Fast Fashion Fast-tracking Climate Change

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – You’ve probably heard the advice to take shorter showers, and turn the water off when you brush your teeth to try to conserve water. But what if the most impactful water difference you could make comes from what you hang in your closet?

It takes 2,000 gallons of water to make just one pair of jeans, and almost 3,000 gallons to make one cotton t shirt.

The fashion industry is responsible for 20% of global wastewater. In fact, the same amount of water used by the industry in one year would meet the needs of five million people.

And when it comes to ocean water the fashion industry plays a role in 35% of the oceans’ microplastics.

“Haul” videos with content creators displaying the contents of large orders leave many people feeling pressured to over-consume, and with fast fashion companies offering more bang for your buck, people often turn to them to fill their carts.

But knowing the larger price that the fashion industry is forcing us to pay down the line with the environment, here are some alternative ways to get some new items in your closet.

Go thrifting, with great options in The Bahamas like the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Bahamas Humane Society thrift shop, you can find used and lightly used clothing and even some designer items.

When you clear out your closet, offer some of the pieces to friends or family who may be of a similar size.

If you do need to buy new pieces, try to buy things that are less trendy, will last longer, and can be used to make more than one outfit, also known as a capsule wardrobe.