I love transition seasons—they are a reprieve from the oppressive heat of summer and the harsh cold of winter.
I especially enjoy the many surprises spring offers. From finding a delicate bird's nest in an unexpected place to seeing bright green buds on plants that one may have thought succumbed to the harsh winter cold, it’s an uplifting time of year. And of course, in places like the northeast with deciduous trees, it’s incredible to watch landscapes transform from barren to blossoming with bright green leaves and a variety of flowers.
Another of my favorite parts about spring is breaking out lighter, floral and nature-inspired clothing.
Just as it is exciting to see small green seedlings poking their way up to the sunshine, I enjoy seeing how the clothing of those around me comes alive with fun, bright patterns and colors.
While this clothing has the benefit of often being cheaper, if you get it from bargain stores and sellers, the lack of burden on your wallet can come with a big price tag for the planet.
While you, dear informed reader, may already be aware of this, you may not know the extent of the harm of certain brands. The truth is, I don’t either, and this information is purposefully very hard to come by even for professional journalists (as this great video about the “greenwashing” veil of fast-fashion retailers like Shein powerfully explains).
However, there is proposed legislation which could make New York State a precursor in changing this (Jesse Junko Beardslee, Finger Lakes Times)—but first, let’s revisit why it’s crucial at this moment.
Fast Fashion Impacts
First, for those who might not know exactly what the term “fast fashion” refers to, it is a way of making clothes quickly available to buyers by focusing on using inexpensive materials and meeting fashion trends (Merriam-Webster).
Some impacts of “fast fashion” that I feel are worth emphasizing include that it is the cause of around 10 percent of annual global carbon emissions worldwide that are fueling climate change, and the industry is responsible for about 20 percent of global freshwater pollution (MIT Sloan Management Review).
And while eye-popping clothing colors are all the rage as the seasons turn warmer, their popularity has severe consequences for fresh water resources in developing countries. In the Bangladesh capital of Dhaka, for instance, a river that used to be popular for fishing has turned a black, inky color and is so full of pollution from garment factories that it is no longer suitable for any sort of recreation which locals once enjoyed (CNN).
Dhaka is no stranger to disasters related to mass clothing production for wealthy countries. In 2013, 1,100 people were killed and about 2,500 injured when a garment factory collapsed in Dhaka. Although initially this resulted in the closure of many unsafe garment factories, only five years later, the New York Times reported conditions remained highly unsafe in many remaining factories. This disaster is partly what led to a past Leader for Nature, Jesse Beardslee, to pursue a career in making and promoting sustainable and eco-friendly fashion—you can read about her amazing work here.
What We Can Do
As I have talked about before on this blog, some important personal steps you can take include buying second-hand clothes and purchasing clothing from sustainable fashion designers such as Jesse Beardslee (here’s a link to the website of her brand Themis and Thread)—and avoiding fast fashion retailers such as Shein and Zara (MIT Sloan Management Review).
Another major step you can take is supporting legislation that holds major fast fashion brands accountable. Earlier this year, Senator Alessandra Biaggi introduced such legislation, co-sponsored by Assemblywoman Anna Kelles.
Specifically, the New York Fashion Sustainability and Social Accountability Act (“the Fashion Act''—Senate Bill S7428) would make it a requirement for fashion retailers and manufacturers to report environmental and social “due diligence policies.” This includes detailing ways their clothing production method could cause harm to the environment and in societies around the world (Finger Lakes Times).
More specifically, it would make fashion retailers accountable for mapping their supply chains, revealing the environmental and social impacts of their activities, and setting specific goals to improve those effects (NYSenate.gov).
However, the bill’s most significant contribution could be requiring fashion retailers to create a “community benefit fund” to positively impact environmental justice initiatives (NYSenate.gov).
Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? If so, please consider supporting this bill. Write to your local representative to tell them to support it, and you can continue following its progress here. As of May 15, the bill is in the Senate Consumer Protection Committee.
Climate change can seem like an overwhelming issue, in a world consumed by staggering tragedies from a global pandemic to a bloody war in Ukraine that U.S. President Joe Biden has called “genocide” (BBC).
But just as buds can appear on plants that appear to be withered and dead, I believe by persevering and working towards positive actions to protect the planet—such as The Fashion Act—we can preserve and restore natural environments for the benefit of future generations.
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