Sustainable clothing matters to me— here’s why

Sustainability has been an 8-year journey for me so far. It all started with a little documentary called ‘The True Cost’ and snowballed into an entire lifestyle recalibration. What I learned in that documentary forever changed the way I look at the world around me and my role in it. Here’s some of those realizations—

I had no idea it’s mostly people that make our clothing. I thought they were made on machines.

I had no idea these people are subject to such poor working conditions that even when they noticed a crack in the wall, their managers made them keep working to stay on schedule. And when those cracks turned into a collapsing building, thousands of people lost their lives in the pursuit of meeting quotas.

I had no idea that major stores were the culprits behind these deadlines— Gap, H&M, Forever 21, Old Navy. 

That these mass manufacturers compete against each other for the lowest prices. That these countries depend so much on their large orders that they have no choice but to offer the lowest bid or they lose out contracts that keep them in business and their people employed. Meanwhile corporate revenues are getting higher and higher each year. 

I didn’t know bargain clothing is the business of exploitation. 

I didn’t know that these clothing brands now implement a 52-season cycle, a new cycle for each week to keep us coming back for more and more. There used to be 4-seasons. 

I didn’t know that any donations we make, only 10% end up in thrift stores in the US with the rest shipped overseas to form literal mountains of unwanted clothing. 

I didn’t know those same donations are ruining previously thriving industries of skilled seamstresses because there is no more demand for locally produced clothing. 

I didn’t know there isn’t a way to effectively recycle clothing because most of the garments are made of mixed components that we do not yet have the technology to separate. 

I didn’t know most cotton used for clothing is produced in Texas and India.

I didn’t know that the wide use of pesticide on crops like cotton causes cancer. And I didn’t know that Texas has the most cancer centers in the world. Coincidence? I think not. 

I didn’t know the manufacturing processes like the dying of clothing or tanning of leathers cause birth defects in regions it is practiced because the runoff and waste infiltrates the ground water. 

I didn’t know the companies that commission the production of these goods are not held responsible for the impact of their production. 

I didn’t realize a t-shirt should never cost $5. And the only way it can is because it completely ignores the social and environmental responsibilities of production.

I didn’t realize there are so many hidden costs to the planet and our fellow humans in the manufacturing of clothing that no-one is taking responsibility for. 

I had no idea of the environmental and social impacts my purchases were supporting, and that by spending my dollar I was making a vote to continue those practices. And with my same dollar I could vote for something else. 

This is the journey of me finding that something else. I call it the—

Aligned Closet

To begin your own Aligned Closet journey—
START HERE:

Aligned Closet— A Roadmap