The Hidden Cost of Your Closet
Your closet can be a source of comfort and joy. But what if I told you that the clothes you love can have a hidden cost- not on your wallet. But to your wellbeing, our planet and the animals we share it with? This cost is largely driven by the machine of fast fashion.
The good news is, creating a wardrobe that is both beautiful and kind to you. Which is an act of self-care and an act of love for the world. This blog post is a guide to uncovering the hidden costs and learning how to shop with intention. Transforming your closet into a healthier sanctuary.
The Hidden Costs: Toxins, Exploitation, and Planet Damage
The low price of fast fashion comes with a severe cost to human health, worker rights and our planet’s most valuable ecosystems. Let’s uncover the damage at every step of the supply chain.
Toxic Residue: The 8,000 Chemical Culprits
When we talk about chemicals, it’s good to remember that everything is a chemical. From the water we drink to the salt on the table. The problem isn’t the harmless, natural ingredients. But rather the toxic cocktail of 8,000 artificial, lab-created compounds used to dye, soften and finish our clothes.
These chemicals can range from flame retardants, phthalates, bleaches, heavy metals and AZO dyes.
What Are These Chemicals Doing to Our Health?
The residues from these chemicals can stay on our clothes, which can affect us and our environment. Children and infants are the most affected by these residues. Because their skin is more delicate and absorbent, as well as their immune systems are still developing.
The human and environmental effects of these chemicals can be linked to:
- Allergies
- Cancer
- Hormone Disruptors
- Environmental Pollutants
- Skin Irritation
Toxic Activewear: The Phthalates Problem
Phthalates are an example of one of the many synthetic chemicals used in clothing production. Especially in anti-odour finish and activewear. When we exercise, we sweat. Our sweat makes it much easier for the phthalates to move from our clothes to our skin. Phthalates are known as endocrine disruptors. Where research links them to health effects like increasing the risk of asthma, allergies, behavioural and learning difficulties in children and cancer.
So you may be wondering, as I was writing this. If we have so many negative health effects from these chemicals, why are we still using them?
Well, especially in fast fashion, using these chemicals is the easiest way to have mass production at low costs. Alongside the quick turnover of trends that we see every season.
Fast fashion continues to use these chemicals as it is the easiest and cheapest way to mass-produce clothes.
Worker Health Crisis
There are more than 60 million workers in the textile industry. With less than 2% of those people earning a living wage. There are so many terrible human rights violations for these workers. From not having enough money and being separated from their children. To wages being stolen from them, and forced labour.
One of the other main issues is that these people are working long hours. With workers forced to work long hours. With limited PPE and contact with many of these toxic chemicals used for textile production every day. This causes negative health effects like respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, anxiety, depression and stress.
This chemical exposure can be deadly. For instance, a study of tannery workers in Kanpur showed that 40.1% suffered from an increase in overall sickness, driven largely by respiratory disease (16.7% ). This was directly linked to high levels of toxic Chromium found in the workers’ bodies.
The Damage to Our Planet & Animals
Chemical Water Pollution
Toxic wastewater from dyeing and treating textiles is often untreated and dumped into local rivers. This affects the entire ecosystems from aquatic species to humans. These contaminants are transferred to humans through the food chain and contaminated drinking water.
The Microplastic Mess: Tiny Fibres, Global Crisis
Plastic fibres like polyester, acrylic, nylon and spandex are made from fossil fuels. Every time these clothes are washed, they release microplastics into our environment. This leads to bioaccumulation in organisms and biomagnification up the food chain. Which affects everything from plankton to the fish on our dinner plates. Globally, 200,000 to 500,000 tonnes of microplastics are released into our marine environment every single year.
Animal Fibre Ethics
The fast fashion demand for a high volume of fibres has resulted in many questions around animal ethics, of how these fibres have been produced. Over 50 million animals suffer deaths every year to benefit the fashion industry.
Some examples of breeds of animals used for the fashion industry are cows, which produce leather, sheep and goats for wool. Minks, foxes and raccoons for their pelt, geese and ducks for down and silkworms for silk.
While an in-depth look deserves its own blog post, we must realise that ethical choices exist. In the next section, I’ll show you how to find brands that prioritise certifications. To ensure kindness to people, animals and the environment.
The Path to a Better Closet: 3 Ways to Shop Consciously
We must make conscious shifts in how we consume and advocate for ethical production to mitigate these health risks.
Prioritise Certified Textiles
To ensure materials are both chemical-free and ethical, look for three things. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) for chemical safety. For animal welfare, look for the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) or ZQ Natural Fibre. For leather, look for the Leather Working Group or Leather Production Standard. Also check out Textile Exchange, which has standards for alpaca, down and mohair as well. This blog is not endorsed by any of these standards.
Demand Transparency & Ethics
I heard once that we vote with our dollar. I fully believe this to be true, because businesses want to make money. So they will change the way they operate if they have enough of their consumers asking for it. So, if you have your favourite brand and you are unsure of their practices. Feel free to give them a call or an email. Ask how they run their operation. Do they pay everyone in their supply chain a living wage? Do they use organic materials? And do they meet the OEKO-Tex 100 standard?
Irin’s Story
There are many heartbreaking stories from women working in clothing factories. Irin, a 22-year-old lady, says she is worried about the winter because she doesn’t have enough money for warm clothes. She makes many jackets for western brands, but cannot afford a sweater for her four-year-old daughter.
Lowest Wage Challenge
The Lowest Wage Challenge is an amazing way to encourage brands to show their lowest wage from their whole supply chain on their site. ABLE was one of the first brands to lay this out on their site in a simple-to-understand way. They show the living costs their workers have and then show how much they get paid. I believe this transparency that these brands are showing is the way forward. So have a go today, asking your favourite brand what their Lowest Wage is? Or if you are a business owner, have a page on your site explaining your lowest wage throughout your production line. To help bring more transparency to this important topic.
What She Makes
What She Makes is another great online tool to see how popular brands sold in New Zealand are doing. The website currently shows brands like Glasson, H&M, Lululemon, Macpac and Kathmandu. Then they rate them out of 5 stars on how well these brands are doing to work towards paying everyone in their supply chain a living wage.
Wash Smarter & Buy Naturals
There are so many small but impactful steps you can take to reduce the amount of microplastics that reach the ocean from your washing machine.
You can start by choosing more of your clothing to be made from natural fibres. Support slow fashion brands and create a capsule wardrobe. Buying beautiful, quality, staple pieces that you will wear for years to come.
When it comes to washing, try to wash your clothes less frequently. Wash them in cold water, use gentler cycles and wash a full load to reduce microplastic shedding.
For the clothes you wash, which are made from plastic-based fibres, try using a Guppyfriend Washing Bag. This bag stops microplastics from being released. Or you could try the Cora Ball, which you can chuck in your washing machine, and microplastics will be caught with this ball. Or try a microplastic filter to put onto your washing machine. Try wool dryer balls if using a dryer, or just air-dry your clothes more often.
PlanetCare 2.0 Microfiber Filter
The Ethical Ripple Effect: Why Your Choices Matters
These changes lead to significant and far-reaching positive outcomes for human well-being, both at home and globally.
Your Peace of Mind Safety Guarantee
Once you have done your research, start shopping with intention. Your closet will transform from a source of anxiety into a haven. You will have a closet filled with joy for yourself and your family. It also becomes a haven away from the anxiety about toxic chemicals affecting your own and your family’s health. You can have peace of mind knowing that every mindful purchase or thrift find you make. You are building a beautiful wardrobe that supports you in living your happiest and healthiest life.
Restored Human Dignity
By supporting brands that are transparent about all of their workers’ wages and rights. You can sleep easily at night knowing your clothes are supporting textile workers from all over the world. By supporting them, you help their children go to school. Also helping them have food on their table and warm clothes to wear. This, with the support of developed nations, will help these people rise out of poverty. Living a happier and healthier standard of life.
Safeguarding Tomorrow’s Health
When you choose clothes with natural fibers and safe dyes, you are protecting our environment and your own health. You are also reducing the demand for these synthetic chemicals and plastic-based clothes. Reducing the amount of plastic-based clothes, will help reduce your microplastic release. Supporting our air, food and water for future generations to come.
Thank you for reading
Every conscious choice you make is a vote for a better world. It’s time to build a closet you can truly feel good about. Let me know what you liked about the blog. I’ll see you next week!!
Georgia xo
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