Humans are wasteful.
Bermudians love fashion, but the fashion industry is harmful to the ecosystem. How can we be fashionable and sustainable?
Bermuda is love is a charity in Bermuda that gives away free clothes, donates to blood drives, organises clean ups, encourages community gardening and more. They were assembled by a group of young Bermudians.
Bdaislove made a diagram that explains the problem with fast fashion. Fast fashion in attributed to large industrial companies like Shein or Fashion nova that produce mass closings for cheap. The fabric isn’t eco friendly and the persons who are making these clothes are treated under harsh conditions, making little to no money.
Most people who order from here companies, order in bulk constantly and throw the items away once done wearing them.
In the post by Bdaislove, they say the following:
“The fashion industry is the second most polluting industry on Earth, behind oil, as the fashion industry produces 10% of world emissions.
1 in 6 of the world’s workers are employed in the fashion industry, and around 80% of all workers are women, and only around 2% earn a living wage.”
To help move away rom fast fashion, Bermudaislove suggested tips to help reduce this polluting factor.
What can you do?
– Buy less: The first step is to reduce your consumption by buying only buy what you truly need and what you know you will wear.
– Buy ethically and sustainably: Buy from local small brands that focus on creating a culture of sustainability by producing less from the onset.
– Bermudian brands: @LirBermuda, @TheEthicalCode.
– Foreign brands: Brother bellies, Re/Done, House of Sunny, Pringle of Scotland, Rave Review, Boyish Jeans, Bird Song, We Are We Wear.
– Buy secondhand: Buy from thrift stores or exchange clothes between friends and family.
– Upcycle your clothes: Repurpose your clothes to extend their life so that they are not thrown away quickly.
– Donate whatever you do not wear: Nearly 95% of all the textiles in your home can be recycled or donated, regardless of its quality or condition. Not only will this help someone in need of clothes, but it can also help to protect the environment and save human lives.
– Treat your clothes with care to extend their life: Wash your clothing less and according to the label. This not only reduces your carbon footprint but washing your clothes less will also make them last longer.
As a spin off to this conversation, MEDIA MAYA created lists for people to know where to go in Bermuda for thrifting.
Here’s a list of the thrift stores in Bermuda: where they are located, their opening hours and when they are available for drop offs/donations:
Restart Bermuda reopened on Tuesday, October 19 with a $1 sale on clothes and shoes. I posted a video on the store day and gave some tips on thrifting with my friends. Watch the video here.
