Fast Fashion: How to Slow Down the Damage

You’ve probably heard about “fast fashion”—the fashion industry’s practice of churning out masses of poorly produced, cheap synthetic clothing using offshore manufacturing and underpaid labor. The prices are so low that people buy, buy, buy! And the quality is so low that very soon the clothes become trash, trash, trash! And the cycle repeats.

The question is, how can we stay stylish without contributing to one of the world’s biggest causes of pollution? Read on to get some inspiration!

But first, a few statistics:

• 85% of all textiles go to dumps each year.
• Fashion companies produce 10% of the world’s carbon emissions, as much as is generated by the entire European Union.
• It takes 2,000 gallons of water to produce a single pair of jeans.
• 35% of all microplastics in the ocean come from laundering synthetic garments.
• Even natural fiber fabrics are harmful. Conventionally grown cotton is treated with more pesticides than any other crop on earth.
• Foreign manufacturing practices often include forced and child labor, and dangerous, unregulated conditions.

To quote an overused phrase, less is more

The truth is, we usually don’t need all the clothes we have. (As someone who used to own 9 pairs of black pants, I can attest to this.) And we definitely don’t need all the additional clothes we buy—an average of 53 to 60 new garments a year. We buy because we’re bored, or we saw something on Instagram or TikTok, or an influencer influenced us, or simply because we don’t know what’s already in our closet. (Ever accidentally bought the same thing twice? I’m raising my hand right now.)

So…how do we buy less?

• Buy better. Higher quality clothes can last for years. Wouldn’t you rather save up for one amazing sweater than waste money on 10 cheap ones that will pill and stretch out? (I typed that using my mom’s voice.)
• Shop your closet. You probably have more outfits than you think. Experiment with putting different combinations together and your wardrobe will suddenly expand.
• Check out wardrobe apps like Indyx that help you catalog your wardrobe and plan outfits.
• Shop vintage and second-hand. Portland has amazing thrift stores! My daughter is one of the most stylish people I know, and she shops exclusively in thrift shops. I look like a charwoman when I try to shop vintage.
• Some clothing brands sell gently used articles of their clothing, like Eileen Fisher Renew, and J.Crew.
• There are several reputable online companies that sell (and buy) used clothing at good prices. I’ve used Poshmark and have always gotten like-new items.
• ThredUp is another reselling site, but I’ve never tried it.
• Got a special occasion? Rather than buy something you might only wear once, look into Rent the Runway. You can rent affordable luxury outfits for a fraction of their retail price and then return them after the event. (I’ve never tried this because I wear the same dress to everything. My theory is nobody’s looking at me, so I’m good to go.)
• Do your homework. Before you shop, research which brands are offering more sustainable clothing. The website goodonyou.eco is a great resource for brand research.
• Buy organic, ethically produced, fair-traded clothing.
• Challenge yourself! Make a promise to buy no new clothing for the rest of 2026!

Get more wear from the clothes you wear

• Help your clothes last longer by washing in cold water and only as often as necessary. Hang-dry when possible.
• Find a decent tailor. If something in your closet just doesn’t fit right, or needs minor repair, don’t toss it. A good tailor can do wonders!
• Swap clothes with friends. Host a swap party and bring your less-loved items to trade.
• Don’t fall for every passing trend. To quote a 12th-century Ottoman-era monarch, “This too shall pass.” Though he probably wasn’t talking about crop tops.
• Hand-wash instead of dry cleaning when possible. Dry cleaning uses toxic chemicals (which you can often smell, ew.). Even the so-called eco-friendly dry cleaners are unregulated and may just be greenwashing, claiming they’re environmentally conscious when they’re not.
• Build a capsule wardrobe: A capsule wardrobe is a small wardrobe of quality pieces that you can easily mix and match. You can start building your own by pulling out the items you wear most—we all have a few favorites and wear those more than anything else.
• Mixing in accessories keeps your look from being repetitive. It’s a simpler and more sustainable way to dress (think Steve Jobs in his black turtlenecks as an extreme example).

Learn more about capsule wardrobes here. I’ve been trying to do a capsule wardrobe for years, but I often look like I got dressed in the dark.

How to say goodbye to fast-fashion (sustainably)

All good clothes must come to an end. How can you part with them with the least environmental impact?

Use caution when dumping clothes into one of those charity bins you see in parking lots. Many are for-profit companies, and the clothing often ends up in landfills overseas. Do research on the organization before you donate; some are legitimate and will recycle as much as possible, others won’t.

• There are recycling companies that will send you a bag to fill with old clothes and mail back to them. Again, do your homework; some are not very forthcoming about where the clothing goes (companies often can’t track the clothing’s final destination). Ridwell seems to be more transparent than some others.
• Nonprofits like Assistance League of Greater Portland, Oregon Dress for Success (serving women and gender expansive folks), and Rose Haven (serving women, children, and gender
  non-conforming people) are all worthy destinations for gently used clothing. Call or check online beforehand to find out their donation hours and needs.
• There are lots of thrift and consignment shops around the Portland metro area that accept clothing.
• Local Buy Nothing and Freecycle groups are a great way to pass on clothing to others.
• Facebook Marketplace can earn you a few bucks for your clothes. Just beware of people trying to scam you!
• Sell them on Poshmark or ThredUp!

Don’t get caught in the mindset that it’s okay to buy more clothes because you recycle old ones. Every piece of clothing has some environmental impact.

Need help saying farewell to fast-fashion? Big Rocks can help you organize your closets so you can dress more sustainably and get more out of your wardrobe.
We can also help you get the rest of your life organized—just tell us how we can help! Schedule your Complimentary Exploratory Call now!