In Chile’s Atacama Desert there is a pile of clothes so large it can be seen from space. The discarded textiles are threatening the local environment, but they’re also part of a bigger problem — pollution from something called “fast fashion.”
“We’ve developed these dual habits in our country: keeping up with every single fashion trend and purchasing cheap, poorly made clothing,” Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, said. “They have become drivers of yet one more issue in our climate change crisis.”, San reported.
According to the European Union, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions. That is more than maritime shipping and international flights combined.
So, Pingree is starting the Slow Fashion Caucus, a group of lawmakers who will try to convince the public to reuse, rewear, repair and recycle clothes. The grouo hopes to enact policies that make it easier to buy second hand or rent clothing, and improve recycling, collection and management of discarded clothes.
Caucus members also want to mirror European “extended producer responsibility” laws, which require manufacturers to pay for the collection, sorting and recycling of textiles.
“Powerful institutions want you to feel silly for caring about slow fashion,” Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., said. “But the truth is the churn of cheap, disposable goods is a very useful for extracting wealth from the middle class. When I have to replace my work boots every year instead of the five years that used to work, American trades people lose.”
One of the biggest names in fast fashion is Shein, a Chinese-based company that made $2 billion in profits in 2023 by selling everything from ballgowns to swim wear at incredibly low prices. There are $4 blouses and $11 sweaters.
However, there have been serious questions about its labor practices.
An investigation by Public Eye found some employees work 75 hours per week. Members of Congress asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to look into accusations of forced labor after it was accused of mistreating Uyghurs.
Saturday Night Live poked fun at Chinese fast fashion’s questionable practices with this parody ad.
The lawmakers are waiting for a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on how the fashion industry and federal agencies like the EPA can better manage discarded clothing and textile waste.
The group contends people need to move away from low-quality goods that fall apart and the report will give them better ideas on how to do it.
“The answer is simple, you buy less stuff,” Gluesenkamp Perez said. “Ignore trends, follow your own sense of style.”