Fashion industry waste - Research Paper Example

Fashion Industry and Recycling Fashion Industry and Throw Away Clothes Fashion industry is the key playing business whenit comes to apparel for men, women or children. It is a multibillion-dollar global venture committed solely to the business of making and selling of clothes and accessories. It is directed at designing, crafting, stitching and then selling clothes after detailed marketing. It is the innovation of the late 20th century and has affected our lives at many levels. In the past, people used to utilize the help of tailors and seamstresses who would sit and work for endless hours to create flamboyant yet elegant apparels for their customers but with the recent influx of technology in almost every aspect of our lives, things have changed. The job of creating clothes has now been majorly handed over to machines that produce optimum result by the minute. What used to be created in a matter of days has come to minutes. Although this idea has helped to make clothes accessible to people from every type of society, the negative impact is seen when we realize how much clothes may get wasted when we create them in bulks. It’s understandable that when there is demand, there is supply but not every piece of clothing makes its way into wardrobes. Fashion changes by the hour. It doesn’t take much time for the red to become the new black and subsequently, the orange to become the new red. What may be the “in” piece of clothing may not be in the limelight after a few hours. In such circumstances, large piles of clothes, which may never see the light of the day, may be found in dumpsters in landfill sites. But this category can also include clothes that have been worn a lot or very little due to the aforementioned issue of fashion change. Similarly, people tend to throw out piece of clothing on slightest of issue like for example, if a shirt has lost a button or has caught a stain that can’t be removed, it’s liable to see its way to a dumpster (Lee, 2013). It is estimated that 14.3 million tons of textiles were produced in 2012, or 5.7 percent of total municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. Many of these were dumped into landfill sites or were incinerated. Imagine the dimensions of land that may go wasted if we decide to dump clothes we no longer wish to use or recycle. Similarly, huge amounts of toxic gases and residues are produced that lead to global warming upon the incineration of clothing pieces. The environment is bound to get deeply affected if we wish to do something like that and it will pay the price of us looking good every minute. Keeping these issues in mind we have seen the fashion industry to take a stand against all of this because after all, the huge burden of all this goes on them (EPA, 2014). Its noteworthy to mention how big brands like Puma offer 15 percent discount on our favorite item for exchange of a bag of worn out clothes. At the same time, a USA based companies such as Jimtex Yarn, Martex Fiber etc use recycled fibers for the production of new clothes. There are many examples of such brands in other countries too such as Marks and Spencer’s and Uniqlo; which are utilizing recycled material from dumped clothes. Similarly, new projects are seen to surface which promote the use of dumped clothes. Many sub organizations under the fashion industry are working to promote awareness when it comes to utilizing dumped clothes and recycling the old ones we already have. But we need more of these projects and a few new ideas to make sure the plan to save the cloth crisis (lenzing, 2011). But before anything, let us take a look at the figures for recycling clothes. It should be kept in mind that we can utilize and recycle old clothes one hundred percent. This means that our endeavors for recycling old clothes will not go wasted and that we can easily reduce the cost and inflation rate by curbing how much clothes are created using fresh raw materials. Within the fashion industry, we have seen the formation of a new industry known as the textile recycling industry. It aims at collecting and reusing old clothes to make new ones or better, the raw material to make new clothes. This material is of top notch quality and no way can reduce the quality of the end product. These textile industries either utilize some of the products created, or pass it off to other manufacturers who may utilize it to make other necessary raw materials (teonline, 2010). The fashion industry should try to come up with new projects to support the use of these recycling industries. Since getting money for exchange for something one doesn’t want can be a huge motivational factor; the managing authorities should try to come up with resale projects for clothes. This means that even though a shirt or a particular pair of pant is worn out, it still has a value and which can be obtained when we go and resell our clothes to these recycling shops. Such idea can actually help to promote the recycling throw away clothes. With these old clothes, the fashion industry can make raw materials for the clothes without using too much natural cotton or utilize them in a way that may lead them to good reputation among the community services and eco-friendly organizations (MacBride, 2011). The fashion industry is an international business industry in which the production of single apparel often includes the involvement of three countries. The best example of this process is that nowadays industry buy yarn from Korean producers, executes the process of weaving and dying in Taiwan and buy zippers and button from Japanese states. Once all this has been gathered at one place the next step is to get it manufactured from Thailand garment factory. The fashion industry is moving towards being the best on a global scale and is searching for finding ways for manufacturing products from recycled yarn, fabric or garments by minimizing the packaging and the associated waste (Ferrell, 2006). For reducing the environmental footprint it is required to take effective steps for minimizing the associated packaging and the waste by reducing the energy usage. The biggest impact from clothing is the energy wasted in washing, drying and ironing. For instance the average T-shirt generates 50% global warming which can be reduced by lowering the washing temperature and eradicating drying and ironing. Fashion industry has the power to introduce dramatic changes by encouraging customers to introduce recycled garment in their new fashion lines by offering rebate for returns of last season’s fit and then making use of those fabrics in their upcoming lines. They can introduce this collection in their second hand stores and hence incorporate prior season trends into current lines (Strasser, 1999). But there is a whole lot more which can be done with the throw away clothes, provided that they aren’t stained or exposed to too much moisture. If the clothes are still in shape, the fashion industry can donate them on a large scale to poor countries that are stricken with any sort of natural disaster, such as earthquake or hurricane. The clothes can be either donated as they are or further, made into quilts that may be used to people living in colder regions. If not to other countries, the clothes can be utilized by the homeless citizens of one’s country who may be living in orphanages and are not fortunate enough to buy themselves decent apparel. In this way, the clothes will not see the sight of landfill sites and will actually be utilized by people who are in desperate need of them. Surely, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. But at the same time, doing something like this can actually create awareness among people and guide them how old clothes can be recycled (Hollins, 2009). But moreover, the fashion industry can itself utilize the throw away clothes. The ramps are filled with crazy ideas which normal people may or may not follow. Since models are likely to wear those particular outfits once only, how about the fashion industry starts to make them using dumped clothes? In this way, clothes for models can be designed and dumped clothes, out of which the majority is still in pretty good shape, will be used. It’s a win-win situation for both parties. But if not for the models, the fashion industry can create cheap yet stylish clothes for sale by modifying the items a bit and creating limited edition piece of clothing. At the same time, the fabric from different clothes found in the dumpster can be used as complement designs on the clothes made by designers in the form of frills, collars, panels etc (ODonnell, 2011). For those items which the fashion industry can’t utilize within its circle, they can donate them to poor industries or sell them to the ones that change it into rag or use it for the formation of paper or other products such as insulating blocks for roof. Similarly, wiping and polishing cloths can be made out of clothes that were once dumped. This can lead to extra revenue which requires minimal input from the part of fashion industries. Buttons and zippers extracted from these clothes can be cleaned so that the fashion industry can use them again. Moreover, they can further sell the piece of clothing they don’t want to use to interior designing industries so that upholstery, lamp shades, sofa cushions etc. can be made out of them (Roznev & Puzakova, 2012). Recycling has become a necessity and a legal requirement for every country. The household recycling bins have been termed legal since 2003 most of which require regular recycling. It is estimated that over million tons of textiles are thrown away each year which all eventually end up in landfills which further releases harmful gases into the our atmosphere. There has been an increasing trend of rise and fall of fashion which formulates a bulk of disposal clothing at very low costs. According to estimation more than 1 million tons of textiles are dumped each year in UK alone out of which 50% of them are recyclable. However, the ratio of clothing which is successfully been reused and recycled counts to only 25% of the total thrown away clothes. Recycling is advantageous not only for the environment and our surrounding; it can bring countless ideas and options for the fashion industry too (foeeurope, 2013). Proper recycling and recovery of dumped clothes can reduce the need for landfill spaces and will eventually reduce the pressure of application of new resources. Another advantage which can be attained is energy saving and less free pollution as designers will not be looking for manufacturing of their desired fibres both at national and international level. Once the reusable clothing has been sorted out its time to find out recyclable clothing and fabrics which can then be sent to desire recyclers for breaking them down into reusable products. This apparel can be transformed into cleaning rags and carpet padding or it can be molded to transform in the shapes of insulation or rubberized materials utilized in playgrounds. Armani jeans an international fashion brand have been incorporating eco-fabrics in their design range since mid-90. The initial step which the company took was in 1995 when they introduced the process to recycle denim and then they moved forward towards introducing recycled wool and recycled cross dyed cotton fabrics and their last introduced product is hemp eco-wash clothes in their new line of denim collection (Bocken, 2006). It is required to encourage investors to invest in schemes which are more environment friendly which will eventually increase the value of recycled textiles both in developed and underdeveloped countries. Similarly some advances are required in mechanical and chemical engineering for recycling fibre and textiles having larger amount of biodegradable materials. Alongside some investment is also requires in research and development phases for finding alternative options for recycling and down cycling. Substantive research will encourage manufacturers to invest in textiles and products which are made from bio-degradable and compostable fibre for having a clear distinction between the types of fibre used. It is the responsibility of fashion giants to promote a positive image of the reused and recycled clothing which will eventually encourage consumers to donate their clothing to charities or public organizations. Long story short, there are a gazillion ways using which the fashion industry can reuse or utilize thrown away clothes. But at the same time it’s important for them do something that will lessen the hype about clothes. Clothes were made by the very first human beings to cover themselves up and protect themselves against harsh climates. But the humans of today have changed this notion into an idea to look good. Surely, it’s important for us to put up the best of our appearance but excessive obsession with how one looks can lead to overspending. We constantly have to update our wardrobe and discard old clothes, even though they are in good condition, just to keep up with others. If the fashion industry for once tries to change this idea at the back of brains of human beings, it can cause a huge change and lessen the need to recycle. References Bocken, N. M. (2006). Well dressed? Retrieved from ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk: http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/uploads/Resources/Other_Reports/UK_textiles.pdf EPA. (2014). Wastes - Resource Conservation - Common Wastes & Materials. Retrieved from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/textiles.htm Ferrell, J. (2006). Empire of Scrounge: Inside the Urban Underground of Dumpster Diving, Trash Picking, and Street Scavenging. NYU Press. foeeurope. (2013). Less is more. Retrieved from foeeurope.org: http://www.foeeurope.org/sites/default/files/publications/foee_report_-_less_is_more_0.pdf Hollins, O. (2009). Maximising Reuse and Recycling of UK Clothing and Textiles. Retrieved from oakdenehollins.co.uk: http://www.oakdenehollins.co.uk/pdf/defra_173_summary_issue_4.pdf Lee, L. W. (2013). Recycled Clothing Facts. Retrieved from Demand Media: http://homeguides.sfgate.com/recycled-clothing-79332.html lenzing. (2011). Recycled Textile Solutions. Retrieved from lenzing.com: http://lenzinginnovation.lenzing.com/fileadmin/template/pdf/Texworld_USA_July_2011/19_07_2011_11_Texworld.pdf MacBride, S. (2011). Recycling Reconsidered: The Present Failure and Future Promise of Environmental Action in the United States. MIT Press. Retrieved from Recycling Reconsidered: The Present Failure and Future Promise of Environmental Action in the United States ODonnell. (2011). Textile Exchange eNewsletter. Retrieved from textileexchange: http://textileexchange.org/sites/default/files/April%202011%20eNewsletter%20-%20Textile%20Exchange.pdf Roznev, A., & Puzakova, E. (2012). RECYCLING IN TEXTILES. Retrieved from HAMK University of Applied Sciences : http://portal.hamk.fi/portal/page/portal/HAMKJulkisetDokumentit/Tutkimus_ja_kehitys/HAMKin%20hankkeet/velog/TEXTILE_RECYCLING3.pdf Strasser, S. (1999). Waste and Want: A Social History of Trash. Henry Holt and Company. teonline. (2010). Textile Recycling. Retrieved from teonline.com: http://www.teonline.com/knowledge-centre/textile-recycling.html Read More