Every season, new clothing styles and the latest trends flood our feed, and so do the consequences. The fashion industry, often praised for creativity and self-expression, is actually one of the world’s most polluting industries. From how clothes are made to where they end up, fast fashion’s environmental cost is far greater than most people realize.
The clothing industry is responsible for up to 10% of global carbon emissions, which is more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined (United Nations Environment Program [UNEP], 2021). Producing one cotton T-shirt can require around 700 gallons of water, while making a single pair of jeans can take more than 2,000 gallons of water (UNEP, 2021). Synthetic fabrics like polyester, which is found in 60% of garments today, shed microplastics each time they’re washed, polluting oceans and entering the food chain (EcoWatch, 2025).
And when we’re done with these clothes? More than 85% of textiles end up in landfills, shorelines, or incinerators each year (The Guardian, 2016). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that Americans throw away over 11 million tons of textiles annually, much of which could have been reused or recycled (EPA, 2025). The result is a cycle of waste that fuels both climate change and environmental injustice, as discarded clothing often ends up in countries least responsible for its creation.
Thrifting offers a simple, accessible solution, one that’s both sustainable and creative. Buying secondhand keeps clothing in circulation longer, reducing demand for resource-intensive production (Goodwill, 2025). According to the ThredUp 2024 Resale Report, if everyone bought one used item instead of new just this year alone, it would save nearly 6 billion pounds of CO2 emissions, equivalent to taking half a million cars off the road.
Thrifting began as a means of providing affordable clothing and household items to the less fortunate, and has evolved into democratized sustainability. It’s affordable, fun, and often leads to a unique personal style, which is a welcoming contrast to fast fashion’s cookie-cutter trends. Even small acts, like hosting a clothing swap or shopping vintage instead of new, can have ripple effects across communities.
Young people around the world are taking the lead in rethinking fashion’s future. On April 24, 2013, the eight-story Rana Plaza building housing garment factories collapsed due to structural failure. Even though inspectors had identified cracks in the building, the factory owners insisted that workers return to their posts (Mari, 2023). This tragedy, which killed over 1,100 garment workers, brought international attention to the unsafe working conditions and exploitation in the fashion industry (Mari, 2023). The disaster sparked the global Fashion Revolution movement, which mobilizes youth to demand transparency and safe, ethical labor practices (Vogue, 2023). Programs like Remake’s Student Ambassador Network empower teens and college students to educate peers about sustainable fashion, while grassroots collectives such as Teens for Thrift and Good ON You’s youth advocates use social media to make sustainability cool again.
What teens can do!
● Host a clothing swap at your school or in your local community. It’s sustainable, social, and completely free!
● Transform old clothes into new creations! Patch jeans, crop shirts, or add embroidery to your clothing.
● When buying new clothes, look for sustainable brands that prioritize fair wages and eco-friendly materials.
● Spread awareness online, write for your school paper, or start a club dedicated to climate-friendly fashion.
Fast fashion’s impact won’t disappear overnight, but change starts small. Every thrifted jacket, repaired pair of jeans, and swapped T-shirt is an act of resistance and proof that caring for the planet can look good too.
Sources
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Textiles: Material-Specific Data.” EPA, October 23, 2025, https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/textiles-material-specific-data.
Mari, Rich. “2013 Rana Plaza Collapse | EBSCO.” EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | Www.ebsco.com, 2023, www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/2013-rana-plaza-collapse.
Reinhart, James. “Resale Report 2025.” ThredUp, 2025, https://www.thredup.com/resale.
Goodwill. “Three Reasons Why Thrifting is Better for the Environment.” Goodwill, 2025, https://www.goodwill.org/blog/shop/three-reasons-why-thrifting-is-better-for-the-environment/.
Sweeny, Glynis.“Fast Fashion Is the Second Dirtiest Industry in the World, Next to Big Oil.” EcoWatch, August 17, 2025, https://www.ecowatch.com/fast-fashion-is-the-second-dirtiest-industry-in-the-world-next-to-big-1882083445.html.
The Guardian. “How your clothes are poisoning our oceans and food supply.” The Guardian, June 20, 2016, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/20/microfibers-plastic-pollution-oceans-patagonia-synthetic-clothes-microbeads.
United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). “Putting the brakes on fast fashion.” UNEP, June 28, 2021, https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/putting-brakes-fast-fashion.
This blog post reflects the opinions of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of Brooklyn Public Library.
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