Vintage Fashion > Fast Fashion (Your style can help save the planet!)

Eleven million tons.

That is how much clothing and textiles Americans throw away each year. Eleven. Million. Tons. That’s about 81.5 pounds per person per year, and over 2100 pieces of clothing every single second! That’s… well, it’s crazy is what it is.

So why is a blog devoted to vintage style even writing about this? Because I (and plenty of others) see how vintage and other secondhand garments can actually be part of the solution to this problem! After all, if vintage lovers like us weren’t walking around in “old clothes” chances are they’d be in the landfills too!

Before we jump in to how buying vintage clothing and secondhand clothing helps the planet, let’s take a look at how the modern fast fashion industry operates…

• The fashion industry is one of the most pollutive, second only to the oil industry. Just the fabric dying process is responsible for 17-20% of global water pollution. 
• The fashion industry also uses more than its fair share of the planet’s resources. It’s estimated that it takes about 713 gallons (2700 liters) of water to grow the cotton in a single t-shirt, and nearly 2000 gallons (7500+ liters) for a pair of jeans.
• The rise of “fast fashion” has lowered wages for workers in the garment industry, with only about 2% of the 75 million workers actually earning a living wage. The number of garments produced in the fast fashion industry has doubled since 2000 yet prices have gone down; exploitation of workers (remember Rana Plaza?) keeps this “race to the bottom” going.
• Though many brands have implemented “recycling” programs, the reality is only about 1% of those garments are actually recycled into new textiles. The majority of the remaining garments end up in landfills, despite the stated initiatives of those programs. 

Not all hope is lost! Here are a few ways buying secondhand clothing (which includes wearing vintage clothing) is an important part of the sustainable fashion movement…

• Keeping an article of clothing in use for as long as possible lowers the carbon footprint of that item considerably. It can change hands one time or ten times – as long as it’s being used it’s staying out of the landfills!
• You won’t be contributing to the exploitation of garment workers abroad, or in the United States. Yes, we all need to buy some things new, which can be done mindfully and not at the expense of someone’s safety.
• It’s still possible to follow trends, even without buying every trending item brand new. Fashion tends to be cyclical and the adage “what’s old is new again” happens again and again. If you love a new trend, chances are it’s borrowing from past fashion trends and you can recreate the look with a trip to a vintage shop and a little ingenuity.
• Buying from neighborhood vintage and secondhand stores keeps money in the local economy. These are usually owned and operated by local people and organizations that reinvest in the community, unlike most large corporations.
• Buying secondhand and vintage can save money while also getting higher quality – and even designer – clothing. The materials and craftsmanship of clothing has steadily decreased over the years, so vintage pieces are often of much better quality than their modern counterparts. Better quality means they will last even longer, and often be resold or rehomed when you’re done with them. (Keeping even more out of landfills!)
• You can explore, experiment, and refine your personal style. Rather than buying whatever microtrend an influencer is selling, having a diverse array of styles and eras to choose from gives space for creativity in your personal expression. Secondhand garments also lend themselves to upcycling for those who are crafty and want an even more individualized look. 

It’s no wonder the secondhand fashion industry is expected to reach $350 billion by 2027 – that’s more than double the current market! I believe that shedding light on both the harsh realities of the global fashion industries and the buying options that vintage and secondhand clothing creates can help people make more conscious decisions when it comes to their own closets. 

Part of the mission of Ultratwist Vintage is to normalize the idea of extending the lifespan of garments rather than throwing them out. Vintage stores, secondhand stores, and thrift shops provide a place for preloved garments to go, and let you feel good about filling your closet more sustainably!