What is Fast Fashion? 3 Things You Can Do To Help

By Lottie Dalziel

Textile dyeing is the second largest polluter of clean water globally, after agriculture. It takes 2,700L of water to make one cotton shirt - enough water for a human to drink for 3 years.

Clare Press, a fashion journalist and the author of Wardrobe Crisis, she told ABC's Lateline that women are wearing a garment an average of seven times before getting rid of it.

"I've also read the statistic that the average woman wears only 40 per cent of what's in her wardrobe, which means that 60 per cent is there ready to go to Vinnies or go to landfill," she said. 

Clothing made from polyester (which is most of the products we wear in Australia), i.e plastic, takes up to 200 years to breakdown in landfill.

The natural fibres such as wool and cotton that are so "trendy" today are not actually designed to go into landfill. "A natural fibre like cotton or wool can biodegrade and compost, but actually landfill is not the right conditions for compost. Wool leaks a type of ammonia in landfill," she said. 

This new report has just unveiled the large companies doing their bit to help the environment.

So How Can You Help? 

1. Think twice before buying a cheap tee from Kmart and opt for one which is a little more expensive and will last you forever. 

2. Go through your wardrobe not to cull but just so you know what's in there. Set yourself a challenge and wear three outfits you haven't worn in months this week.

3. Going to an event and you know you're going to buy something you'll never wear again, why not hire it? Services like One Wear Only Hire will get you sorted.