Fast Fashion
Would you consider giving up fast fashion for Lent (and maybe forever)? Fast fashion is a system of consumerism that makes us feel inadequate, has broad environmental consequences and violates human rights across the globe. On the most basic level, it is quickly produced trends sold at low price points. In short, the fast fashion industry does not care for God’s Kingdom as Jesus taught us. We as a congregation can learn together and become advocates for ethical practices that truly embrace creation care. Over the next few weeks, the Membership and Adult Education committees will examine what we can do to honor our Creator by changing our habits with simple actions.
In the 1960s, the typical American household bought an average of 25 garments a year. Of those, over 95 percent were manufactured in the United States. Today, households buy on average 68 garments a year, only for most of them to end up in a landfill shortly thereafter. Fashion waste experts have suggested that the sheer excess of clothes in existence right now could clothe the next six generations of humanity.
Fast fashion has many negative environmental impacts.The industry is the second-largest consumer of water. It produces billions of garments each year, many of which are thrown away after being worn only a few times and end up in landfills. This contributes to climate change by depleting non-renewable resources and emitting greenhouse gases. Clothing is a source of microplastics, because synthetic fibers like polyester are often used to make fabric, and polyester takes many years to break down.
The industry employs approximately 75 million factory workers worldwide, yet less than 2% earn a living wage. Garment workers endure unsafe conditions, wage theft, exhausting hours, minimal pay, and gender-based harassment.
We are excited to take a more thorough look at our clothing choices, and ways we can reduce our unnecessary consumption, purchase from sustainable sources, prolong the life of the clothes we already own, and responsibly dispose of items that no longer serve us. Would you consider reducing your use of fast fashion as a Lenten practice this year?
Melinda Gerow
Membership Chair
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