If that isn’t bad enough, the ultra-fast fashion industry is now taking over with its even faster production rates and trend cycles.
Since cheap clothes from ultra-fast fashion brands like SHEIN can be easily purchased online, it’s no surprise they’re a hit with consumers. In fact, “fashion hauls” are becoming quite popular on social media, with influencers showing off the clothes they purchase on their shopping sprees.
Closer to home, the latest data from SWCorp indicates that, out of the 13.9 million tonnes of total waste generated in 2021, 3.1% or 432,901 tonnes were fabric waste.
Fashion Revolution Week
Fashion Revolution is the largest fashion activism movement in the world, with representation in over 100 countries.
As the local chapter, the 100% volunteer-run Fashion Revolution Malaysia recently organised Fashion Revolution Week with the theme, “Money, fashion and power.”
“The objective is to show how money and power are concentrated in the hands of a few, whereas, most of the fashion industry, for example, the people who make our clothes don’t get a share in that wealth and prosperity, and instead end up being exploited,” said Melissa Tan, the country coordinator.
So, how do people become sustainable fashion consumers, and which brands should they buy?
“There are so many facets to sustainability, and a lot of brands are probably working on one or two aspects,” she said, adding that Fashion Revolution publishes the Fashion Transparency Index, an annual review of 250 of the world’s biggest fashion brands, ranked according to their level of public disclosure on human rights and environmental policies, practices and impacts in their own operations as well as in their supply chains.
According to her, the best thing you can do is to appreciate the clothes you already have, and to explore different ways of enjoying fashion.
“If you place boundaries – mine was to not buy new clothes – you actually become a lot more creative,” she said, adding that she explored things like building a minimal capsule wardrobe, restyling, thrifting, as well as sharing clothes with friends.
These alternatives don’t cost money and don’t cause a social or environmental impact. Plus, it can be extremely rewarding to discover your own sense of style, instead of following current trends.
“We also save our sanity by reinventing our relationship with clothes, which has unfortunately become rather toxic. Fast fashion brands keep pushing out new trends, and we feel compelled to buy them. This is very unhealthy,” she explained.
Some people are concerned that they now have to fork out more for sustainable fashion.
“But it’s only because we weren’t paying the true cost of fashion prior to this. The workers were living and working in horrible conditions, for the brand to be able to sell you the dress for just RM30. Ultimately, while it is true that we need to buy better, we also need to buy a lot less,” she said.
While Fashion Revolution Malaysia enjoys support from partners like REXKL and Kloth Cares, they’re looking for ways to run their operations sustainably.
Those who’d like to volunteer in areas such as social media, advertising, public relations, legal advice, as well as photography and videography can contact them.
At the end of the day, there’s much to be done in terms of creating a society that embraces sustainable fashion.
“We need to change the capitalistic structure of extraction and exploitation to a circular economy where products are used for as long as possible and waste is minimised. For this to happen, we need to all be fashion revolutionaries.”
To learn more about sustainable fashion, follow Fashion Revolution Malaysia on Facebook and Instagram. Or check out valuable resources on Fashion Revolution’s website.