In some parts of the world, going shopping is a major past time. Huge shopping centres are a leisure destination. We feel that buying a new item is a treat, and that wearing new clothes makes us feel smart, clean, and attractive. But the production of new clothes has a huge environmental cost. Growing cotton uses many litres of water and lots of pesticides which escape into rivers, killing off fish and other sea life. Worker in garment factories are paid low wages and suffer from inhaling toxic fumes. Synthetic clothing does not biodegrade. Could there be a way around this? Wearing secondhand clothing is a way to extend the life of a garment that a person is bored with. It has always existed, but in the last few years has become fashionable and labelled not second hand but vintage. Remade clothes are also an option, where second hand clothing is altered to make new clothes. And if we insist on wearing new clothes, it is preferable to use fibres like bamboo, which can be grown quickly, with much less water than cotton, and will biodegrade once the clothing is unwearable. Or choose organic cotton, which at least has no pesticides.

There can be no denying that our obsession for clothes shopping is having a detrimental effect on the environment. This is down to how clothes are bought in modern society. Up until fairly recently, purchasing a new item of clothing was often regarded as something to look forward to, a longer-term investment, like a household appliance, or property. When we look back at fashions from previous decades, there are definite themes that pinpoint the era. That has all changed, and clothes are now seen as far more disposable. There are cheap outlets everywhere. Like fast food, fast fashion is a sign of the times.

It has been estimated that the garment industry employs one in six people across the world. There are around 5,000 factories in Bangladesh alone, with four million toiling in sweatshop conditions. The mass production of clothes intended for western consumers is devastating the environment, with wholescale chromium contamination occuring next to tanneries in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. There are also massive landfill sites in America where millions of tons of unwanted clothes are left to rot, producing methan gas.

Partially, yes. Clothes should be used more before they are thrown away. All clothes do have a tendency to degrade through time and therefore, having many clotches, means more degrading. If you purchase and use them, then it is all fine. But if you purchase a piece of clothing and use it once or twice per year and definately this type os buying obsession is not in line with the environment and has to be eliminated.

Also, there can be other solutions provided. For ex., recycable clothing, that can be given back for a small sum or in exchange for other clothing.