Some jaw-dropping, eye-opening facts for you!
First up, what actually is fast fashion? No, it’s not RUNNING QUICKLY TO THE CHANGING ROOM TO TRY ON A NEW PAIR OF ZARA HOT-PANTS, though this is kinda the problem…
‘Fast fashion’ means the super-cheap, super-fast production of clothes on a GIGANTIC scale. Lots of cheap stuff? What’s wrong with that?’
Well, in order to keep spitting out these clothes, fast fashion companies treat their workers badly – and the planet worse.
Crucially, fast fashion retailers like Shein, Primark and H&M persuade consumers constantly to buy new clothes & bin their old ones (not good for our pockets OR the planet!).
Don’t get us wrong: we’re not saying people are bad for shopping at Primark, or that we’ll never again swing by H&M (where would we get our ‘2 for 1’ socks?). Nor are we saying, ‘THE PLANET IS AWASH WITH SKINNY JEANS, WE’RE ALL DOOOOOOMED!’
Here at The Swish, we’re full of hope for the future - because it’s got you guys in it! Act now, and you can persuade the fast fashion industry to slooooow down a bit. Find out how bad things have got, so you can start to make them better!
Did you know…? (Nooooo!)
1. The fashion industry produces more pollution and CO2 emissions than ALL PLANES AND SHIPS COMBINED. Or, to put it another way: If fast fashion were a country, its CO2 emissions would be greater than the ENTIRE continent of Europe. That’s a lodda bad fumes…
2. Most fast fashion fabrics are made from plastic-based fabrics (eg polyester, nylon and lycra). Every time we wash and dry our clothes, microfilaments go into our water system, polluting our seas and rivers.
Half a million tons of plastic fibres wash into our oceans every year. They poison fish, hurt the turtles, and stop baby crabs from growing into Big, Happy Crabs.
3. Around the world, we send a lorry load of discarded clothes & textiles to landfill (or to be burned) EVERY SECOND.
It can take up to 200 years for clothes to decompose in landfill. Means frilly drawers thrown away by Queen Victoria could still be sitting there. (We are NOT amused!)
4. 100-150 billion garments are produced each year. Crazy, when you consider there are only 8 billion people on the planet!
Could we beeeee wearing any more clothes?
5. Most clothes only get worn 7-10 times, before getting chucked. Some people wear items only once, thanks to fast fashion’s culture of disposability – and all those stoooopid influencers, saying, ‘Darling, I can’t be seen wearing the same thing twice!’
In America alone— the average person throws away 37kgs of clothes. Weight-wise, that’s the equivalent of 37 bags of sugar, or an 11 year-old child!
6. 80% of clothes are made by young women, just a bit older than you (18-24yrs). Countries like India, China and Brazil employ these women for long hours with terrible, low pay and unsafe working conditions. Even worse, they use a lot of child labour. (Fed up with school? Trust us, a 12hr factory shift makes Double Chemistry seem banging).
6. 80% of clothes are made by young women, just a bit older than you (18-24yrs). Countries like India, China and Brazil employ these women for long hours with terrible, low pay and unsafe working conditions. Even worse, they use a lot of child labour. (Fed up with school? Trust us, a 12hr factory shift makes Double Chemistry seem banging).
Now for some Good News!
You’re not the only ones taking action to make the world a happier place. Scientists are beavering away, coming up with eco-friendly alternatives to using plastics in fashion.
Fancy a dress made from fungi fabric? Yes, this is a real thing! Made from the root system of fungi, this frock is waterproof AND fire-resistant. Only downside? It looks a bit tight to us. Not too MUSHROOM in it (he he!)
APPLE LEATHER
Around the world, lots of apples are grown to make apple juice and jam, but the seeds, stalks and skin used to be thrown away. Now clever fashion designers are scooping up these ‘leftovers’. They squish ‘em up (technical term, there!), then dry everything into powder, and add resin to make glossy apple leather.
BECOME A MINI-ACTIVIST
You love your planet, so why not stand up for it? It’s SEW easy to do your bit!
Find out more about fast fashion – the harm it’s doing to the environment, and to people who live in poorer parts of the world. Then make some noise about it! You don’t have to march up and down with a placard, or shout through a megaphone at people, (‘STOP WEARING CLOTHES, NOW!’). There are lots of fun, creative ways to get your sustainable message across.
FAST FASHION FACTS
Changing people’s minds can be as simple as starting a conversation. Chat to your friends and family.
And share some of these and convince them to become a sustainable star like yourself.
For more fun facts, sewing tips & fashion inspo, follow us on Insta @theswish.official.
And share some of these and convince them to become a sustainable star like yourself.
For more fun facts, sewing tips & fashion inspo, follow us on Insta @theswish.official.
Some jaw-dropping, eye-opening facts for you!
First up, what actually is fast fashion? No, it’s not RUNNING QUICKLY TO THE CHANGING ROOM TO TRY ON A NEW PAIR OF ZARA HOT-PANTS, though this is kinda the problem…
‘Fast fashion’ means the super-cheap, super-fast production of clothes on a GIGANTIC scale. Lots of cheap stuff? What’s wrong with that?’
Well, in order to keep spitting out these clothes, fast fashion companies treat their workers badly – and the planet worse.
Crucially, fast fashion retailers like Shein, Primark and H&M persuade consumers constantly to buy new clothes & bin their old ones (not good for our pockets OR the planet!).
Don’t get us wrong: we’re not saying people are bad for shopping at Primark, or that we’ll never again swing by H&M (where would we get our ‘2 for 1’ socks?). Nor are we saying, ‘THE PLANET IS AWASH WITH SKINNY JEANS, WE’RE ALL DOOOOOOMED!’
Here at The Swish, we’re full of hope for the future - because it’s got you guys in it! Act now, and you can persuade the fast fashion industry to slooooow down a bit. Find out how bad things have got, so you can start to make them better!
Did you know…? (Nooooo!)
1. The fashion industry produces more pollution and CO2 emissions than ALL PLANES AND SHIPS COMBINED. Or, to put it another way: If fast fashion were a country, its CO2 emissions would be greater than the ENTIRE continent of Europe. That’s a lodda bad fumes…
2. Most fast fashion fabrics are made from plastic-based fabrics (eg polyester, nylon and lycra). Every time we wash and dry our clothes, microfilaments go into our water system, polluting our seas and rivers.
Half a million tons of plastic fibres wash into our oceans every year. They poison fish, hurt the turtles, and stop baby crabs from growing into Big, Happy Crabs.
3. Around the world, we send a lorry load of discarded clothes & textiles to landfill (or to be burned) EVERY SECOND.
It can take up to 200 years for clothes to decompose in landfill. Means frilly drawers thrown away by Queen Victoria could still be sitting there. (We are NOT amused!)
4. 100-150 billion garments are produced each year. Crazy, when you consider there are only 8 billion people on the planet!
Could we beeeee wearing any more clothes?
5. Most clothes only get worn 7-10 times, before getting chucked. Some people wear items only once, thanks to fast fashion’s culture of disposability – and all those stoooopid influencers, saying, ‘Darling, I can’t be seen wearing the same thing twice!’
In America alone— the average person throws away 37kgs of clothes. Weight-wise, that’s the equivalent of 37 bags of sugar, or an 11 year-old child!
6. 80% of clothes are made by young women, just a bit older than you (18-24yrs). Countries like India, China and Brazil employ these women for long hours with terrible, low pay and unsafe working conditions. Even worse, they use a lot of child labour. (Fed up with school? Trust us, a 12hr factory shift makes Double Chemistry seem banging).
Good News!
You’re not the only ones taking action to make the world a happier place. Scientists are beavering away, coming up with eco-friendly alternatives to using plastics in fashion.
Fancy a dress made from fungi fabric? Yes, this is a real thing! Made from the root system of fungi, this frock is waterproof AND fire-resistant. Only downside? It looks a bit tight to us. Not too MUSHROOM in it (he he!)
APPLE LEATHER
Around the world, lots of apples are grown to make apple juice and jam, but the seeds, stalks and skin used to be thrown away. Now clever fashion designers are scooping up these ‘leftovers’. They squish ‘em up (technical term, there!), then dry everything into powder, and add resin to make glossy apple leather
BANANA SILK
Banana Silk is a lovely, shiny textile made from the stems or stalks of banana plants.
This gorgeous sari is made from the fruit-astic silk.
You’d be BANANAS not to love it!
BECOME A MINI-ACTIVIST
You love your planet, so why not stand up for it? It’s SEW easy to do your bit!
Find out more about fast fashion – the harm it’s doing to the environment, and to people who live in poorer parts of the world. Then make some noise about it! You don’t have to march up and down with a placard, or shout through a megaphone at people, (‘STOP WEARING CLOTHES, NOW!’). There are lots of fun, creative ways to get your sustainable message across.
We’ve started a Swish petition at our workshops, and the signatures are already piling up! Now whom to send it to? Our local MP? King Charles? Ant n Dec? (ALL OF THEM!!)
Small actions can make a difference. You won’t STOP FAST FASHION! overnight. But you might persuade people to slow down a bit…
Changing people’s minds can be as simple as starting a conversation. Chat to your friends and family.
And share some of these and convince them to become a sustainable star like yourself.
For more fun facts, sewing tips & fashion inspo, follow us on Insta @theswish.official.
There’s so much FASCINATING stuff to learn about fashion – how it works, and the exciting new things we can try. Dig up some fun facts of your own, and share with us at hello@theswish.co.uk. We’ll post here, and make you an OFFICIAL expert (you might never have to go to school again…)
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!" Dawn French
Schoolgirl Kat Parker is a ‘thrift shop Cinderella’ - she can turn old clothes into gorgeous new outfits with the flash of her needle! But when disaster threatens, can she craft her own happy ending? Dare Kat take on the bullies, and make her own gown for the school ball?
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
" Tash’s book is very timely - its upbeat, practical message will go a long way to inspiring young people"
EMMA SCOTT, ORGANISER OF RETHINK FASHION DORSET
" Such a great read! Witty and warm, with a brilliant message - my tween loved this book. I'm now hoping it will help wean her off Primark"
" Lovely story. My daughter was so inspired to thrift and upcycle she has started sewing away, creating beautiful outfits."
" A super fun read - ‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."
" A gripping, funny story about the importance of friends and family, and being resilient. Great read!"
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!" Dawn French
Schoolgirl Kat Parker is a ‘thrift shop Cinderella’ - she can turn old clothes into gorgeous new outfits with the flash of her needle! But when disaster threatens, can she craft her own happy ending? Dare Kat take on the bullies, and make her own gown for the school ball?
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
" Tash’s book is very timely - its upbeat, practical message will go a long way to inspiring young people"
EMMA SCOTT, ORGANISER OF RETHINK FASHION DORSET
" Such a great read! Witty and warm, with a brilliant message - my tween loved this book. I'm now hoping it will help wean her off Primark"
" Lovely story. My daughter was so inspired to thrift and upcycle she has started sewing away, creating beautiful outfits."
" A super fun read - ‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."
" A gripping, funny story about the importance of friends and family, and being resilient. Great read!"
There’s so much FASCINATING stuff to learn about fashion – how it works, and the exciting new things we can try. Dig up some fun facts of your own, and share with us at hello@theswish.co.uk. We’ll post here, and make you an OFFICIAL expert (you might never have to go to school again…)
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!"
Dawn French
Schoolgirl Kat Parker is a ‘thrift shop Cinderella’ - she can turn old clothes into gorgeous new outfits with the flash of her needle! But when disaster threatens, can she craft her own happy ending? Dare Kat take on the bullies, and make her own gown for the school ball?
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
" Tash’s book is very timely - its upbeat, practical message will go a long way to inspiring young people
"
EMMA SCOTT, ORGANISER OF RETHINK FASHION DORSET
" Such a great read! Witty and warm, with a brilliant message - my tween loved this book. I'm now hoping it will help wean her off Primark
"
" Lovely story. My daughter was so inspired to thrift and upcycle she has started sewing away, creating beautiful outfits.
"
" A super fun read - ‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion.
"
" A gripping, funny story about the importance of friends and family, and being resilient. Great read!
"