To kick-off The Plastic Planet series I have invited Ava to discuss a topic we are both passionate about: fast fashion. Through Ava I have learned a lot about this industry and stopped buying fast fashion all together. Please take a look at Ava’s Instagram and YouTube once you have finished reading this post – she constantly updates her socials with information on this subject. Before we get started, what even is fast fashion?

Hi guys – my name is Ava and I feel so honoured to have been asked to write the first post for The Plastic Planet Series! Although this isn’t technically to do with plastic, I’m going to be writing about the fast fashion industry and the implications it has on both the environment and the people actually creating the clothing.

I actually made a super in-depth YouTube video about this so if you do want to learn more then you can feel free to check it out hehe: http://youtube.com/avasantaana

Some Facts + Stats About Fast Fashion

• 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions are produced by the global fashion industry each year
• The clothing industry is the second largest polluting industry
• It is estimated that 60,000,000 people work in the fashion industry worldwide
• 85% of textiles are sent to landfills which is around 21 billion tonnes per year
• The lowest paid garment workers in the world are paid 3$ per day
• Fashion is the most labour-dependent industry on earth
• On average, the garment workers are working 96 hours a week
• Garment workers are the 2nd highest at-risk product category for modern slavery

I feel like these figures really speak for themselves, but it is so clear that something needs to change now!

Fast Fashion Brands To Avoid

When I first began my slow fashion journey, I was really unsure of what brands I should and shouldn’t be buying from. I have chosen some of the worst for this list, but there are so so many more and I would really recommend the website/app ‘Good On You’ which has a directory ranking basically every brand on their sustainability policies.

• Victoria’s Secret
• H&M
• Urban Outfitters
• Primark
• Zara
• Topshop
• Forever 21
• Shein
• Boohoo
• GAP
• Uniqlo
• ASOS
• New Look

I gave up buying fast fashion around this time last year. After watching some videos and documentaries about the reality of this industry, I knew it was something that I no longer wanted to be investing my money in. Although it was definitely hard at first, I have discovered some sustainable brands that I love and I am proud to say that I have become a lot more conscious of my purchases.

My Favourite Sustainable + Ethical Brands

• Depop – my absolute fave place to shop! Buying secondhand is so underrated because you can get some really cool stuff for cheap prices because it has already been worn. I love buying vintage clothes from Depop and the overall shopping experience on the app is really nice and easy, could not recommend it enough.
• Charity Stores – charity stores can be really hit or miss, but you can find some amazing stuff in them for absolute bargains! 
• Organic Basics – this was the first sustainable brand I bought clothes from. I won’t lie, it is expensive but you are definitely paying for quality. Their factories ensure that their workplace is free of child labor and forced labor, their workers are surrounded in a safe working space, paid a living wage, offered employee perks like free lunch and childcare and are treated with respect at all times.
• The Hundred Club – this is a UK based small business that only creates 100 of each item of clothing to combat waste. I love their designs and I think they are very on-trend whilst also being high quality
• Lucy and Yak – they have the absolute cutest clothes and are also very very high quality at a relatively affordable price (and everything is made of organic cotton too) Their tailors are paid 4 times the state minimum wage, their factories are powered by solar panels on the roof and I love how transparent they are about the whole process of creating the clothing
• TALA – this is a sustainable activewear brand, which is amazing because it is so hard to buy fitness clothing sustainably. It is run by Grace Beverley (who I completely want to be) and I think it’s amazing that she has created a brand that focuses on empowering people of everybody type, whilst also being good for the environment. Their items are created from sustainable materials and whilst they are slightly on the pricier side, I think it is definitely worth it.

Thank you so so much to everyone who has taken some time to read this! I really hope it made you reflect on your own purchases and awakened you to some of the realities of the fashion industry.

Ava xx

Would you like to know more about fast fashion?

Stay tuned for next week’s post written by the lovely Millie Button. It’s going to be another fast fashion related post. I will conclude this mini-series with my own thoughts on the fashion industry – then we shall return to plastic-based posts. However this subject is still going to be pending on my mind!

If you have something to say about fast fashion, drop me an email to be featured.

erin x

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