Whats wrong with fashion today?
Lynda Grose: “I’m not sure this is the right question. Fashion, like any industry, has its impact on the environment. Fashion also touches a lot of people on a daily basis and can be a great communication vehicle to affect change. Fashion cycles are quick so the feedback loop on actions implemented is also quick (unlike architecture that takes years and even decades to provide feedback on actions). There is much room for improvement in fashion.” What are the main impacts of fashion on the environment? • “Growing and extraction of fibers for fabrics. • Processing of fabrics including washing and dyeing. • Production of fabrics and garments overseas with shipping back to distribution centers and then shipping out to global markets. • Waste in cutting, and left over fabrics. • Washing and drying of the garments by the end user accounts for 65% of the energy use in the complete lifecycle of a garment. • The short lifespan of the garment, often disposed of before it is at the end of its use
