[For responsible adults] What is required in the coming era when choosing fashion
Fashion colors our daily lives. If you open your closet, you'll see a variety of clothes and bags lined up. But have you ever thought about the process by which these items are made, or what happens to them after you let them go?
It has become clear that the fashion industry has a huge impact on the global environment. Knowing this reality, what choices should we make?
The reality of the fashion industry
The current fashion industry emits a huge amount of greenhouse gases.
This is said to be larger than the international aviation and shipping industries combined .
You might be wondering why.
This is because a large amount of energy is required to spin the thread, turn it into fabric, and dye it.
A major factor is that low-cost production plants in Asia, which are the world's mainstream, use energy generated from cheap coal, etc. Another factor is the long transportation distances that products must travel from production to delivery .
Additionally, textile production uses approximately 93 billion cubic meters of water per year —an enormous amount equivalent to the water used by all Japanese households for about five years —and every time you wash your clothes, tiny, invisible fibers end up in the ocean (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2017).
In Japan, clothing stores are everywhere when you walk around town, and new clothes appear on store shelves every day. In fact, approximately 820,000 tons of clothing are supplied annually . Despite the amount of clothing produced, many of us get rid of our clothes within a year.
And what's surprising is that two out of every three pieces of clothing that are discarded (approximately 790,000 tons) are simply thrown away without being given to anyone . (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, "Challenges in the Textile Industry and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Initiatives," 2020)
These figures show the limits of the "mass production, mass consumption, mass waste" system.
Five perspectives required for the coming era
1. Use your current clothes and bags for as long as possible
First of all, it's important to maintain a long-term relationship with the items you already own . By carefully maintaining your favorite clothes or favorite bag and taking advantage of alterations and repairs, you will grow to love them even more.
Perhaps it is because we are adults that we can truly appreciate the richness that comes from using high-quality items for a long time.
2. Reuse: a new way to have fun
Another appeal of second-hand clothing and items is that you can find "dead stock" that you won't find new .
With the recent proliferation of subscription and rental services, a new way of enjoying fashion - "not owning" - is gaining popularity. There are plenty of options, from renting a bag for a special occasion to sharing seasonal items.
3. When shopping, consider whether you really need it.
Before purchasing, get into the habit of asking yourself, "Do I really need this?" and "Will I be able to use it for a long time?" By choosing high-quality items that fit your lifestyle without being too influenced by trends, you will ultimately benefit financially.
4. Transparency: Knowing how it's made
It's also important to know where and how your clothes and bags are made . Checking the background of a product, such as whether it's made from environmentally friendly materials or whether the people who work there have fair working conditions, can help you make better choices.
For example, if you buy an item made from African fabric, you will feel a deeper attachment to the product by learning about the cultural background of the fabric, the techniques of the artisans, fair trade efforts, etc. Fabrics made with the rich colors and traditional techniques of Africa have a warmth and individuality that cannot be expressed through mass production.
5. Make circular choices
It's also important to properly dispose of items you no longer use . You can contribute to resource circulation by using store collection services or passing on used clothing to the next generation. You can also support a circular economy by choosing products made from recycled materials.
What we can do
I believe that it is those with a wealth of life experience who are able to discern what is truly valuable and live a mindful life. This is the same as how much consideration you can give to others .
I believe that fashion is about caring for others.
Behind self-expression lies the relationship with the environment, stories with producers and others, and we believe that this will become increasingly necessary in the coming era where a sustainable perspective is important .
Representative Kaoru Tsuji
