to be British but their goods are made in China and the quality is poor. Their customer service leaves much to be desired now as well.

I have just checked all my Woolover sweaters. Two were made in China, the rest in Cambodia. I wash all sweaters on a handwash, followed by a very short spin and dry them flat. and find that they come out unscathed. My Woolover sweaters are all 3 - 4 years old, and none have felted.

I do not doubt your experience, it is just that my experience is radically different.

It’s not just young people. An ex colleague of mine (not short of cash) used to buy absolutely masses of very cheap clothes. She once actually said, ‘Well, even if I only wear it once…’.

M0nica

I have just checked all my Woolover sweaters. Two were made in China, the rest in Cambodia. I wash all sweaters on a handwash, followed by a very short spin and dry them flat. and find that they come out unscathed. My Woolover sweaters are all 3 - 4 years old, and none have felted.

I do not doubt your experience, it is just that my experience is radically different.

Apparently it was all my fault for spinning them on 600 rpm - it's too fast although it was the programme which was recommended on the label!
No refund, just an abrupt dismissal.
I cannot recommend them.

yes, price is a consideration, but many people could to buy a few more expensive ethically accepted clothes for the price of half a dozen cheap items and get clothes that will look good and wear well.

I have been trying to do this for several years and this winter all I have bought is one wool sweater for £89. By rearranging the clothes I do have in my wardrobe, and a new zip for a quilted coat, still in perfectly good condition, apart from the broken zip. I bought it about 7 years ago. It still looks good and gets comments of approval. Otherwise I have plenty of clothes to wear through the winter cold weather.

I've just sold a jumper with an old "St Michael" label on eBay for nearly £50. I reckon I'm going to have a rummage through my other stored away clothes because I could be sitting on a fortune! My fashion is anything but "fast"!

Haven’t checked out Woolover lately but my mother has had a few of their jumpers which have all bobbled, but most jumpers seem to do this cheap or expensive.
It used to have overwhelmingly positive reviews on the website, which always makes me suspicious (perhaps wrongly).

I haven't bought any new clothes this year, apart from two bras to wear after my breast op. I'm waiting for the New Year sales (which usually start before Christmas Eve!) before I buy anything else.

Nearly all the clothes here are made in China. Sometimes Cambodia but not often. I suppose if we didn’t buy them the people making them would be out of work and that might be even worse for them. I don’t buy that many clothes because I have more than enough and often take bags full to the op shops.

growstuff

I've just sold a jumper with an old "St Michael" label on eBay for nearly £50. I reckon I'm going to have a rummage through my other stored away clothes because I could be sitting on a fortune! My fashion is anything but "fast"!

?

I may have a St Michael blouse which is used to cover up winter coats. Probably bought it just after I was married (smart for work at the time!)

St michael underwear is very popular with certain discerning buyers, particularly nylon stuff.

I think a lot of the problems of buying ethically can be covered by buying 2nd hand. Not just clothes, shoes etc., but technology too. Refurbished phones can easily be found on Ebay, unless you are after the most up to the minute, very latest; kitchen appliances too.

Also I use plastic containers for freezer storage etc., but never buy it new; the same for pots, pans, furniture etc.. It's all there in charity shops and much more fun than buying new!

I often see articles encouraging people to go green, but seem to suggest, tacitly, that people throw out their plastic and buy new eco-friendly stuff. I do wish they would say that it's when it's thrown away that plastic becomes a problem, not if it is kept and used over and over again!

MissAdventure

St michael underwear is very popular with certain discerning buyers, particularly nylon stuff.

Why? Just why?
?

Who knows the mystery of the human mind?

I do know I left feedback for one buyer, at his request, telling him what a naughty girl he was.

?

choughdancer I agree with you, and broadly live by those principles. My phone is a refurbished one, as is my computer, my house is full of second hand furniture and today I am wearing a skirt bought second hand on Etsy. the rest of my clothes were bought new. Clothing has only a limited life. It wears out and there is not enough second hand clothes for all of us, no matter how modest our needs.

CHESTNUT

SPEAK FOR YOURSELF!!!

I've bought from Shein after seeing something my granddaughter bought that I was very impressed with!
I have not seen anything for £1.50 in the clothing line.
Their clothes are pretty good, although anyone buying from there should check what they're made from and also other customers views!
I was disappointed to read that the workers are paid so little, but what's new these days? Most of our clothes are made by people working for very little wages, even M&S have been found to pay very little in the past yet you'd be lucky to get something for £10 in their sales!!!