The average American buys sixty-eight pieces of clothing per year, more than one item per week. This insatiable appetite for cheap, trendy garments comes with consequences that most consumers never consider when clicking "add to cart."
The fashion industry is responsible for ten percent of global carbon emissions, more than international flights and maritime shipping combined. Producing a single cotton T-shirt requires approximately 2,700 liters of water, enough for one person to drink for two and a half years. Meanwhile, synthetic fabrics shed microplastics with every wash, contaminating waterways and ultimately entering our food chain.
The human toll is equally troubling. Garment workers in developing countries often earn less than three dollars per day, laboring in unsafe conditions to meet Western demand for inexpensive clothing. The 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, which killed over 1,100 workers, exposed the dark underbelly of an industry built on exploitation.
Some consumers are pushing back through the "slow fashion" movement, which emphasizes quality over quantity, secondhand shopping, and clothing swaps. Major brands have begun responding with recycling programs and sustainability pledges, though critics argue these efforts amount to little more than greenwashing.
Ultimately, meaningful change requires consumers to reconsider their relationship with clothing altogether. Before purchasing that discounted dress or trendy jacket, perhaps the most important question to ask is not "Can I afford this?" but rather "What is the true cost?"