Did you know that textile production and apparel manufacturing are among the most polluting and cruel industries? The new publication “Textile and clothing industry – problems and solutions” provides an overview of current problems, but also of potential solutions in both the global and Slovak textile and clothing industry. It is intended for everyone who is wondering how to stop the production of and support for fast fashion.
A few decades ago people bought clothes once per season. Then, however, a change came in the form of so-called fast fashion, and with the development of the textile and clothing industry, society’s approach to dressing changed. This trend originated in the USA. In the 1980s, major American clothing producers responded to cheaper imported textiles from other countries by paying attention to which clothing items were favourite with customers. On this basis they could quickly produce more pieces of these desired items and distribute them. This model, with some variations, was copied by the founder of the Spanish brand Zara. Suddenly, new and constantly changing trends were entering its stores very quickly. And customers started buying more.
Fashion labels like Zara gradually got the opportunity to move production to low-income countries of the Global South (for example, Bangladesh or Vietnam) and lower clothing prices at the expense of the environment. And also the quality of life of workers. For this reason, a large number of people lost their jobs in the USA and Europe, including Slovakia. The result is today’s fast fashion, characterized by relatively cheap, mass-produced and mass-sold clothing of average to low quality, which follows artificially created fashion trends. “On this system of overproduction and overconsumption is the profit of clothing, footwear and accessories manufacturers based. Fast fashion works on typical principles of the current economic model—linear economy, with complex global supply chains and the maximization of profit for a narrow group of shareholders instead of a broader concern for all stakeholders,” explains the principle of fast fashion, Ivana Maleš from INCIEN. At the initiative of Ambrela, which brings together organizations dedicated to global education and poverty reduction in countries of the Global South, this demanding but necessary topic was processed by this trio of authors from the Institute for Circular Economy (INCIEN): Martina Ľuptáková, Ivana Maleš and Petra Csefalvayová.
How to change this dirty and cruel industry
“Today we already know that this textile and clothing giant has brought a lot of negatives and has become a dirty and cruel industry. While moving production to the countries of the Global South did bring livelihoods to many people, nowhere near as many profits come to the owners of fashion brands. This negative impact also had consequences for Slovakia, where the textile and clothing industry had a large tradition and was a strong pillar of its economy. In addition, cheap clothing not only brings exploitation of workers, poor working conditions, but also the suffering of many animals, the use of a large amount of natural resources, the release of harmful substances into the environment and a large amount of waste generated during the entire life cycle of garments. Therefore it has a significant share in the climate crisis,” recalls Martina Ľuptáková, a co-author of the INCIEN publication. “It is really time to change this business and make it more sustainable. It is time for ambitious goals aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, to which our republic has also committed itself,” adds Ivana Uličná, the editor of the new publication from the Platform of development organizations – Ambrela.
The comprehensive publication “Textile and clothing industry – problems and solutions” offers an objective summary of information about the impact of the textile and clothing industry on the environment, the lives of people and animals. The material also summarizes measures and examples of good practice from around the world, mainly from Europe and Slovakia, which could also inspire our population—if they want to contribute to changing consumption and no longer support fast fashion. The publication also offers an overview of current EU and Slovak policies, mainly concerning textile waste. Data on amounts of textile waste and methods of processing on Slovak territory over recent years are also summarized.
The unique publication “Textile and clothing industry – problems and solutions” represents the best summer read not only for activists interested in local and fair fashion. It can be downloaded and read in the attachment.