Environmental sustainability of vintage fashion

Last updated

Vintage clothing shop in Michigan Digging through vintage clothing (3148383882).jpg
Vintage clothing shop in Michigan

Vintage clothing, or "Vintage", is a colloquial term commonly used to refer to all old styles of clothing. A widely accepted industry standard of a "vintage" item is being made between 20 and 100 years ago and clearly reflect the styles and trends of the era they represent. [1] In recent years, the popularity of vintage clothing has grown, as consumers seek unique and sustainable fashion alternatives. [2]

Contents

The rise in popularity of vintage fashion has been viewed as a reaction to the negative implications associated with fast fashion. Fast fashion refers to inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. It involves a business model where companies create and sell their products through vertically integrated production methods, allowing for a quick response to consumer demand. [3] [4] However, consumers tend to dispose of fast fashion products quickly, leading to environmental concerns such as excessive water use, greenhouse gas emissions, microplastic pollution in the ocean, etc. [5] [6] The fast fashion industry has an estimated worth of around $91 billion in 2021 [7] and produces approximately 1 billion garments yearly. Despite its profitability, this industry relies on rapid production to capitalize on new trends and has a significant environmental impact. [8] The fast fashion industry emits approximately 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually, which accounts for 5% of all global emissions. [8]

Vintage clothing offers a solution to the issues posed by fast fashion, allowing individuals to express their style while also preventing clothing waste. [9] Recently, the trend towards vintage clothing has grown, with more consumers adopting new attitudes toward second-hand products, reflecting a growing interest in sustainability. [2] The increased media coverage of environmental issues has also influenced consumers to make more conscious decisions when purchasing fashion items. [10]

However, there are drawbacks of vintage fashion. The sustainability aspect of vintage fashion is part of the allure, but the shipping and transportation of the clothes still contribute to the world's carbon footprint. There's also the possibility that the products purchases from a thrift store might contain toxic substances that are harmful to the human body. Finally, low income families who rely on the cheaper prices thrift stores, the main source of vintage clothing, are suffering because of the surge pricing caused by popularity of shopping for vintage clothing. [11]

Benefits of Vintage Clothing

Reduction of textile waste

Purchasing vintage clothing is a way to avoid contributing to the negative impacts of fast fashion, since by reusing existing clothes, no production is needed. One of the main benefits of vintage clothing is the reduction of textile waste. The fashion industry is a major contributor to textile waste, with millions of tons of clothing ending up in landfills every year. The United States alone generates a considerable amount of textile waste each year, estimated to be around 34 billion pounds. [12] Almost three-quarters of this waste is sent to landfills where many textiles are unable to decompose for years. [12] By using existing clothing instead of producing new clothing, vintage clothing offers an alternative to discarding clothing and extends the life of existing clothing.

Reduction of carbon footprint

Vintage items have typically been produced with higher quality materials, making them longer-lasting compared to fast-fashion garments that are made from synthetic fibers. [8] The reduction in the volume of textile waste being sent to landfills also has a positive carbon impact, as clothes in landfill can contribute to greenhouse gases that affect climate change. [13] The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of the world's carbon emissions, exceeding the combined emissions of international flights and maritime shipping. [14] [15] If this trend continues, greenhouse gas emissions from the fashion industry will surge by more than 50% by 2030. In addition, about 500,000 tons of plastic microfibers, equivalent to 50 billion plastic bottles, are dumped into the ocean each year, posing a significant environmental risk as they cannot be removed from the water and can contaminate the food chain. [15] Moreover, the transportation of new clothing to landfills produces emissions that affect the carbon footprint of fashion.

Conservation of resources

Vintage fashion prevents energy and other resources from being used to create items of clothing. [16] The production of new clothing requires significant resources, such as water, energy, and raw materials. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the production of a single pair of jeans necessitates approximately 3,781 liters of water and results in around 33.4 kilograms of carbon equivalent emissions. [15] Each year, the fashion industry utilizes 93 billion cubic meters of water, enough to satisfy the consumption requirements of five million individuals. Fabric dyeing and treatment account for roughly 20% of the world's wastewater. Unfortunately, 87% of the fiber input used for clothing ends up being either incinerated or disposed of in landfills. [15] Due to the fact that vintage clothing already exists, no additional resources need to be used that will affect the environment. Vintage clothing conserves these resources by using existing clothing instead of producing new clothing.

Growth of vintage fashion

The increasing demand for vintage clothing reflects a shift in consumer attitudes towards more thoughtful and distinctive purchases, as opposed to mass-produced products. [8] [17] The vintage fashion market is experiencing significant growth, particularly among younger generations who are increasingly aware of social and environmental issues. [18] This demographic is turning away from the fast fashion industry, which is considered unsustainable and less unique. Instead, there is a growing demand for unique and personal items that allow buyers to express their individuality and push back against the disruptive changes seen in many economies. [19] The vintage resale market has been growing at an impressive rate, 21 times faster than traditional apparel retail over the past three years. The market for clothing resale is expected to reach a value of $51 billion in 2023, according to recent reports. The number of women shopping for vintage items has also increased rapidly, from 44 million in 2017 to 56 million in 2018. [19]

Challenges

Transportation and shipping

Vintage clothing is often sourced from other countries and transported to new markets, which can contribute to transportation emissions and increase the carbon footprint. The production and transportation of clothing involve the consumption of resources and energy, and the transportation of vintage clothing across borders can result in a significant carbon footprint. Shipping vintage clothing from countries where it is sourced to new markets where it is sold often involves the use of ships and trucks, which emit greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Approximately 90% of the world's trade is carried out by ships, which transport nearly 11 billion tons of commodities annually. [20] Approximately 2.5% of the world's overall carbon emission is caused by shipping and according to a 2015 study by the European Parliament, it could increase to as much as 17% by 2050. [20] The demand for vintage clothing has increased in recent years, leading to an increase in transportation emissions associated with the industry.

Quality control and safety

Vintage clothing may not meet current safety standards and may contain hazardous materials such as lead or asbestos. Quality control is essential to ensure that vintage clothing is safe and of good quality. When shopping for vintage clothing, one must consider safety and quality control as they may not meet current safety standards and could potentially contain hazardous materials like lead or asbestos. [21] Antiquities can also pose a risk, as they may contain asbestos, a dangerous substance that was commonly used in products such as Bakelite, a synthetic plastic invented in 1907. Bakelite products can contain up to 5% of brown asbestos, which makes them potentially harmful, and products such as cameras, toys, radios, jewelry, door handles, and even toilet seats and cisterns could all contain asbestos. [21] Although products containing asbestos may be a low risk when in good condition, any damage could release asbestos, dust, and fibers into the air. Certain vintage beauty products, such as talcum powder, may have been contaminated with asbestos as well. As such, when antiquing and vintage shopping, it's vital to be cautious and aware of the potential dangers associated with vintage products.

Affordability and Accessibility

However, some people are taking advantage of the accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of thrift stores. [22] It is now common to see teenagers buying clothing from thrift stores and then reselling the same items at inflated prices on apps like Depop, Poshmark, or Instagram. This overconsumption and gentrification of thrifting have been triggered by influencer culture. Thrift stores, which are intended to benefit low-income communities, have faced criticism for raising the prices of second-hand clothing in recent years. Although online resellers are often blamed, thrift stores are often raising prices to cater to wealthier shoppers. The problem is not with the supply of donated goods, but rather the growing demand for thrifted items, which is making it difficult for low-income individuals to access affordable clothing. [11] Another reason purchasing from thrift stores may be inaccessible is because of their lack of sizing options. Unlike traditional retailers, each article of clothing is unique. As such, thrifting is more effort intensive for consumers and can be more difficult for those who do not have the average body type. [14]

Demand for fast fashion

The demand for fast fashion poses a challenge for vintage fashion and sustainable fashion in general. Fast fashion aims to give consumers access to the latest fashion trends quickly at affordable prices. The global fast fashion market is rapidly growing, with the market size expected to increase from $106.42 billion in 2022 to $122.98 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 15.6%, and to $184.96 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 10.7%. [23] This growth can be attributed to the increasing adoption of affordable clothing by the rising youth population. According to the United Nations, the global youth population is expected to grow from 1.2 billion in 2019 to 1.3 billion by 2030, which presents a significant market opportunity for apparel manufacturing companies. [23] These companies are focused on delivering unique, trendy, and affordable clothes inspired by the latest fashion trends, which have been particularly attractive to the youth demographic. This trend has propelled the growth of the fast fashion market that competes against sustainable fashion.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion</span> Stylish clothing

Fashion is a term used interchangeably to describe the creation of clothing, footwear, accessories, cosmetics, and jewellery of different cultural aesthetics and their mix and match into outfits that depict distinctive ways of dressing as signifiers of social status, self-expression, and group belonging. As a multifaceted term, fashion describes an industry, styles, aesthetics, and trends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grocery store</span> Retail store that primarily sells food and other household supplies

A grocery store (AE), grocery shop (BE) or simply grocery is a retail store that primarily retails a general range of food products, which may be fresh or packaged. In everyday U.S. usage, however, "grocery store" is a synonym for supermarket, and is not used to refer to other types of stores that sell groceries. In the UK, shops that sell food are distinguished as grocers or grocery shops

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reseller</span> Company or individual that buys goods or services for resale

A reseller is a company or individual (merchant) that purchases goods or services with the intention of selling them rather than consuming or using them. Individual resellers are often referred to as middle men. This is usually done for profit. One example can be found in the industry of telecommunications, where companies buy excess amounts of transmission capacity or call time from other carriers and resell it to smaller carriers. Resale can be seen in everyday life from yard sales to selling used cars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Used good</span> Item that is not new being sold or transferred

Used goods, also known as secondhand goods, are any item of personal property offered for sale not as new, including metals in any form except coins that are legal tender, but excluding books, magazines, and postage stamps. Used goods may also be handed down, especially among family or close friends, as a hand-me-down.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thrift store chic</span> Styles of dress where clothes are cheap and/or used

Thrift store chic refers to a style of dressing where clothes are cheap and/or used. Clothes are often purchased from thrift stores such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill, or Value Village. Originally popular among the hippies of the 1960s, this fashion movement resurfaced during the mid-1980s among teenagers, and expanded into the 1990s with the growing popularity of such music and style influences including the grunge band Nirvana. Thrift store chic can be considered as an anti-fashion statement because it does not follow fashion trends and does not attempt to look expensive or new.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Throw-away society</span> Human society strongly influenced by consumerism

The throw-away society is a generalised description of human social concept strongly influenced by consumerism, whereby the society tends to use items once only, from disposable packaging, and consumer products are not designed for reuse or lifetime use. The term describes a critical view of overconsumption and excessive production of short-lived or disposable items over durable goods that can be repaired, but at its origins, it was viewed as a positive attribute.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vintage clothing</span> Garments originating from a previous era

Vintage clothing is a generic term for garments originating from a previous era, as recent as the 1990s. The term can also be applied in reference to second-hand retail outlets, e.g. in vintage clothing store. While the concept originated during World War I as a response to textile shortages, vintage dressing encompasses choosing accessories, mixing vintage garments with new, as well as creating an ensemble of various styles and periods. Vintage clothes typically sell at low prices for high-end name brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste & Resources Action Programme</span>

WRAP is a British registered charity. It works with businesses, individuals and communities to achieve a circular economy, by helping them reduce waste, develop sustainable products and use resources in an efficient way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast fashion</span> Quick retail copying of catwalk trends

Fast fashion is the business model of replicating recent catwalk trends and high-fashion designs, mass-producing them at a low cost, and bringing them to retail quickly while demand is at its highest. The term fast fashion is also used generically to describe the products of this business model, particularly clothing and footwear. Retailers who employ the fast fashion strategy include Primark, H&M, Shein, and Zara, all of which have become large multinationals by driving high turnover of inexpensive seasonal and trendy clothing that appeals to fashion-conscious consumers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile recycling</span> Method of reusing or reprocessing used clothing, fibrous material and rags

Textile recycling is the process of recovering fiber, yarn, or fabric and reprocessing the material into new, useful products. Textile waste is split into pre-consumer and post-consumer waste and is sorted into five different categories derived from a pyramid model. Textiles can be either reused or mechanically/chemically recycled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upcycling</span> Recycling waste into products of higher quality

Upcycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products perceived to be of greater quality, such as artistic value or environmental value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable fashion</span> Reduction of environmental impacts of the fashion industry

Sustainable fashion is a term describing efforts within the fashion industry to reduce its environmental impacts, protect workers producing garments and uphold animal welfare. Sustainability in fashion encompasses a wide range of factors, including cutting CO2 emissions, addressing overproduction, reducing pollution and waste, supporting biodiversity and ensuring that garment workers are paid a fair wage and have safe working conditions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micro-sustainability</span> Individual or small scale sustainability efforts

Micro-sustainability is the portion of sustainability centered around small scale environmental measures that ultimately affect the environment through a larger cumulative impact. Micro-sustainability centers on individual efforts, behavior modification, education and creating attitudinal changes, which result in an environmentally conscious individual. Micro-sustainability encourages sustainable changes through "change agents"—individuals who foster positive environmental action locally and inside their sphere of influence. Examples of micro-sustainability include recycling, power saving by turning off unused lights, programming thermostats for efficient use of energy, reducing water usage, changing commuting habits to use less fossil fuels or modifying buying habits to reduce consumption and waste. The emphasis of micro-sustainability is on an individual's actions, rather than organizational or institutional practices at the systemic level. These small local level actions have immediate community benefits if undertaken on a widespread scale and if imitated, they can have a cumulative broad impact.

Zero-waste fashion refers to a fashion design strategy, that generates little or no textile waste during the production process, particularly focusing on the pattern making and cutting stages. It is a reaction to the high amount of discarded clothing items going into landfills around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cotton recycling</span> Reuse of cotton fabric

Cotton recycling is the process of converting cotton fabric into fibers that can be reused into other textile products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothing industry</span> Industry encompassing the design, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing of clothes

Clothing industry or garment industry summarizes the types of trade and industry along the production and value chain of clothing and garments, starting with the textile industry, embellishment using embroidery, via the fashion industry to apparel retailers up to trade with second-hand clothes and textile recycling. The producing sectors build upon a wealth of clothing technology some of which, like the loom, the cotton gin, and the sewing machine heralded industrialization not only of the previous textile manufacturing practices. Clothing industries are also known as allied industries, fashion industries, garment industries, or soft goods industries.

Depop Limited is a social e-commerce company based in London, with additional offices in Manchester, Milan and New York City. The company has an expanding global presence and has been popularized in countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Italy. It allows users to buy and sell items, which are mostly used and vintage pieces of clothing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slow fashion</span> Concept in sustainable fashion

Slow fashion is an aspect of sustainable fashion and a concept antithetical to fast fashion. It is part of the "slow movement" advocating for clothing and apparel manufactured with respect to people, the environment and animals. As such, contrary to the industrial practices of fast fashion conglomerates, slow fashion involves local artisans and the use of eco-friendly materials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental impact of fashion</span>

The fashion industry, particularly manufacture and use of apparel and footwear, is a significant driver of greenhouse gas emissions and plastic pollution. The rapid growth of fast fashion has led to around 80 billion items of clothing being consumed annually, with about 85% of clothes consumed in United States being sent to landfill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fast fashion in China</span>

Fast fashion is a term used to represent cheap, trendy clothing that is made to replicate higher end fashion trends. As of 2019, China remains the leading producer of fast fashion clothing. Many sweatshops are located in China, where the workers are underpaid and overworked in unsafe environments. China produces 65% of the world's clothing, with a majority of these clothes being labeled as "fast fashion". The top ten competitors in the fast fashion market make up 29.13% of the whole fashion market in 2020.

References

  1. ↑ "What's the Difference Between Vintage and Retro Clothing?". Vestiaire. 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Jacobs, Bel. "Why buying vintage clothes is 'the new luxury'". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  3. ↑ Stanton, Audrey (2023-01-02). "What Is Fast Fashion, Anyway?". The Good Trade. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  4. ↑ Richardson, James (1996). "Vertical Integration and Rapid Response in Fashion Apparel". Organization Science. 7 (4): 400–412. ISSN   1047-7039.
  5. ↑ Maiti, Rashmila (2024-01-05). "Fast Fashion: Its Detrimental Effect on the Environment". Earth.Org. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  6. ↑ "The Impact of Fast Fashion On the Environment". PSCI. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  7. ↑ Smith, P. (28 March 2023). "Fast fashion market value forecast worldwide 2021-2026" . Statista. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Quinn, Emma (6 April 2020). "The Environmental Benefits of Vintage Shopping". American Madness. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  9. ↑ Moorhouse, Debbie (2020-07-24). "Making Fashion Sustainable: Waste and Collective Responsibility". One Earth. 3 (1): 17–19. Bibcode:2020OEart...3...17M. doi:10.1016/j.oneear.2020.07.002. ISSN   2590-3322. PMC   7380204 . PMID   34173525.
  10. ↑ Cassidy, Tracy Diane; Bennett, Hannah Rose (November 2012). "The Rise of Vintage Fashion and the Vintage Consumer". Fashion Practice. 4 (2): 239–261. doi:10.2752/175693812X13403765252424. ISSN   1756-9370. S2CID   191476692.
  11. 1 2 JK, Rajjo Ronobir; Barry, Mamadou; Curran, Ryan; Aarushi Kaushal; Yazdani, Rehan (2020-08-13). "The socioeconomic causes and effects of the gentrified thrifting experience". Zenodo. doi:10.5281/ZENODO.3983108.
  12. 1 2 Lundburg, Dielle; Devoy, Julia (22 September 2022). "The Aftermath of Fast Fashion: How Discarded Clothes Impact Public Health and the Environment | SPH". BU School of Public Health. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  13. ↑ Copyright © 2023. "Why Recycle My Clothes?". Planet Aid, Inc. Retrieved 2023-03-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. 1 2 "Fast fashion". UPenn EII. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "How Much Do Our Wardrobes Cost to the Environment?". World Bank. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  16. ↑ "Reasons Why Vintage Clothing Is Good For The Planet (And Your Wardrobe)". VintageSuperstoreCornwall. 3 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  17. ↑ "How Young People Are Shaping Sustainable Fashion | TFI". thefashioninstitute. 2020-06-12. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
  18. ↑ Funk, Alec Tyson, Brian Kennedy and Cary (2021-05-26). "Gen Z, Millennials Stand Out for Climate Change Activism, Social Media Engagement With Issue". Pew Research Center. Retrieved 2024-10-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. 1 2 Vanicore, Ludovica (2019). "Vintage fashion: an example of circular economy as a sustainable alternative to the fast fashion" (PDF). LUISS Guido Carli: 1–54.
  20. 1 2 "Why And How To Map Your Supply Chain". Common Objective. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  21. 1 2 Seavor, Jennifer (2018-11-08). "The risks of asbestos exposure from vintage products – and beyond". RWK Goodman. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  22. ↑ Thomas, Izzy. "Thrifting, sustainable and accessible fashion, under threat". The Wolfpacket. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
  23. 1 2 "Fast Fashion Market Size, Trends and Global Forecast To 2032". www.thebusinessresearchcompany.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.