In May, Newsweek reported that so much used clothing is being dumped in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, it can be seen from space. The pictures are shocking (see the link at the end). That pile may have clothes that once hung in our closets.
The global trend towards stylish, mass-produced, poor quality clothing has been gaining speed for thirty years. It's now referred to as "fast fashion." Every week, I receive emails and texts advertising new arrivals and sales to lure me into buying the latest styles. I've been a sucker for this clothes buying strategy. However, when the anticipated pieces arrive, the fit, quality and colors aren't right, especially after the first wash. After a few weeks or months, those same clothes are donated to charity or thrown in the trash.
Sadly, most fast-fashion items are produced under poor working conditions in high pollution factories. When those clothes end up in a landfill, the microplastics used to make them leach into the soil and pollute the earth.
I ordered a few items online for summer. When they arrived, I was surprised by the low quality. One sweater was as thin as tissue paper. The fabric from a top looked as if it wouldn't withstand one wash cycle. When returning these items to the store, I mentioned my concern. The manager said all the employees have noticed how much clothing quality is "going down."
The solution--is slow fashion--buying classic clothing made with natural materials, produced in a sustainable way. Those clothes are designed to fit well and can be worn for a long time. One slow fashion source Jan and I have purchased from is quince.com (not a paid endorsement). Patagonia is another well-known brand. Many slow-fashion sites suggest their clothing can be worn up to five years.
What we wear is important to our self esteem, even in our sixties. Choosing slow fashion is a gift we give ourselves, our beautiful planet, and generations that come after us!
--Robyn
https://www.newsweek.com/vast-pile-discarded-clothes-desert-big-visible-space-1801944#slideshow/22