Dressed to Deplete
When we talk about fashion, we often talk about trends. What’s in. What’s out. What’s next. But maybe the better question is, what’s left behind?
Fashion today is faster than ever. Micro trends change weekly, closets, overflow, and items are discarded after just a few wears. All in the name of style. But underneath it all is quieter, often ignored consequence: environmental damage that impacts not just humans, but animals, ecosystems, and the communities we overlooked.
When we chose empathy
Like many people, I was glued to the screen during Don’t F**k with Cats. The documentary shocked viewers around the world, not only because of what happened, but because of how vividly it showed the human capacity for cruelty and the Internet’s power to demand justice. People were outraged. Moved. Activated. But I kept, wondering why don’t we have the same reaction when the cruelty is slower? Or hidden?
This disconnect stuck with me. We are capable of deep empathy, we’ve proven that. So what if we directed that empathy towards the system doing quiet, consistent harm to the environment and the animals that live in it? Our environment, and longevity of our lives.
I’m not here to throw red paint, and recall out leather jackets. The deeper issue is systemic, it’s about how overproduction and overconsumption are destabilizing entire ecosystems, including the homes and survival of animals who have nothing to do with fashion in the first place.
The textile industry is responsible for around 20% of global clean water pollution, largely from dyeing and treatment processes.
Polyester, a petroleum based fiber, releases 500,000 tons of micro plastic into the oceans annually – the equivalent of 50 billion plastic bottles.
Over 70 million animals are killed each year for the fur industry alone, and leather is linked to deforestation in the Amazon.
All of this… Just so we can keep up with the next viral trend.
Fashion’s environmental impact affects the air we breathe, the water drink, and the biodiversity that keeps ecosystems functioning. And animals – whether they’re used directly for materials or displaced through pollution and climate change, are caught in the crossfire.
Empowering the communities fashion forgot
We rarely connect what we wear with who suffers. It’s about the global industry that produces over 100 billion garments each year, many of which are tossed within 12 months. The cost isn’t just consumer guilt. It’s environmental degradation and species extinction. The solution isn’t guilt, it’s realignment. I want to redirect the conversation from blame to empowerment. The fashion system can’t be healed by individual choices alone, but when we champion small, local, sustainable fashion communities, we challenge the system at its roots.
Independent designers and local tailors often produce in small batches, reducing waste and supporting circular economies.
Artesian brands using traditional dyeing methods or biodegradable materials often leave 95% less environmental waste compared to market fast fashion.
Buying less and wearing clothes longer could reduce global fashion emissions by over 44% according to research from McKenzie’s fashion climate report.
These aren’t just green alternatives, they’re how we build an ethical, Inclusive fashion future. To me fashion has always been about self expression. But now, it’s also about intention. What we choose to wear reflects the world we want to build. Let’s build one where:
Rivers are clean
Species are safe
Creativity thrives
And clothing means something again
Not every shirt needs to be a statement. But it should at least be a choice we stand behind. Together, we can make sure our fashion doesn’t come at the cost of the planet, or the animals that silently suffer because of it.
But isn’t local, sustainable fashion too expensive?
I know what you’re thinking, because I’ve been there. “I’d buy better… if I could afford it”. And honestly, that’s valid. Not everybody has $100 to spend on a basic tee. But here’s the truth: sustainable fashion doesn’t mean luxury pricing, it means intentional pricing.
Let’s do the math. The cost per wear of a $90 high-quality garment worn 50 times is $1.80 per wear. The cost per wear of a $15 fast fashion piece worn twice? $7.50 per wear.
Sustainable doesn’t equal expensive. Fast fashion is just deceptively cheap. You pay for it later in landfill waste, water, pollution, and replacement cost. What conscious shopping actually looks like is:
Thrift thing or vintage: Think TheRealReal
Investing in less: One well-made pair of pants> Five poorly made ones
Shopping from small brands on Etsy or Instagram: Many are cheaper than mass market brands without the waste
Sustainability isn’t just about what you buy. It’s also about buying less, wearing longer, and supporting better. Fast fashion makes you think you need more. Sustainable fashion reminds you you already have enough.
