According to the report by World Economic Forum, the fashion industry produces 10% of carbon emissions. The report also indicates that the fashion industry is the 2nd largest consumer of water supply in the world. The more clothes people buy, the more textiles go to landfills.
Why do Brands overproduce?
Overproduction is the result of trend cycles that only lasted for a short term. Fast fashion brands also often aim for short-frame production. Although this may seem efficient, it is actually an unsustainable practice.
What are The Results of Overproduction?
Because of trend-based overproduction, brands have been engaging in short-term contracts with the manufacturers. As manufacturers are forced to produce more than they are capable of, they resort to subcontracting. Although this means that people are earning wages, this kind of job arrangement offers low security. Besides, workers are also often abused.
Why is Degrowth Important and How can it be implemented?
In most cases, unsold clothes are burned and this greatly impacts our environment. Brands do this to prevent their clothes from being sold under-value in marketplaces. To avoid this, brands should reduce the amount of products produced. Brands can also implement AI methods to analyze trend cycles as well as forecast the future trends of the fashion industry.