Fast fashion and textile consumption

In short: Fast fashion refers to the rapid, cheap production of clothing following current trends, often under high resource use and questionable working conditions. Textile consumption has significant environmental impacts from water use to microplastics.

In more detail: The short lifespan of garments leads to enormous amounts of textile waste worldwide.

In detail

• Water consumption: Producing a single pair of jeans can use several thousand litres of water, mainly in cotton cultivation.
• Microplastics: Synthetic fibres like polyester release microplastic particles during washing that end up in waterways.
• Working conditions: Cheap production often takes place in countries with low wage standards and weak labour protection rules.
• Textile waste: A significant share of produced clothing is discarded or incinerated after brief use instead of being recycled.
• Second-hand and clothing swaps: Second-hand purchases, clothing swap events, and repair extend the lifespan of textiles.
• Quality over quantity: Higher-quality, durable garments often cause less environmental impact over time than frequently replaced cheap goods.
• Labels and certificates: Labels like GOTS or Fairtrade indicate more sustainable production conditions but don’t replace your own research (nachhaltig-einkaufen-und-konsumieren, co2-fussabdruck-im-alltag).